Why no Audi or Mercedes at the track?

[Np2014]

I am a novice and just getting into track events. I have noticed that the large majority of German cars at the track are exclusively Bmw's and Porsche's. You hardly ever see an Audi S or RS model or Mercedes AMG model why is that? I know awd is not the favorite among drivers at the track and rwd is the way to go but are there any other main reasons?

[peter_s]

I think it's basically because the are too heavy.

Both Audi and Merc make excellent sporty road cars, but they suffer on the track because of that. I do see some R8s from time to time, and they should be really good track cars.

[CanAutM3]

I would not say there are none at all, because I do see some Audi and Mercs at the track. But I believe that the BMW are better balanced overall and tend to provide a more enjoyable experience at the track. Hence folks who buy cars as dual purpose cars (DD /track) will tend to select BMWs. Porsches are simply spotier machines overall.

We also own an Audi S4, while it is a great daily driver, especially in the white stuff, it is far less enjoyable at the the track than any of the ///Ms that I have owned.

[M4TW]

I think it also marketing. RS' and AMG's are considered to be luxury cars with performance capabilities while ///M's and Porsche's are considered to be performance cars with luxury capabilities.

In reality, the novice to intermediate Schmo isn't going to see a big difference between the German barnstormers at the track and would probably be the quickest in the Audi.

I think there are bigger differences in the buyers of these brands than in the cars themselves.

[gthal]

There some but not a ton. IMO, it is because RS and AMG cars are marketed to a different buyer. But guess what? There are fewer and fewer M's there too... today tracks are dominated by Porsche based on what I see... probably 2 to 1 Porsche to anything else.

[M4isKing]

Originally Posted by gthal

There some but not a ton. IMO, it is because RS and AMG cars are marketed to a different buyer. But guess what? There are fewer and fewer M's there too... today tracks are dominated by Porsche based on what I see... probably 2 to 1 Porsche to anything else.

i love it when i eat porsches at the track!!

although its all about driver and on second thought, its sad that i love it when I'm eating n00bs at the track.

[MaynardZed]

Originally Posted by gthal

There some but not a ton. IMO, it is because RS and AMG cars are marketed to a different buyer. But guess what? There are fewer and fewer M's there too... today tracks are dominated by Porsche based on what I see... probably 2 to 1 Porsche to anything else.

I'm still seeing more BMW (mostly E46 and E36) over Porsche in my club, probably 2:1 the other way. Maybe a regional thing? A lot of corvettes and mustangs (why?) too.

[evanescent03]

usually the Audis and Mercs that I've seen are new/newish and the owners just wanna see what it can do out there. i'm not sure about brakes on the newer/heavier cars.

it may also have to do with there being less support out there on the forums for those cars at the track. although the track forums across bimmerpost/bimmerfest aren't extremely active, there are a lot more guys to learn from and more shops to buy stuff from for BMWs in my experience. that's another reason why i chose the m3 instead of an S4 or waiting for the C63 … more people running these cars hard and so more input on brake setups, bulletproofing measures, etc.

i'm not a long-time guy but i've done a few HPDE weekends with BMWCCA and PCA from in different areas (Dallas, Philly, Memphis, Birmingham, Columbus (Ohio))

[RingMeister01]

Originally Posted by gthal

There some but not a ton. IMO, it is because RS and AMG cars are marketed to a different buyer. But guess what? There are fewer and fewer M's there too... today tracks are dominated by Porsche based on what I see... probably 2 to 1 Porsche to anything else.

E36 M3 dominate in attendance over Porsches at track events, especially Time Trials.

Now that the E92 market is becoming more affordable you'll see an influx of these models as dedicated track rats.

[StealYourFace]

I had an instructor with an S4 a couple years ago, it amazed me how quick that boat felt. Very nice car.

[playinJ30]

because Mercedes are german Cadillacs and Audi's are glorified VWs.

[JNoSol]

Mercedes and Audi do have some very decent track ready cars. The 2015 AMG C63 S has 503HP and Audi RS5 has 450HP.

It boils down to the car club. There isn't a big fan base in the weekend racing world for Merc and Audi, as much as BMW. On a given race weekend, you'll notice way more M3s than any other sport cars. You'll see M3s anywhere from drag strip to SCCA to driving school.

Fact: The Audi Club of North America has 10,000 members while BMW Car Club of America has 75,000. The more members, the more race events, sponsorship, and more after market parts companies chasing after it.

[nicknaz]

It must be regional/club dependent.

in socal I see a LOT of miata, s2k, evo, sti and on the German side E36 M3. most cars are modified

[chili cheese]

Originally Posted by JNoSol

Mercedes and Audi do have some very decent track ready cars. The 2015 AMG C63 S has 503HP and Audi RS5 has 450HP.

It boils down to the car club. There isn't a big fan base in the weekend racing world for Merc and Audi, as much as BMW. On a given race weekend, you'll notice way more M3s than any other sport cars. You'll see M3s anywhere from drag strip to SCCA to driving school.

Fact: The Audi Club of North America has 10,000 members while BMW Car Club of America has 75,000. The more members, the more race events, sponsorship, and more after market parts companies chasing after it.

Well, not exactly. The AMG and Audi models are not track ready.....too heavy, AWD....bad and bad. That is why you don't see them. This is not Club dependent, as most track events (at least in my area) are run by non-affiliated organizations running open lapping days. You just don't see stripped AMGs or Audis, as they do not make good dedicated track cars either.

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by chili cheese

Well, not exactly. The AMG and Audi models are not track ready.....too heavy, AWD....bad and bad. That is why you don't see them. This is not Club dependent, as most track events (at least in my area) are run by non-affiliated organizations running open lapping days. You just don't see stripped AMGs or Audis, as they do not make good dedicated track cars either.

True, heavy cars do tear through suspension bushings and tires very fast. That doesn't stop M5s from coming out the track. Then again, I can't imagine too many Merc owners like to get their hands dirty on the track. (other than one guy from KC, Dudley - BMW driving instructor. The dude is 77yrs old and he drives his AMG E63 like a beast around the track. I want to be like him when I grow up.)

Chuck Vossler, BMWBlog staff who wrote the article of the X6M tracking at COTA. Since the X6M weighs 5,185lbs. I asked him how much tires did BMW supplied them for that whole track sessions? He texted me this photo.

[SYT_Shadow]

Because, despite marketing, owners of AMGs and RS audis are not the same target demographic as BMWs and do not go to the track

At the track you see Porsche, BMW, Miatas, Corvettes and that's pretty much it.

So far I've seen zero C63. A single RS4...

[chillindrdude]

yep, i was the only Audi S4 there. definitely felt the heft in the twisties, and she ate brake pads like homer eating donuts.

straight line power was pretty good actually. and with the sport diff, i could roll on the gas earlier coming out of a turn. i had a stg1 tune.

but i sold her and now have a M3.