The Audi A1 Sport: A Giant Killer on the Track

The wet handling circuit at Myra is a unique and challenging track that puts even the most advanced vehicles to the test. In this environment, it's easy to assume that only the most powerful and high-performance cars can compete effectively. However, as we're about to discover, there's another contender that's capable of giving these heavy-hitters a run for their money - the Audi A1 Sport.

The Audi A1 Sport is no ordinary car. With 252 BHP under its bonnet, it may not seem like much compared to the likes of the Nissan GTR, but this little car has got some tricks up its sleeve. The first advantage it holds over its opponents is its tires. Unlike the cup tires used on more exotic vehicles, the Audi A1 Sport is fitted with standard road tires that are just too fat and wide to effectively displace water when cornering in the wet. This results in a significant amount of grip and composure for the car, allowing it to stay put and even overtake its competitors.

Another key factor contributing to the Audi's success is its weight. Weighing around 1,300 kg, the A1 Sport is significantly heavier than the Nissan GTR, which tips the scales at approximately half a ton less. This added weight allows the Audi to maintain traction better, particularly when cornering, as it can put all the power down without worrying about losing control. In contrast, the Nissan GTR's four-wheel drive system and incredible poke make it difficult for even experienced drivers like Vicki from Auto Car to handle effectively.

In a shocking display of driving prowess, the Audi A1 Sport was able to outmaneuver the Nissan GTR around the wet handling circuit at Myra. When Vicki took the wheel of the Nissan, she found herself struggling to keep up with the little car's agility and composure in the wet. The instant understeer that afflicted her was a stark contrast to the Audi's ability to corner with ease, thanks to its larger tires and lower center of gravity.

As we watched Vicki struggle to maintain control of the Nissan GTR, it became clear that this was no ordinary car. Its incredible grip and composure allowed it to stay ahead of its competitors, even when cornering at high speeds in treacherous conditions. This was a stark reminder that sometimes, size isn't everything - and that the Audi A1 Sport is truly a force to be reckoned with on the track.

In the end, the Audi A1 Sport emerged victorious from our competition, thanks in large part to its clever use of standard road tires and its significant weight advantage over the Nissan GTR. While it may not have the raw power of some of its more exotic competitors, this little car has got brains - and it's a testament to the ingenuity of Audi's engineering team that they've been able to create such an effective package.

So what can we learn from this unexpected victory? For one thing, it highlights the importance of tires in determining a car's performance on wet tracks. The use of standard road tires may seem like a drawback at first glance, but it ultimately proved to be a key factor in the Audi A1 Sport's success. Additionally, its weight advantage serves as a reminder that sometimes, less is more - and that a car doesn't always need to be the biggest or the baddest to come out on top.

As we conclude our competition, it's clear that the Audi A1 Sport is no ordinary vehicle. Its combination of standard road tires and significant weight has allowed it to thrive in conditions where its competitors struggled. Whether you're a seasoned racing enthusiast or just an enthusiastic driver, this little car is definitely worth keeping an eye on - because when it comes to handling wet tracks, there's no one quite like the Audi A1 Sport.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: ennow I know you think that there would probably not be a single circumstance on this Earth whereby an Audi A1 could stay with or even go faster than an thisan GTR around the track however introduce lots of Corners to that track and better still quite a lot of water and you might be wrong allow me to demonstrate this is the wet handling circuit at Myra and this is no ordinary Audi A1 it is the Audi A1 quro all 252 BHP of it it costs 41 Grand crackers however not that crackers when you consider that it can do this to a Nissan GTR in the wet that's the same Nissan GTR that has four-wheel drive and is supposedly therefore faster than just about any other car on Earth that's Vicki up there who Road tester for auto car who properly knows her onions but look I mean I am not having to try very hard here I fact I'm not really having to try at all but I can do this and she is all over the road or more more to point that Nissan is all over the road the Audi has got so much more grip and composure and TR and traction bye oh okay so why is the Audi A1 sport able to do this to the mighty GTR um couple of things really one very obvious one is the tires that doesn't have cup tires on it it has proper normal legal standard road tires but they're just too fat they're too wide they will not shift enough water which allows the AI to just St on its tail might even try and go past here no the Audi has less than half the power of the GTR this weighs about 1,300 kg and this an weighs approximately half a ton more and that is what's doing it in the thing is I can put all the power down of this car whereas poor old Vicki there can't even use a quarter of the power of that thing oh my word okay I think we've proved the point pretty comprehensively so really there's only one thing to do now and that's to have a going in the Nissan this time Vic keys in the Audi and as you can tell from my voice it's a bit more serious this time this thing is flipping terrifying doing this I'll tell you the GTR just goes into instant and terrifying under steer and the trouble is it's got so much poke down even the shortest straight I mean just lights all four wheels up anywhere everywhere the instant you apply the throttle hard and then the front end just washes out and you get this wild snap of oversteer and then away where you go oh no I thought I was off then I thought I was off I am honestly having to right so much harder in this basically just not to crash let alone even stay anywhere near that Audi I'm actually start who I'm starting to sweat I I honestly cannot say to you this is fun it's terrifying I think I think I've had enough the trouble is before that I have to get the stopwatch out you can break so much later in the Audi than you can in the Nissan you um you just know that the weight isn't going to get out of control you know it's going to stick 1 minute 14.8 thinking egg nearly gone off for the first flipping corner it's not quick this is not the quick way around this track 11 19.3 that's 5 Seconds slower blim me don't get me wrong I absolutely adore the Nissan GTR it's a fantastic car in almost every way but when you put it at a place like this which is so slippery and really tight and twisty as well gosh a it becomes absolutely scary to drive and B it can't do anything about a smaller lighter nimbl car like the audio1 that is a proper giant killer of a result it's also time to go homenow I know you think that there would probably not be a single circumstance on this Earth whereby an Audi A1 could stay with or even go faster than an thisan GTR around the track however introduce lots of Corners to that track and better still quite a lot of water and you might be wrong allow me to demonstrate this is the wet handling circuit at Myra and this is no ordinary Audi A1 it is the Audi A1 quro all 252 BHP of it it costs 41 Grand crackers however not that crackers when you consider that it can do this to a Nissan GTR in the wet that's the same Nissan GTR that has four-wheel drive and is supposedly therefore faster than just about any other car on Earth that's Vicki up there who Road tester for auto car who properly knows her onions but look I mean I am not having to try very hard here I fact I'm not really having to try at all but I can do this and she is all over the road or more more to point that Nissan is all over the road the Audi has got so much more grip and composure and TR and traction bye oh okay so why is the Audi A1 sport able to do this to the mighty GTR um couple of things really one very obvious one is the tires that doesn't have cup tires on it it has proper normal legal standard road tires but they're just too fat they're too wide they will not shift enough water which allows the AI to just St on its tail might even try and go past here no the Audi has less than half the power of the GTR this weighs about 1,300 kg and this an weighs approximately half a ton more and that is what's doing it in the thing is I can put all the power down of this car whereas poor old Vicki there can't even use a quarter of the power of that thing oh my word okay I think we've proved the point pretty comprehensively so really there's only one thing to do now and that's to have a going in the Nissan this time Vic keys in the Audi and as you can tell from my voice it's a bit more serious this time this thing is flipping terrifying doing this I'll tell you the GTR just goes into instant and terrifying under steer and the trouble is it's got so much poke down even the shortest straight I mean just lights all four wheels up anywhere everywhere the instant you apply the throttle hard and then the front end just washes out and you get this wild snap of oversteer and then away where you go oh no I thought I was off then I thought I was off I am honestly having to right so much harder in this basically just not to crash let alone even stay anywhere near that Audi I'm actually start who I'm starting to sweat I I honestly cannot say to you this is fun it's terrifying I think I think I've had enough the trouble is before that I have to get the stopwatch out you can break so much later in the Audi than you can in the Nissan you um you just know that the weight isn't going to get out of control you know it's going to stick 1 minute 14.8 thinking egg nearly gone off for the first flipping corner it's not quick this is not the quick way around this track 11 19.3 that's 5 Seconds slower blim me don't get me wrong I absolutely adore the Nissan GTR it's a fantastic car in almost every way but when you put it at a place like this which is so slippery and really tight and twisty as well gosh a it becomes absolutely scary to drive and B it can't do anything about a smaller lighter nimbl car like the audio1 that is a proper giant killer of a result it's also time to go home\n"