Registration No: B379 TFK
Chassis No: WAUZZZ85ZEA881267
MOT: Jan 2023

• Converted into a rally car by renowned 'Ur'-quattro specialist AM Cars of Ilminster and influenced by their recreation of the ex-Works Hannu Mikkola machine carrying the factory registration number 'IN-NP-50'
• Contested numerous rounds of the BTRDA Rally Championship between 2008 and 2015, finishing 3rd-in-class against far younger machinery in 2008 and 2012.
• Potentially eligible for Historic Rallying (Class H4) subject to servicing, updating and some minor modifications
• Surprisingly tractable and usable as a road car with a current MOT certificate valid until Jan 2023

Having campaigned a Ford Escort MK2 RS with the British Trials and Rally Drivers’ Association (BTRDA) during the 1990s, the vendor chose another rallying icon – Audi’s ground-breaking ‘Ur’-quattro - for his return to the series a decade later. Mindful of the widespread acclaim that AM Cars of Ilminster had achieved for its meticulous recreation of Hannu Mikkola’s famous (but scrapped) ‘Works’ car ‘IN-NP-50’, he commissioned Adam Marsden to convert ‘B379 TFK’ into a fully BRTDA capable machine. Boasting a service history dating to back to its first owner, Mr R Hardy, and known to AM Cars for a decade, the white Coupe was duly stripped to a bare shell and treated to fresh metalwork as necessary. A new alloy rear firewall was fabricated, all the suspension mounts reinforced, B-pillar supports added and numerous seams welded. The front and rear subframes received the same treatment, while the wishbones gained gussets. The springs were uprated and Bilstein shock absorbers added. Vented and cross-drilled brake discs with Red Stuff pads were fitted together with a front / rear bias adjuster and cable for the MOT compliant handbrake. The steering column was strengthened and given nylon bushes, while the differentials were shorn of their electronic locks (though, a manual lock was later added for the centre diff). A bespoke Safety Devices roll cage was integrated with extension bars running to the front strut mounts. The use of fibreglass body panels kept weight down to circa 1250kg. A stronger and more tuneable ‘MB’ (2226cc) engine was sourced and upgraded with a hybrid turbocharger and specially enlarged intercooler (albeit BTRDA regulations saw the inlet restricted to 34mm rather than the 100mm potentially available).

The purposeful interior was modelled on that of ‘IN-NP-50’ with a bespoke dashboard and plain Black door cards (albeit the rev counter ‘only’ reads to 8,000rpm, whereas the ‘Works’ cars ran to 10,000rpm). Underbody protection was provided via a fibreglass and alloy sump guard, rear diff guard and stone deflectors just ahead of the rear subframe to reduce the risk of rock damage to the half shafts etc. A set of original magnesium Fuchs alloys contributed to the authentic look of the reborn ‘B379 TFK’ as did a sextet of Bosch spotlights not to mention the protruding Sport-style radiator grille. Shaken down on the 2007 Cambrian Rally, the Audi finished a highly creditable third-in-class at the end of the following year’s BTRDA Rally Championship despite competing against far younger machinery (Group N Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Evos etc). Treated to an engine out service and further developmental work during the off season, the Audi Sport-liveried Coupe gained a revamped sump guard, stiffer motor mounts, further subframe location reinforcement, sundry ducting for oil cooling and a specially fabricated alloy fuel tank with swirl pot arrangement and dual Bosch pumps (again a la ‘IN-NP-50’). A regular BTRDA Rally Championship Class B13 entrant, ‘B379 TFK’ was classified as third-in-class at the end of the 2012 season and remained competitive until retiring three years later.

Potentially eligible for the recently created Class H4 in historic rallying and not long awakened from several years’ dry storage, the Audi passed its most recent MOT test on 24^th January 2022. Surprisingly civilised and tractable on the road, this fabulous ‘ur’-quattro is described by the vendor as follows: ‘'B379 TFK' is not your usual half-hearted effort at a track or single venue rally car. It has been built professionally by a respected outfit of experienced engineers and has proven itself on National Rallies over a number of years. It will need some general service and checking and the inevitable replacement of ‘lifed’ components such as seats, belts and fire equipment but is ready to compete ’as is’ or to be fine-tuned into an historic rally car ready to woo the fans and satisfy any nostalgic petrolhead’.

For more information, please contact:
Damian Jones
damian.jones@handh.co.uk
07855 493737