Audi monster to terrorise forests in '06

Almost two decades after Audi withdrew the car from the British Open Rally Championship, the ex-Hannu Mikkola Sport Quattro is set to return to rallying thanks to the efforts of the car’s current owner, Steve Perez.

Mikkola won the 1986 Welsh and National Breakdown rallies in the short-wheelbase car before Audi canned its involvement. In June ’86 Mikkola ran the car at Shelsley Walsh to mark the 50th anniversary of Hans Stuck competing there for Audi progenitor Auto Union.

Perez has had the Quattro rebuilt using a steel rollcage to make it eligible for competition once again, and the car is nearing completion following an accident on the West Indian island of Barbados in 2004.

“It’s not been out since it had the shunt,” said Perez. The Audi’s last UK public appearance was at the Stoneleigh show in February 2004.

Perez hopes to have the car out in a club rally at the Croft race circuit during the Christmas holiday and will then use it on events in 2006.