Cheating in the World Rally Championship - Audi swapping cars?The most peculiar case took place in Ivory Coast Rally in 1985 when Audi was suspected to have swapped an entire car. Michelle Mouton’s Quattro had developed serious engine problems on the second day of the rally and was expected to retire at any moment. Instead, she started off to the next special stage with Franz Braun’s similar Sport Quattro entered at number 11 in tow. After 90 minutes of road penalties, Mouton emerged from the section with miraculously cured Audi but no sign of Braun’s car. Official explanation was that problem had not been damaged cylinder head as first suspected but an oil pump, which had been replaced by one from Braun’s car. Perfectly logical explanation and legal action.
Until rumours surfaced stating that Mouton’s car was in fact that of Braun’s, with body panels switched to make it look like the original. Rumours were so persistent that rally officials examined the matter despite no protest was ever made. They found no evidence of the swap. When it was noticed that the car’s windshields had apparently been swapped, Roland Gumpert said Mouton’s “anti-fog” system had failed. As Martin Holmes also pointed out, the matter became more curious when Mouton finally withdrew from the rally, claiming that car was unsafe as it was falling to pieces. Her original car was especially strengthened for African rallies, Braun’s chase car was not and would have suffered from exactly that sort of issue.
Is it just a myth or is there something more to it?
![Obrázek](https://i.imgur.com/lXFLmDvl.jpg)
![Obrázek](https://i.imgur.com/xQnGi1Ll.jpg)
![Obrázek](https://i.imgur.com/pmiqokO.jpg)