Car Specs:
Racing Accomplishments:
I was born and raised in Australia and fortunate to witness the 'London to Sydney Marathon' in 1970 which was a rage down-under. After seeing Andrew Cowan charge through the "bush" in his Hillman Hunter, another rally fan was born! Soon after, our family moved to Greece where rally is very popular and I saw my first World Rally event - the 'Acropolis Rally'. The following year I went to college in England which is rally heaven for all. For four years I attended the 'RAC' rally and saw legends at work and in the making. This rally "virus" was consuming me and then, while back in Greece, I met and conversed with Sandro Munari one night during lengthy repairs to his damaged Fiat 131 Abarth. I knew I had to be involved with rally someday.
That day came in 1989 when one of my customers told me about Ski-Sawmill Rally School and, unhesitatingly, I was there. Shortly thereafter I had my first rally experience as co-driver at 'Sunriser 400' in Ohio. By 1992 I recorded my first win as Co-driver and in 1993 I won my first rally as a driver in my Audi 200.
Over the past 15 years I have switched seats in rally cars many times. Obviously I prefer to drive, and I have performed respectably well over the years, having recorded four overall wins in Divisional (or Club) rallies, numerous class victories and/or high placings, one Rallycross Championship, some Rallysprint victories and more recently a huge win on the ice against many veteran ice-racers. All my successes were at the wheel of an Audi Quattro.
As a co-driver however, I have had even more success - clinching the North American Championship in the P-GT class in 1995 with driver Selcuk Karamanoglou and the Eastern States Rally Championship in Open class with driver Scott Gardner. Many other wins and high placings came as well with many talented drivers with whom I was honored to team up with.
In 1999 I decided to combine my hobby with my profession and founded 'Quattromotion LLC' race shop in Newark, New Jersey. We started as an independent VW/Audi/Porsche service center and since developed into a successful rally-prep shop. We build, prep and service numerous rally cars for both novice and experienced rally teams.
Always conscious of the sports needs in general, I decided to give back a little to the sport that I love and enjoy so much. I have worked at several rallies in different capacities, instructed at Ski-Sawmill Rally School and was chairman of the New York Region Rally Board in 2000-2001. In 1997 Ken Burt and I revived rallycross and were instrumental in making it a recognizable and sanctioned sport again. Since then I have organized or co-organized over 25 events. Also, in 2000, I organized the first and very successful event called the 'Irish Hills Club Rally' which is known today as 'Rally New York'.
My passion for rally sports compels me to be involved in many capacities as proven above. I have no plans to stop competing, planning or working in rally. I’m honored to have met so many great people in rally and happy to be part of this unique and fantastic community!
I'm an Australian citizen with Greek decent, schooled in England and now living in New York. My wife Maria and I are proud to have 2 great (genius) kids, Jeannie and Aris. We are all very interested in each others hobbies or sports. We all like to travel very much both domestically and internationally. We all speak multiple languages. Rally complements our interests and lifestyles.
Car Specs:
1989 Audi 90 Quattro
Open Class (ex-Group 'A')
Driver: Constantine Mantopoulos
Co-driver: Boyd Smith
Dimensions: Length: 176"
Width: 68"
Height: 54"
Wheelbase: 100"
Front Track: 58"
Rear Track: 57"
Weight: 2750 lbs
Driveline: Engine: 2.2 litre 5 cylinder 20 valve turbo
Power: 290-320 hp
Torque: 258ft/lbs @ 2900 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed Audi Sport close-ratio w/4:86 final drive
Suspension: Front: Group 'A' magnesium McPherson
Rear: Group 'A' magnesium struts
Steering: Audi Sport close-ratio hydraulic rack
Constantine can be reached at:
Home: 718-494-8794
Business: 973-491-9790
Cell: 917-733-9665
E-mail: QTRM@aol.com