What's it like to race in the Audi TT Cup?
Richard Meaden is dropped in at the deep end with a VIP slot in the N24-supporting Audi TT Cup
Cast your mind back to issue 209 of evo magazine and you'll remember Richard Meaden's drive of the brand-new Audi TT Cup car.
Based on the production Audi TTS, the Audi Sport-developed racer is the backbone of a one-make series that supports the DTM, as well as the famous Nurburgring 24 Hours.
It's fair to say that joining a bunch of young racers in a one-make series can be a baptism of fire, and it was one Audi Sport was happy to subject Dickie to once again as he joined a grid full of hot-headed racers at the TT Cup race supporting this year's N24.
On the face of it, the TT Cup cars aren't particularly intimidating. Roll cage and hefty race seat aside they're quite similar to the road-going TTS, with a matching 306bhp, a touch more torque - 295lb ft to the road car's 280lb ft - and the same dual-clutch transmission.
Despite the interior pipework though the racer is 240kg lighter at 1125kg, runs a set of Hankook slick tyres in dry races, and features a push-to-pass button, lifting power to 335bhp for gung-ho overtakes or defensive manoeuvres.
Dickie explains more details of the series in the video above, and you'll have to watch to the end to see how he fared in the double-header event. Want a go yourself? A full season should set you back around 118,800 euros...
