The Audi race experience: The race driving school

Get acquainted with motorsport with Audi and become a racing driver in the Audi R8 LMS – this is the idea behind the Audi race experience, a component of the Audi driving experience. A multistage concept allows beginners and experienced amateur drivers alike to drive Audi’s GT3 race car on race tracks and even to compete in races.

Number one yet again: Audi became the first company to conceive a motorsport program for its customers. Ambitious sports car drivers have had the chance to test the Audi R8 LMS since 2010. Incentive events on race tracks provide sports drivers with the opportunity to drive the powerful 560 hp race car in one-on-one training sessions or as ‘Erlebnis Audi R8 LMS’ on a race track. Also new to the program this year is the race car that sees action in the new Audi Sport TT Cup.

Customer racing, the second area of the Audi race experience, makes even greater demands. To withstand the rigors of competition, the drivers must prove their knowledge of the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Only then can they compete in endurance races in the Eifel with the Audi race experience. Over the last five years, more than 1,000 customers were mesmerized by the Audi R8 LMS ultra in one of the programs. Extreme athlete and stratospheric skydiver Felix Baumgartner trained to become a racing driver. Another prominent guest in the race car’s cockpit in 2014 was former Ski World Cup winner Didier Cuche.

Sporting Director for the motorsport program is former rally driver Josef ‘Sepp’ Haider. In 2015, he supervised the program on seven race weekends as well as during the VLN test and balance of performance. The Audi driving experience has also been based in Neuburg since 2014. “The facility with the customer building and the various types of race track are ideal for our requirements, which is also confirmed by our customers,” says Klaus Demel, Head of Audi driving experience. “The Audi race experience also contests a comprehensive program on the race tracks in 2015. I’m convinced that we will gain many new customers for the Audi brand again this year.”