Many VIPs Visited Audi at Le Mans

The Le Mans 24 Hours is well-known as the toughest car race in the world and attracts many VIPs from sport, show biz and politics year by year. Before the start of the race, among others the new French premier minister François Fillon visited the Audi pits. Soul singer Seal got lots of attention. He shot souvenir pictures of the Audi R10 TDI on the starting grid and also while visting the Audi pits. He gave an exclusive concert for AUDI AG guests in the Audi Racing Arena on Saturday evening.

Many members of the management of the Volkswagen Group and AUDI AG also visited the Le Mans 24 Hours to see the race live. Among them figured Ferdinand Piëch, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn and Rupert Stadler. The Chairman of the Board of AUDI AG completed a lap in an Audi R8 on the “Circuit des 24 Heures” before the start of the race.

On Saturday, prior to the start of the race, the new “Audi Tower” was unveiled. The presentation of the twelve-metre high sculpture which honours the Audi victories at Le Mans, was held in the “Village” of the race track and was attended by Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, ACO president Jean-Claude Plassart and Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen.

The ACO, organisers of the Le Mans 24 Hours, received 21 Official Cars before the start of the endurance race from Audi. Two Audi TT cars and three Audi RS 4 cars were used by Race Control and the Safety Car team, an Audi A6 allroad and four Audi S6 Avant cars served as Medical Cars. Eleven Audi Q7 SUVs were available for Fire Safety, the track and the Extrication team.

Like last year, Audi DTM driver Vanina Ickx worked as a reporter at Le Mans for the French TV station Canal plus.

On Friday evening, Audi invited their guests to a Barbecue party at the Le Mans “Country Club”. The musical setup guaranteed the best atmosphere for the party: Harald Krüger was on stage as was the “Party Gang with Lou” which in the past was successful in the “Grand Prix de la Chanson”.

During the race, exactly at midnight, Audi driver Dindo Capello got to see a special pit board: “Happy Birthday Dindo” was the message of his crew. The Italian turned 43 on Sunday. The wish to combine his birthday with a third Le Mans victory, however, was not fulfilled.