The genes of a winner

A high-performance sports car, a roadgoing vehicle that could be said to have inherited the genes of the Audi R8, three-times winner of the Le Mans 24-Hours race: Audi reveals its ‘Le Mans quattro’ concept study.

This fascinating driving machine is a synthesis of the experience gained from numerous racing triumphs, allied to advanced design and Audi’s technical competence - which has in turn become synonymous for Audi’s technological leadership (Vorsprung durch Technik) on the racetrack and the road alike.

Audi has scored innumerable wins on racing circuits all over the world. After the successes achieved in rallying in the 1980s and many triumphs with touring cars bearing the four-ring emblem, Audi’s commitment to sports-car racing represented undoubtedly the greatest challenge faced by its motor-sport engineers so far.

But here too the engineers mastered their task brilliantly: three times in succession - in 2000, 2001 and 2002 (and indeed taking first, second and third places in 2000 and 2002) - the Audi R8 cars were the first across the finishing line of the Le Mans 24-Hours race.

Le Mans - without doubt the toughest task that the Audi Sport Team’s engineers have ever tackled. For this particular event all the car’s systems have to be laid out to survive a distance far greater than in a short sprint event. This technological challenge includes - in addition to the essentials of top performance and optimum driving dynamics - endurance, reliability and perfect ergonomics.

These are virtues - and technologies - that can be translated with great effect into a roadgoing sports car and which make the Audi Le Mans quattro as unique as its thrilling design: the genes of a winner.