Sorry I haven't updated this thread yet. I posted my track experience briefly on two other threads. I'll expand on it a bit here.
A couple of weeks ago I took my P85D to a track day with the local Audi Club at
The Ridge Motorsports raceway in Shelton, WA.
Per their website, "The road circuit was penned by Steve Crawford, designer of Thunderhill Raceway Park and is 40 feet wide, 2.47 miles in length, with 16 turns, and has over 300 feet of elevation gain and loss per lap, including the 50 foot plunge down the Ridge Complex."
Weather was 45F - 50F with considerable rain on and off throughout the day.
This was my first time at this particular track and also my first time tracking the P85D. My past track experience is mainly in a modified Audi S4 at Portland International Raceway in Oregon and Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA, and two non-track events with my previous P85 (car control clinic and autocross, and a tour of Maryhill Loops Road).
To the headline (I know, I know, never bury the headline):
I experienced NO power limiting at any point during the day.
Brianman was there with his Sig P85 and experienced power limiting on each of his runs.
Important caveat though: This was my first time at this track, I was learning the track, and it was raining, so I wasn't pushing it particularly hard. I averaged 900-1000Wh/mi on each of my four sessions. Brian averaged 1000-1200Wh/mi, so he was definitely pushing it harder. Well, I suppose there could be an efficiency gain with the next gen front motor, but I doubt that was it.
That said, I was regularly passing people in my run group and by the end of the day was lapping the laggards. Also, I hammered it full throttle on the main straight each time up to about 120mph and didn't get power limited. Brian said he had to take it easy on the throttle on the main straight and only hit 90mph and yet still hit power limiting.
The car handled beautifully. After each session during our debrief many people were talking about loosing traction in one particular corner, the RWD drivers in particular, and I had no such problems. The car was balanced and only prone to a little understeer if I really came in too hot into a corner. Power on turn exit was effortless. The Michelin PS2's had insane amounts of grips, even in the wet.
So, all in all I'd say I was _very_ happy with the P85D on the track.
Is it a direct, one for one replacement for my S4? No. That car was nearly 1000 lbs lighter with similar HP/weight ratio, AWD, and a trick torque vectoring rear differential. Was it an equally enjoyable experience on the track? Absolutely.
Sounds like you're a pro at track days, let me know if you want a copilot some time.
