For some its the most famous downhill ski race in the world; for others its the social highlight of the winter. Downhill racers and athletes from the Audi family opened the 71st Hahnenkamm weekend in Kitzbhel Friday evening with prominent guests from show business and industry. Once again, Audi Night in the Hotel Zur Tenne fulfilled all expectations.
Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, and Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management Marketing and Sales, welcomed a large group of guests to Kitzbhel that included the actors Veronica Ferres, Ralf Mller and Thomas Heinze, model Eva Padberg, moderators Kai Pflaume and Johannes B. Kerner and athletes like the former skier Hermann Maier and the former biathlete Kati Wilhelm.
At the start of the evening, the 420 invited guests were treated to an introduction to one star currently causing a furor on the streets of Germany. All eyes were on the new Audi A6 as it stood on the red carpet at the entrance to the hotel. This provided the guests, who drove up to the event in 90 Audi VIP shuttle vehicles (Audi Q5, Audi Q7 and Audi A8 L), with a very special kind of reception.
The guests got a fascinating first-hand impression of what its like to chase a world record down the Streif and Ganslern slopes of the Hahnenkamm, as Werner Heel (Italy), Marcel Hirscher (Austria) and the slalom, downhill and Super-G champions from 2010, Felix Neureuther (Germany) and Didier Cuche (Switzerland), recounted their experiences. The tales impressed even two-time German Touring Car (DTM) Champion Mattias Ekstrm and Le Mans winners Mike Rockenfeller and Tom Kristensen, who, as long-time Audi race drivers, are used to high speeds and demanding challenges themselves.
Former professional skier Marco Bchel started off the evening. Kitzbhel holds fond memories for Bchel: In 2008 the popular Lichtenstein-native won the downhill competition on the demanding Streif slope.
While the athletes bid farewell early enough to prepare for their races, the guests partied well into the night. After an exciting meal from new head chef Thomas Seifried, the crowd enjoyed a highlight that was as spectacular as it was unplanned. English singer Jamie Cullum, the top act of the night at Zur Tenne, who had put guests in a festive move with his hits Im all over it and Dont stop the music, surprised the audience with a spontaneous duet with singer Amy Macdonald.
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