More than 20 Weekends at the Race Track
For over ten years, AUDI AGs motorsport exploits have been closely linked to one name: Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (55). Since November 1993, the native of Vienna has been directing the motorsport activities of the premium brand from Ingolstadt in his capacity as Head of Audi Sport. Under his direction Audi simultaneously won the Touring Car Championships in seven countries, clinched as many as five victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, seven consecutive victories in the 12 Hours of Sebring (USA) and in 2004, the year of the brands return to the DTM as a manufacturer, all three titles in Europes most popular touring car series straight away. The Audi A4 quattro, the Audi R8 and the Audi A4 DTM represent three of Audi Sports most successful projects launched during his watch. And the new Audi R10 TDI diesel-powered sportscar has proved its race-winning qualities already! The 2006 season will be particularly stressful for the Head of Audi Sport. In the DTM, the American Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans Audi will be competing with factory teams. For Dr Wolfgang Ullrich this means spending more than 20 weekends at the race track and having little time for his biggest hobby his family. “When were having fun together, this gets rid of the stress very quickly,” relates Dr Ullrich, whose wife Antje used to work with Motorsport Communication at Audi and consequently understands that her husband needs to travel so much on the job. The couple have a six-year-old son (Timo) who is a big DTM fan. Dr Ullrichs daughter Barbara (25), from his first marriage, is more interested in football caused by her grandfather Josef “Pepi Ullrich, who has been a successful professional footballer and who became the “goal-scoring champion twice in a row in France. |