5 Great Motorsport Victories for Audi
Audi has enjoyed many years of success across many different forms of motorsports. Here are the greatest victories in across their checkered racing history.
1. 24 Hours of Le Mans dominance
Audi has simply dominated the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans, becoming one of the most successful manufacturers in the race's history. With 13 victories since 2000, Audi is only four behind the all-time record of 16 wins, held by Porsche. The R18 racked up wins in its first four races and remains poised to add to that total in the coming years.
2. Quattro makes rally history
The birth of Audi's now famous quattro all-wheel drive system brought with it sustained success on the world rally stage. In the first six years of quattro alone, Audi drivers racked up four world championship titles and won 23 world championship heats. The technological superiority of the quattro system made its mark in rally history in a big way, paving the way for other manufacturers to follow suit.
3. DKW and the two-stroke era
Over a ten year span (1954-64), Audi dominated the DKW motorsport scene, racking up 100 championship titles, 150 total victories, 2,500 class wins, and 35 team wins. Despite being down on power at times in comparison to the competition, the little engine that could beat the odds time and time again. Whether their cars featured the front drive/two-stroke set up or the rear drive/four cylinder pump charge configuration, these Audi's were true champions of the racing world.
4. Touring car success comes immediately
When Audi decided to enter circuit racing in 1988, it didn't take long to taste success. Audi won the American TransAm Championship in its first year. The following year saw a runner-up finish in the IMSA-GTO race series, missing the title only after withdrawing from Sebring and Daytona. In 1990, Audi entered the DTM scene and proceeded to win the championship two years straight.
5. Grand Prix and world speed records
Between wars, automotive racing grew tremendously in popularity and was likewise successful in moving cars out of showrooms. This was the golden age of German racing, and the constant pressure to break world speed records led to a great deal of tragedy in addition to glory. Audi was at the forefront of these developments, winning many key races and producing magnificent cars like the Type D - easily one of the best looking and most technologically advanced race cars of its time.
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