The Audi RS4 from Audi Sport Italia raced in 2011 its last season ever, after a long and successful career in the Italian based Superstars Series, a touring car championship open for big V8 sedans. The car based on the B7 model is the only AWD racer of the field with its quattro, and powered by a 4.2L FSI producing around 420bhp.
Introduced in 2006 replacing the old at that time Audi RS6. Tthe car was immediatly winning, enough to give Audi Sport Italia the teams title. Drivers were Dindo Capello, Giorgio Sanna and female Tamara Vidali. The following year the team signed touring car ace Gianni Morbidelli. He won in the end the drivers championship title and did the same in 2008 dominating the BMW M5 and Jaguars S-Type. From the 2009 season, the car started to struggle, against new models from BMW and AMG Mercedes-Benz. Worst in 2010, only the drivers skills pushed the car to some good results and few victories, with young Alberto Cola and Audi star Filipe Albuquerque. For 2011, the RS4 was completely outpaced. Gianni Morbidelli who rejoined the team in the second half of the season, was able to push the RS4 to its limits. Some good results come as at Vallelunga where he narrowly missed the victory in the final race of the season, the last one for the Audi RS4 after 6 long seasons.
For 2012, Audi Sport Italia is set to join the Superstars Series with a brand new Audi RS5, more news on that very soon.
Photo credit : Superstars Series
