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Audi at Le MansTen starts, eight wins
Ten starts, eight wins – the results of AUDI AG at the 24 Hours of Le Mans are impressive. If you include the win scored in 2003 by sister company Bentley, which relied on an Audi Sport developed TFSI engine for its sports car project, then Audi Technology is unbeaten in the French endurance classic for nine years.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans complement today’s world better than the majority of other motorsport events: The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) concentrated its focus at an early stage on the development of alternative and environmentally friendly drive concepts and technical innovations. It promotes the use of economical and quiet engines. After all, reliability is a very decisive factor at
Le Mans.
Relationship to production
“The subjects arising from Le Mans are also everyday subjects,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich who took the brand to Le Mans for the first time in 1999 and can claim eight Le Mans victories in the meantime. As a result, Audi now trails Ferrari by a single victory in the all time winners’ list of the race which enjoys a long tradition. Only Porsche has more Le Mans victories (16).
Audi secured a podium finish at the first attempt with the R8R in 1999. A year later the Audi R8, which would go on to dominate the sports car scene for six years and take 63 wins in 80 races – including five victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans – made its debut.
Audi Sport Team Joest won three times in succession in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Thanks to the hat-trick Audi became the first automobile manufacturer to be able to keep the famous Le Mans challenge trophy forever. Today it is on display in the Audi museum mobile in Ingolstadt.
Audi customer and importer teams flew the flag for Audi at Le Mans between 2003 and 2005. The result – another two Le Mans victories.
Audi Sport Team Joest recorded yet another hat-trick in 2006, 2007 and 2008, this time with the revolutionary Audi R10 TDITDISynonymous with muscular torque delivery and outstanding efficiency: TDI. Today, TDI engines are sporty, smooth and economical.TDI . The first victory for a diesel racing sports car in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans made headlines around the world.
Eleventh Le Mans race
Audi competes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the eleventh time in 2009. In view of the history there can only be one goal: win number nine. The challenge this year is even greater than ever before: For the first time there will be no test day at Le Mans before the race. The free practice session on Wednesday and qualifying on Thursday must suffice in 2009 to set up the new R15 TDI for the 13.629-kilometer long non-permanent circuit.
