Award for Allan McNish
Audi legend Allan McNish has received a prestigious accolade in his native Britain. The 2013 FIA WEC World Endurance Racing Champion was presented with the Gold Medal of the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC). The 45-year-old Scotsman personally accepted the award in recognition of his outstanding career in Kenilworth near Coventry. On receiving this accolade McNish has joined the list of renowned racers having been honored by the club including, among others, the Formula One World Champions Lewis Hamilton, Damon Hill, Jack Brabham and Jacky Stewart.
Kelvin van der Linde is Motor Sportsman of the Year
Kelvin van der Linde has received a nice accolade for his performances in his native South Africa. The Audi driver, who is only 18 years old, won the 2014 ADAC GT Masters together with René Rast in the Audi R8 LMS ultra of Prosperia C. Abt Racing and has now been voted Motor Sportsman of the Year. He had previously won the award for the first time a year ago – then as the youngest-ever recipient of this award. The up-and-coming driver from Dainfern near Johannesburg is again competing with Audi in the ADAC GT Masters this year in order to defend his title.
Reinhold Joest presented with Golden Pin of Honor
Reinhold Joest, the founder of Audi Sport Team Joest, has received an award. County Commissioner Matthias Wilkes presented the businessman and former race driver with the Golden Pin of Honor of the Bergstraße County for his achievements and commitment to his native Odenwald region. “Reinhold Joest is both rooted in his native soil and active on a world-class level,” the county commissioner said in justifying the award. With his team based in Wald-Michelbach, Reinhold Joest has won the Le Mans 24 Hours an amazing 15 times, including eleven victories with Audi. In addition, the squad from Germany’s Odenwald region has achieved success on numerous other occasions in international racing. Reinhold Joest is an ambassador of the Bergstraße County as well.
Mattias Ekström tests for ‘Golden Steering Wheel’
Preparations for the 40th ‘Golden Steering Wheel’ awards hosted by the Axel Springer publishing house are in full swing. Audi factory driver Mattias Ekström is a member of the expert jury again this year. The jury is comprised of chief editors, designers, celebrities, engineers and digital experts. The double DTM Champion tested various models over the last few days on a proving ground in Balocco, Italy. The final list consists of 38 cars in seven classes. The awards ceremony for Europe’s most important automobile prize will be held in Berlin on November 10.
Award for Audi R18 e-tron quattro
The special-interest magazine ‘Modell Fahrzeug’ has recognized the best miniature cars for the 25th time. The Audi R18 e-tron quattro received an award as the best model car of the year 2015 in category B. The 1-87-scale Le Mans prototype made by Spark Model is a miniature of the race car in which Loïc Duval/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish won the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Award for Audi Competence Center Motorsport
An expert jury recognized the Competence Center Motorsport as part of the Audi Neuburg facility that was opened in 2014. Christian Weck accepted the ‘Motorsport Facility of the Year’ award presented by the Professional Motorsport World Expo trade fair in Cologne on Wednesday on behalf of Audi Sport. In addition to Audi Sport and Audi Sport customer racing, Audi’s premises in Neuburg are home to the Audi driving experience. Technical Development (TE) of AUDI AG uses the facility as well.
Mattias Ekström attends Golden Lenkrad in Berlin
The Golden Lenkrad presented by the Axel Springer Verlag is one of the most coveted awards in the automobile industry. DTM driver Mattias Ekström attended the awards ceremony on Tuesday evening in Berlin alongside Marketing and Sales Director Dietmar Voggenreiter and quattro GmbH Managing Director Heinz Hollerweger. The Audi factory driver was again this year a member of the expert jury comprised of chief editors, designers, celebrities, technicians and digital experts.
Golden racing driver boot Award for Tom Kristensen
Special accolade for Tom Kristensen: the Le Mans record winner’s unique career has been honored at the Essen Motor Show in Germany. The editorial board of the special interest magazine “AutoBild motorsport” awarded the “Goldener Rennfahrerschuh” (Golden racing driver boot) to the overwhelmed Dane on Friday evening at the traditional “Race night”. The new endurance world champion Timo Bernhard, who won the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours in an Audi R15 TDI, MADE the congratulatory speech. Some 600 guests gave Kristensen a standing ovation.