Auto Union Type C, Audi Sport quattro S1, Audi R8

A success story

Audi positions itself as the sportiest supplier in the premium sector, and for this it has the perfect basis: Motorsport. Sportiness, pioneering technology and an evocative design lay the foundations for Audi brand’s success. The genes for this stem from racing.

Audi Sport department founded

1978

Le Mans victories

DTM titles

Four decades of Vorsprung

Audi Sport has stood behind the successful motor racing involvement of AUDI AG for 40 years. Nowadays, the Ingolstadt manufacturer markets its most sporty Audi models and accessories under the label Audi Sport. The first motor racing activities of the Audi brand began in the late 1970s under the tagline Audi Motorsport. With its entry into the World Rally Championship in 1980, the brand changed the name of its motorsport department to Audi Sport. Even then, works-run motorsport at Audi was part of the Technical Development (TE) department. This close connection guarantees the technology transfer between motorsport and series production. Traditionally, this is a decisive reason for Audi taking on top-level motorsport.

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Audi in motorsport

1906–1926: Origins of racing

The motorsport origins of all the companies symbolized by the “Four Rings”, as well as NSU, go back to before the First World War.

Audi in motorsport

1932–1939: The age of the Silver Arrows

Following the 1932 merger of the automotive companies Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer it was important to promote the new Auto Union name. Motorsport was the ideal platform.

Racing history

1908–1968: The success of NSU

NSU was already making a name for itself in motorsport in the early twentieth century. By 1967, the brand had scored notable race victories at motorcycle and automobile races.

Audi in motorsport

1929–1964: DKW in racing

DKW, founded by Jörgen Skafte Rasmussen in Zschopau, contested races successfully with two-stroke motorcycles from 1921. DKW touring cars began their motorsport career in 1929.

Audi in motorsport

1978–1987: The quattro era

The rebirth of the Audi brand in 1965 and the merger of Auto Union and NSU in 1969 added new significance to the topic of motorsport. Audi’s modern motor racing heritage began with the quattro.

Racing history

1999–today: Beginning of the new millennium

With its entry of Le Mans prototypes in 1999 and the return to DTM in 2004, Audi began an exceptionally successful motorsport era heading into the new millennium.

AUDI AG

The history of AUDI AG dates back to the 19th century. Learn more about the great personalities from over 100 years of the brand’s history.

Audi R18 e-tron quattro on the racetrack

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