Circle Work

270 metres above sea level nestled just off Cromwell’s Kawarau Gorge Road, a siren rings out cutting through the nipping Southern air intently, the Roaring Meg Power Station’s flood gates open and 1300 litres of water per second is released in a violent outburst of white water stirring turbulently the sliver of aqua marine river below.

With the torrent comes energy, some 3000 kilowatts of it, generated by the station’s turbines fed by headwaters originating a further 1700 meters above sea level in the Pisa Ranges. Commissioned over 80 years ago, the roaring Meg power stations was very much a dream for the future, and it’s been reliably heating kettles, warming homes and toasting cheese since.

In a circular twist of circumstance, Audi’s Ice Experience event, held annually atop the Pisa ranges at the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds, relied heavily on that same electrical energy this year, with 50% of the impressive fleet of performance cars now fully electric e-tron models.

Audi’s domestic Ice Experience event included the manufacturer’s esteemed line-up of e-tron electric vehicles this season, including the halo RS e-tron GT. Guests were also able to sample other iconic nameplates in Audi’s performance car line-up, including the Audi RS 3, RS Q3, RS 4 and S3 models.

While there’s always the desire to sample the hottest of Audi’s fuel-powered performance cars, there’s equally as strong an argument to go electric confirmed tamed racing driver and long-standing Ice Experience driving instructor, Tim Martin.

“Its well-known electric vehicles can deliver 100% of their available torque from standstill, in an activity designed around driving fun, that’s a very attractive proposition. having driven Audi’s zero-carbon fleet in regular conditions I knew that there is no compromise when it comes to performance, he said.

“But on the ice, this takes it to a whole new level. Feeling the power and quattro technology of these e-tron models in extreme conditions is pretty mind blowing.”

The Ice Experience is, by far, the brand’s most popular customer event and it consistently sells out with many participants returning year after year to hone their ice driving skills.

“The skillset for some of our guests is now quite advanced,” Martin says

“Incorporating a strong contingent of e-tron models added a new challenge these drivers really appreciated. There is a difference in how to keep an electric vehicle on that limit of control over a petrol-powered car”

And that difference is very much the instantaneous aspect of the torque delivery, but also you’re missing the aural reference of an engine note, it takes some time to adjust.

“With a petrol RS model, there’s a small dwell period where an internal combustion engine naturally generates power and torque. It happens fast because of the level of performance on tap obviously, but you do feel that power and torque build through the seat of your pants and you can counter steer accordingly”

“With the e-tron cars that torque delivery is like flicking a light switch. The wants to oversteer immediately, this year we worked on guest’s reactions and anticipating this so they can counter steer earlier and modulate the throttle to maintain a consistent drift. You also need to rewire that instinct to listen for an engine too, but as the guests adjusted you could see they were loving the attributes of the electrified drivetrain.” Says Martin,

Guests drove a mix of performance-themed models, including the Audi RS 3, RS Q3, RS 4 and S3. But  for the first time, the competitive activities of the event were run emission free in 100% e-tron models.

The versatility of the e-tron range meant none of the activities needed to be toned down or adjusted to suit the new technology and even the dynamic hot lap component, with Tim behind the wheel, on a dedicated snow short-course, was run in the RS e-tron GT.

Touching speeds of 150km/h the e-tron GT impressed with its composure says Tim, “Without the engine note, passengers were just blown away when they caught a glimpse of the speeds we were reaching while driving on snow and ice. The resounding feedback of the electrified additions has been very positive.”

Like the Roaring Meg’s hydro energy, electromobility is no longer a dream of the future, it is very much a reality and Audi’s ice experience provides the perfect arena for customers to see this progressive technology in action. Long may the circle continue.