Young gun to race new Audi Sports Sedan
A new Audi weapon created by John Gourlay will be raced by teenager Cadel Ambrose in a state meeting next month, with a goal of appearing in the national series.
At the tender age of 17, Ambrose will drive Gourlay’s latest creation, a new Audi A4 in the opening round of the Victorian State Race Series Sports Sedans category on February 14-16.
The meeting will be somewhat of a shakedown for both driver and car with the intention of entering the Precision National Sports Sedans Series, which fires up at Sydney Motorsport Park on March 21-23.
Ambrose has prepared for the challenge by testing at Winton and the new Audi caught his attention straight away.
Cadel Ambrose ready to take on Sports Sedans. Image: Supplied
“As soon as I left the pits for the first time, I knew the Audi demanded respect,” said Ambrose.
“Heading to Winton for that first test, I wouldn’t say it was daunting, but I knew the significance of the task at hand and I had to be mature in my approach, making sure I listened whenever possible.
“Obviously, you take it easy on the first few sighting laps, but John (Gourlay) has done a mega job developing this new beast, and I started to feel comfortable pretty quickly.
“The new Audi is a perfect example of John’s engineering ability, and his competitive desire to push the technical and design features of the new car.
“I’ve grown up around Sports Sedans most of my life, but experiencing a Chevrolet V8 thumping away just centimetres from your left knee was a whole new experience for me.
“Like all new race cars, there are a few teething issues to iron out, but that’s what testing is for, and I simply cannot wait to jump behind the wheel of the Audi at Sandown and get a proper understanding of its straight-line handling capabilities.
“I am grateful to John for allowing me the opportunity to debut this car at Sandown.”
Ambrose joins the long list successful drivers, who have previously raced a Gourlay Audi, including Jack Perkins, Darren Hossack and Jordan Caruso.
Cadel Ambrose getting a seat fitting.
Both Hossack and Caruso won National Sports Sedans titles in 2008 and 2022 respectively.
The new Audi A4 started life as a Jeff Barnes Pontiac Trans AM Sports Sedan.
It was built by K&A Engineering in Adelaide before Gourlay took over the chassis and rebuilt it, with the idea of resembling the old Audi with B7 series A4 bodywork.
The new A4 represents a notable evolution from the old car, especially underneath the panels.
Jordan Caruso driving the previous Audi to pole at Bathurst in 2023. Image: Peter Norton
Cadel Ambrose might have a famous name, but it is a different family with its own racing heritage.
Cadel has got lots of experience in a short time, including several Australian Karting titles, the 2023 Victorian Hyundai Excel Championship, as well as a stint in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia Scholarship Series in 2024.
His father Rohan Ambrose raced Improved Production, Sports Sedans, racing rotary-powered Mazdas in the 1990s and 2000s.
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