Lot 164 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2 Till salu på auktion

This car is Lot 164 to be auctioned by Bonhams|Cars at The Quail Auction on Friday August 15, please see the Bonhams website for full details.

Public Viewing:
Available Wednesday August 13 from 09:00 until 18:00, Thursday 14 August from 09:00 until 18:00, and Friday 15 August from 08:30 onwards, at The Quail Lodge.

Lot 164
1 of 20 Sport quattro S1 E2: Audi's Pinnacle of Performance
1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2
Registration no.
Chassis no. WAUZZZ85ZGA905010

2. 1L Turbocharged 20-Valve Inline 5-Cylinder Engine
500+ bhp and 338 ft-lbs.
Fly-Off Handbrake
Weighing 1, 100 kg

* The 10thof the 20 S1 E2's built by Audi
* 1 of only 4 in private hands
* Original Perspex side windows replaced with glass
* Opaque rear window to reduce glare
* Completely rebuilt fuel system

THE AUDI SPORT QUATRRO

Group B is widely regarded as the golden era of rallying—an intoxicating blend of unrestrained engineering, raw power, and unmatched spectacle. No car or manufacturer encapsulates that era more completely than Audi, who's revolutionary quattro permanently changed the sport.

Audi's game-changing introduction of four-wheel drive brought immediate success: by 1984, the Ingolstadt-based team had secured three Drivers' and Manufacturers' World Championships. Yet, despite its traction advantage, the original quattro was heavy and nose-biased. To stay ahead of rising rivals—particularly Lancia's emerging Delta S4—Audi developed the Sport Quattro in 1984, with a shortened wheelbase and increased power. But it proved twitchy and difficult to manage. Even Stig Blomqvist, the eventual 1984 World Champion, avoided using it until his title was nearly secured.

This led to the development of one of the most iconic and fearsome machines in motorsport history: the Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2 fire-spitting, wing-laden, 550-horsepower snow-shredding monster that inspired both awe and dread in even the toughest drivers. Strapping into it wasn't so much driving as it was hanging on for dear life.

Audi didn't merely beat the competition with its revolutionary four-wheel-drive Quattro—it tore up the script and redefined the sport entirely. "This is the car we forgot to build," admitted Lancia's motorsport boss Cesare Fiorio after witnessing the Quattro's dominance, a moment that spurred the development of the Delta S4. He wasn't the only one playing catch-up, everyone else was suddenly behind.

Determined to stay ahead, Audi's engineers—secretly guided by Ferdinand Piëch—began crafting an even more extreme machine for the 1984 season: the Sport Quattro. Known as "Shorty" for its dramatically shortened wheelbase (by 320mm), it featured a lightweight carbon-Kevlar body and a potent all-aluminum five-cylinder engine pushing out 450 horsepower.

Even seasoned professionals were shaken by its raw pace. "Corners that used to be friendly suddenly scare you senseless," recalled co-driver Christian Geistdörfer, describing how the Sport Quattro S1 transformed familiar stages into hostile terrain. "You don't even recognize them—they've turned mean."

As Peugeot and Lancia closed the performance gap, Audi raised the bar again with the even more radical Sport Quattro S1 E2, launched in August 1985. Bristling with wings, ducts, and downforce, the E2's aggressive aerodynamics weren't just for show—they were designed to reduce lift over jumps and cool a relocated suite of radiators housed in the rear to improve balance.

Delivered new to Audi Sport and prepared by Matter, Audi Sport Internal no. RE10 made its competition debut at the 1985 Lombard RAC Rally, driven by Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz. After a measured start (9th in SS1), Mikkola surged to the lead by SS14, securing three stage wins before a mechanical failure on SS22 forced retirement. His early pace and dominance had been undeniable—until engine failure opened the door for Lancia's debuting Delta S4 to seize the win.

Following the RAC, RE10 was used by Audi as a training and development car for the 1986 Rallye de Portugal, shortly before Group B's cancellation.

THE CAR OFFERED

Offered here is one of the most revered Group B rally cars ever built: the 1985 Audi Sport quattro S1 E2, chassis RE10. Of the 20 S1 E2s constructed by Audi for competition, only 15 are believed to survive, with just six having competed in a World Rally Championship event. Of those six, only four remain in private hands. Among them, RE10 stands apart—having not only competed in WRC but led the legendary 1985 Lombard RAC Rally in the hands of World Champion Hannu Mikkola.

Since being acquired by the current owner in 2022, the hydraulic cam driven power steering pump has been repaired, a new Pyrotec fuel cell was custom made to match the original bladder shape, along with new fuel pumps and filters. Massive electrical restoration work has been done to the vehicle, as the electronics in the car were dated and glitchy. The front driving lights were made functional via a switch on the switch panel, a video rear view mirror was added so you can see behind you which is 100% reversible. The Audi has had over $200K in work done by specialists at AI Design in Tuckahoe, New York.

No major Group B collection is complete without an Audi S1 E2—and fewer still can claim one that led a WRC event under factory control. With its rare blend of pedigree, performance, and preservation, RE10 represents a true halo car from rallying's most dramatic era.

All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams|Cars website for all pertinent auction information.