Rebuilt and ready

Audi TT impresses at first showing since repairs

Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

He had power before. Now, he's got more! That's the word from David Bell, ATL pit crew chief for ATL Automotive race driver Doug 'Hollywood' Gore. Bell told those gathered for Thursday's official unveiling of the rebuilt Audi TT RS DTM Spec race car at the brand's Jamaican headquarters on Oxford Road, New Kingston, that "Doug has a lot to prove and he is ready. In replacing the engine block they enhanced the power output, so Doug will have a little more power under his right foot."

completely rebuilt

Bell disclosed that since the crash at the Dover Raceway, St Ann, last May, when the Audi TT "half destroyed itself", it has undergone a total transformation. It was stripped to the frame and completely rebuilt by German manufacturers ABT Sportline. This became necessary after detailed inspection in Germany revealed that the vehicle suffered substantially more damage than the preliminary evaluation had revealed.

While not divulging how much the resurrection of the AUDI TT cost, Bell made it clear that the investment ran into mega dollars, citing as an example that three of the four ceramic wheel bearings were replaced at a cost of US$5,000 each. In addition, every nut and bolt was checked, rechecked and replaced.

Having committed to the programme, the sponsors stayed the course by facilitating tweaking that could make the split-second difference between winning and losing, according to Bell.

"The suspension has been improved so we have a little more of what we call droop, which will help us on the Dover track. Because of the undulating surfaces we will be able to put the power down a little bit better; the aerodynamics have been enhanced, we have a wider spoiler," he said.

enhanced force

"We have enhanced the down force of the car to be better on the road. I've even put in bigger rear view mirrors on the car so he can see who's not coming up behind," the pit crew chief said.

Given his state of mind on that fateful May day, last year, today is special for Gore, as he renews race-track rivalry at the Circuit Attack race meet, JamWest, Little London, Westmoreland, after a nine-month lay-off. He admitted on Thursday that "I was actually in tears, saying, 'This is it. It's over, my racing career is done, what am I going to do now'?"

It is what he does today that will matter, building on that impressive 2011 run when the Audi TT/Doug Gore alliance was truly unbeatable, breaking lap records in Jamaica and Guyana en route to taking the chequered flag in seven races, winning the Modified Production and Thundersport championships.