quattro Feature: “From Zero to World Record Holder in Six Years, and His Foot is Still on the Gas.”

by Carson Heater

Back in 2018, Arnon Clemente walked into Audi North Orlando with his wife Jennifer after decades of owning JDM cars and a brief stint with a 2018 BMW M4. He didn’t feel a connection with his current car or the brand, and after talking with a few friends and test-driving other brands, they finally arrived at the Audi dealership. After chatting with the Brand Specialist and receiving a history lesson on the four rings, they test drove and purchased a Mythos Black 2018 S3. But after driving the car in the real world for a week, they realized it wasn’t the right fit and brought it back to the dealership.

What came next was quite the upgrade – a 2018 Navarra Blue RS 5 coupe. A spirited test drive with the Sales Manager sealed the deal, and they drove it home. Wheels and suspension came first, with the car being fitted for custom BC Forged wheels and H&R VTF springs. Powertrain modifications followed as they were developed for the brand-new platform – beta testing a JB4 piggyback tuning module, followed by an AWE intake, high flow catted downpipes and an un-resonated exhaust.

It was then Arnon was introduced to HPDEs through a program Audi North Orlando was participating in at the time. Getting a few weekends in at Sebring International Raceway in January and May of 2019 revealed areas the car needed improvement, with braking upgrades and weight reduction employed. Arnon also worked with Jose @ MercRacing to improve cooling system performance. After that, he was introduced to Nick Mercadante at 034Motorsport and a relationship began to test 034’s lineup of chassis and suspension components on the B9 platform. After adding Pure700 Turbochargers and WMI, he reached 600HP, then added a complete Capristo CF body kit and returned to Sebring in September with a noticeable difference in performance. The car was also able to lay down a 10.828 @ 124.74MPH quarter mile time, making it the world’s first 10-second B9 RS 5.

That October, Arnon brought Jennifer into the party, getting her into an Ibis White 2019 S5 Coupe. Unable to leave the car stock, Arnon got her hooked up with 034’s Stage 1 Dynamic+ flash tune, a used front mount intercooler and downpipe, and then pulled almost every 034-suspension component into it.

A track mishap at Daytona that December ended with Arnon and his instructor unharmed, but the RS 5 was deemed a total loss. Having invested in track day insurance, he immediately moved to acquire another RS 5, with a 2019 Nardo Grey coupe fortuitously being traded into Audi North Orlando (ANO) by another member of the track group. A small group of ANO technicians moved all of the performance goodies over to the new car, and Arnon was back in business in three days!

2020 arrived, and with the RS 5 becoming a drag-focused car, Arnon and Jennifer decided to acquire a suitable used Audi for road course use. Another visit to ANO to have drag radials mounted on the RS 5 turned into another car purchase, with Arnon discovering another member of their track group was looking to move on from their fully-built 2018 Samoa Orange RS 3. It had a storied history – it was an APR development car and the first 8V RS 3 to break the 9-second ¼ mile barrier. Fully built EA855/07K Evo DAZA-code engine with valvetrain, pistons and rods all upgraded. Fully built DQ500 transmission. Upgraded fuel system. It was turn-key and ready to go, with over 800WHP on tap. With some help from ANO to facilitate the sale, Arnon acquired it and de-tuned it to around 600WHP. Suspension parts from RacingLine and 034Motorsport went in to improve road course performance.

2021 brought a brand-new Glacier White SQ7 into the mix after going to the store to buy a present for his parents the previous Christmas and not being able to fit it inside either of their coupes or the RS 3. It also did an admirable job of hauling the RS 5 or the RS 3 to the track. 2023 saw Jennifer move on from her S5 into a 2024 Q8 e-tron Launch Edition in Magney Grey, their first EV.

In 2024, Arnon’s RS 5 made the news again. After working with 034Motorsport since late 2022 to return it to stock turbos, go to their flashed ECU tuning, reduce un-sprung weight by installing smaller S5 calipers and 034’s 2-piece rotors and lightweight 18” wheel setup before further ECU revisions came through. Eventually progressing to Stage 3+ and TTE720 hybrid turbochargers along with a Wagner Tuning Competition cooling setup, he was able to achieve a 9.843 @ 139.82 ¼ mile time at Orlando Speed World. Still a few tenths shy of the overall stock block B9 RS 5 record, he went to Bradenton Motorsports Park on 2/21/2025 and laid down a 9.803 @ 139.53 pass, tying him for the world record, but leaving him proud he accomplished it as a customer effort.

2024 also brought in the RS 3’s former owner’s 2021 Dragon Orange SQ8 to replace the Clemente’s SQ7. It was already modified with an APR Stage 1 tune, RS Q8 intercoolers, RS Q8 bumpers and a lower stance achieved through a CETE module. But 2025 is the year Arnon won’t forget. After seeing another track group friend at an ANO Cars & Coffee, he received a message from him in July saying he was considering selling his 1 of 1 Voodoo Blue 2017 R8 V10+. With some help from ANO, Arnon took possession of it, and started making it his own – adding CF body components from Automotive Passion and custom paint work.

To continue reading this story and more, click here to access the Q4_2026 digital issue of quattro Magazine. [Note: you must be logged in to your membership account to view]