Anyone would be a fool to say the BMW 3 series or the Audi A4/S4 are not successful ventures with excellent pedigrees.
However for remarkably similar vehicles the Audi A4/S4 and the BMW 3/M3 never really compete against each other much on the track where the real boys commonly play and bragging rights are at stake.
When the paths do cross the BMW’s seem to be at a distinct disadvantage. Actually when Audi announces they are entering a series BMW tends to pack up bags and play somewhere else.
Examples:
DTM Racing a unique German Series originally created in 1984. BMW initially participates until 1989, however Audi starts in 1990 and BMW leaves the series and Audi wins the series in 1990 and 1991 in an Audi 100 and again in a TT in 2002 and again in 2004 in the A4. The series does not run from 1995 to 1999.
WTCC- SEAT (owned by Audi) is currently leading the series. BMW is in second
Championship Rally 1983 and 1984 Audi took the world championship with the Quattro. Not a BMW in sight.. Actually since the advent of AWD in Rally not a single BMW has ever competed successfully that I can tell. Where are the touted X-Drives?
Speed World Challenge
2000 Audi enters mid season, and barley loses the entire series by 20 points to BMW despite missing races.
2001 Audi S4 takes the series closest BMW is 5th place
2002 Audi S4 takes the series closest BMW is 25th place
2003 Audi RS6 takes the series BMW is 2nd place
2004 Audi RS6 is 2nd place closest BMW is 27th Audi factory pulls out to pursue other interests
American Lemans: Audi enters and wins series in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and is undefeated in 2006
24 hours of Lemans: Audi wins in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004,2005, 2006 2003 was an basically an Audi R8 raced under the Bentley banner which took the race. BMW won in 1999 and the Audis placed 3rd and 4th in their debut. BMW pulled out in 2000.
So the question is why and where are the BMW’s? And more importantly why does BMW "pursue" other efforts when Audi announces it is going to play.
Comments..err excuses please.