Original 'The Stig' to drive Audi Sport Quattro

1984 World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist will drive the legendary 550bhp Group B Audi Sport Quattro in the Live Action Arena at Autosport International, 14-17 January, at the NEC, Birmingham.

The flame-spitting machine is one of the fastest rally cars ever built, and is one of only 20 works cars developed. This short wheelbase Sport Quattro was introduced in 1985, when Group B took the world championship to a whole new level and a huge worldwide audience.

Blomqvist scored five wins in an Audi A2 Quattro in his championship year, but the car that he will be driving at the show is the more powerful ex-Hannu Mikkola Sport Quattro, owned and lovingly restored by Steve Perez from Kick Energy.

The engine has been prepared by Hans Lehman, who was a member of the original works team.

"This Sport Quattro brings back very good memories for me," said Blomqvist. "It was very, very fast between the corners, and was very quick around them too!

"With all that power, it was really quite a handful, but so much fun to drive. It will be great to run it indoors at Autosport International, and it will be very exciting for everyone there to watch."

"This is absolutely fantastic for the Live Action Arena," said Autosport International Show director Ian France. "Stig Blomqvist is one of rallying's greats, and the Audi Sport Quattro is an extremely powerful car.

"Stig knows how to put on a show, and seeing that car in action will set any motorsport fans pulse racing. I am sure that the audience will be awestruck by its spectacular acceleration, its flame-spitting, banging exhaust, and its sheer speed."

Also attending Autosport International will be 2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button, as well as ex-F1 driver and commentator Martin Brundle, and double-Le Mans 24 Hours winner Allan McNish.