January 20, 2010
Each year Eurotuner Magazine hosts what is known as the Eurotuner Grand Prix – where European tuners are invited to compete in 3 performance competitions. There are only 2 rules, run the “spec” tire and no nitrous injected into the engine. There are essentially no other rules, competitors are challenged to build and bring the car that will dominate in all 3 events. Tuners prove their worth on the dyno, quarter mile, and road course, a victor is crowned for each event and also for overall.
034Motorsport has been competing in the ETGP since 2004 and is the longest standing competitor in the competition. For the past 3 years they have brought a heavily prepped Audi A4 Quattro. 2009 was the year that everything came together for 034Motorsport, not only winning the overall competition but also taking 1st in each event, and by a large margin.
“After attending ETGP for so long, we knew we had to go in 2009, well prepared, and show the world what we are capable of accomplishing. Last year we won the dyno event, but on the second day broke our crankshaft on the road course and only placed second which forced us out of the competition. We wanted to redeem ourselves this year and retire this car once and for all” says 034 President Javad Shadzi.
Christian Miller, 034Motorsport employee, and the winner of 2009 Grand Am Koni Challenge series, drove for 034 at this year’s ETGP and added “We knew that in order to win, we’d have to bring the fastest, most powerful car, stretching the car to its absolute limits. The key to this would be reliability, to prove the car we tested at 3 different drag racing days, 2 test days at Infineon Raceway and 1 day at Buttonwillow. Each time the car would break, or show weaknesses, and we’d improve on what we’d learned”
Javad Shadzi, who piloted the A4 during the drag racing portion, added “Going fast in the quarter mile was a balancing act of what it would take to win, what we knew we could do and what would be safe for the car so it could compete the next day on the road course”. After running 3 low 11 second passes on a low boost map, 034 turned up the boost to run a blistering 10.7 at 139mph, any additional runs were prevented by the track who were afraid the car would break 10.5 which was against their insurance policy. “Making the car go 10.7 on the Conti Sport Contacts was no easy feat, even though they are a great street tire they do no supply sufficient traction for drag racing”, said Shadzi, “Ultimately getting the launch perfect, modulating throttle through 3rd gear and fast precise shifts were the key to getting this car down the track”.
The 3rd and final event was the road course at Buttonwillow Raceway, configuration #13 was chosen for the competition. “We felt pretty good about leading the road course event until we heard about TPC’s turbocharged Cayman S” said Nate Stuart, lead engineer on the project, “Fortunately we were able to edge them out but we were very impressed at how fast a streetable Porsche could be” In the end, 034 held off the entire field with a lap that was over 3.5 seconds faster than 2nd place that included 2 supercharged E92 M3’s, a 135i and other European cars.
“Overall we were thrilled with our performance at this year’s event and thank all of our sponsors and everyone who helped make the car a success” concluded Shadzi, “We’d also like to thank the competition who were professional and gracious and really impressed us with the capable cars they brought.”
Youtube Video Documentary of the event:
To read more about 034Motorsport’s showing as well as the rest of the tuners, check out Eurotuner Magazine’s February 2010 issue.
To visit 034Motorsport on the web go to http://www.034motorsport.com
View the FULL gallery online at http://www.034motorsport.com/gallery/v/ETGP/etgp09/
Does anyone else think its interesting that they showed up with a full race car? I know that chasis came from the pacific north west and was built a few years back(not by 034), but thats like showing up to a middle school and beating up a kid when your in college?
The cars driveline is quite impressive. Changing the turbo mid competition while smart I dont believe is gentlemanly.
Hello UrqS4S6, thank you for your comment, I would just like to address some of the points you brought up.
The Eurotuner GP has only 2 rules as you know and has been posted, there are no extra points for interiors, streetability, etc. As the rules define the competition, we took full advantage of building the fastest car within what the rules would allow. If we’re faulted for interpreting the rules better than anyone else at ETGP, then so be it.
We did get a “rolling chassis” from Matrix in 2007, it was a bare A4 chassis, with roll cage installed, NO drive train, fuel tanks were installed and had a completely stock suspension underneath it. We take 99% of the credit for prepping, building and developing this car.
I think your example of “the high school bully” is a little unfair. We are not a bigger tuner in the market, we are in no position to bully anyone within the rules of the competition, our wins were fair and within the rules. I think a better example is of a student in a class who simply studies harder and is better prepared for a test than every one else.
Changing the turbos was openly disclosed to Eurotuner before, during and after the competition, as well as to the other competitors. We would encourage competitors next year to step up the bar and bring their A-game as that is what’s best for everyone, to push the bar that much higher.
Thank you,
Javad
Congratulations 034 on the exceptional job! fine example of craftsmanship and knowledge.
Congrats 034… Nicely done.. Now if they would only include a 4th segment and have a Rally X…. lol
Ahh scenic Buttonwillow.
Looks like clockwise 13 with the busstop? Decent numbers.
Have fun………
JB
Jerry, great eye! You are correct, config #13
Nice buildup. The competition would be more interesting if there were a few more rules (no changes to the engine, only tires, limit mods from production, etc) The others look like production street cars w/ mods while the B5 is a flat out race car. It makes for a far less interesting competition.
However, that doesn’t take away from the build. It looks like an exciting car and would love to see more details on it. Is there an in-depth writeup somewhere?
I think the fact you made a reliable, built car is impressive.
I meant no changes to the engine mid-competition and only allowed to change tires during competition. Basically, what you start the competition with, you must finish with.
auditlc, your points are well take, but that is not the competition we entered, if these rules were implemented then obviously we would have followed them and built a car to suit.
These critiques could be sent to Eurotuner Magazine, or you could start your own competition in which we’d be happy to enter =)
We need to update our website about the car spec’s, the Eurotuner article does list a spec sheet, but you can see a full gallery of images from the car at: http://www.034motorsport.com/gallery/v/034 A4 VR6T_001/redline2008/
Thanks!
Actually, it’s a criticism of the competition- not you guys. You brought your A-game!
Nice photos. I would love to see what you would do to make a streetable 1.8T B5.
Very inspiring work, congrats
Fair enough! =)
We’ve built plenty of those, you can see some at: http://www.034motorsport.com/articles.php?tPath=11
Cheers,
Theres a sayin i use….u can make a square wheel go round but u cant make a round wheel go square….
Progress for 034motorsport have shown they have not been trapped with development and there homework has been rewarded..
well done gents