The cooperation in LMP1 sport prototypes between Reinhold Joest and Audi began in 1999. At that time, the Team Boss brought 30 years of personal Le Mans experience and four wins in the classic to the partnership. In the meantime, the team’s record of success has grown to 15 Le Mans victories, many other race wins and two World Champion titles.

Reinhold Joest is a gentleman from another motorsport generation. He ventured to Le Mans with a racecar for the first time in 1969. He had mounted the podium three times by 1981, before moving to the other side of the pit wall. As Team Boss he recorded even greater victories: the privateer beat the big manufacturer teams on the Sarthe in 1984, 1985, 1996 and 1997 and has been successful with Audi since 1999.

But Reinhold Joest is not somebody to dwell on the past with the team owner moving with the times. While many of the Odenwald resident’s competitors long since enjoy a well-deserved retirement, Joest doesn’t miss an opportunity to travel around the world to the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC, to maintain contact with Audi, the drivers and his own team members and to work constantly on optimizing his team. Team Director Ralf Jüttner has been part of the team from Wald-Michelbach for more than two decades now. The engineer heads up the races and is Technical Director, while his wife, Sigrun, works in logistics and team organization.

What characterizes the combined know-how of Audi Sport and Audi Sport Team Joest is proved repeatedly in the greatest ‘classics’ in Le Mans history. Every race writes its own history, but several remain etched in the memory. In 2008, the team could not have won the 24-hour race on pace alone. Smart tactical decisions and a wealth of experience with unsettled weather and tire choice helped to win the race. Unforgotten is also the tireless work in 2014 when the team took the lead for the first time in the early morning hours at Le Mans, overcame setbacks thanks to the courageous efforts of the pit crew before ultimately winning again. No other team has been so successful at Le Mans. 

Joest Racing’s greatest victories

Winner 24 Hours of Le Mans

1984, 1985, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 (since 2000 with Audi)

Winner FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC)

2012, 2013 (all with Audi)

Winner American Le Mans Series

2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 (all with Audi)

Winner Le Mans Series

2008 (Audi)

Winner 12 Hours Sebring

2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013 (all with Audi)

Winner ITC

1996

Winner 24 Hours Daytona

1980

Winner 12 Hours Bathurst

2011 (Audi)