For the 26th time, the eyes of the classic car world are on the city of Essen, in Germany’s Ruhr area. More than 180,000 experts and historic car enthusiasts are expected to visit the Techno Classica from March 26 – 30. Audi Tradition is displaying a group of true winners from its hundred-year history. Among these outstanding exhibits are the Audi Type C that won the Alpine Rally trophy in 1914, the third year in succession for the Audi brand, and the Auto Union Type A racing car, which was first seen 80 years ago – it set three new world records in its very first race. A special highlight is the Audi Rallye quattro A2, with which rally legend Stig Blomqvist became world champion 30 years ago and also secured the Manufacturer’s World Championship for Audi. Motorcycle fans will enjoy seeing two NSU classics: the 125-cc NSU Race Fox “Dolphin” on which Rupert Hollaus took the World Championship title in 1954, and the 250-cc Race Max ridden by Werner Haas to World Championship victory in the same year.
This year, fans will have two opportunities to see the Auto Union Silver Arrows in action. To start with, Jacky Ickx will drive the Auto Union Type C at the Grand Prix Historique in Monaco (May 9 – 11). Then it’s off to the motherland of motorsport. From June 26 – 29, up to 170,000 enthusiasts are expected to attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Also to be seen at the world’s largest historic motorsport event: the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO that won this US race series 25 years ago. Audi Tradition is taking part in the Eifel Rallye Festival, held in Daun, for the second time. 30,000 visitors are expected at Germany’s largest historic rally event. There, the brand with the four rings is commemorating one of the most notable successes in its history of motorsport: 30 years ago, Audi won the Manufacturer’s World Rally Championship. To add to this triumph, Audi driver Stig Blomqvist took the Driver’s World Championship title. In Daun, he will once again be at the wheel of his World Championship car.
Audi Tradition will take part again this year in the drivers’ parade at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. On Friday, June 13, about 100,000 spectators are expected to watch the drivers pass through the old town center of Le Mans, riding in historic cars – an event traditionally held before the world’s most famous long-distance race. The Audi Sport drivers’ teams will join the cavalcade in classic cars from the 1930s – cars built by Auto Union, including the Horch, Wanderer and Audi brands.
Audi Tradition will take to the road throughout Germany in no fewer than 15 events. Some of them are already well established, such as the Donau Classic in Ingolstadt (June 26 – 28), the Heidelberg Historic (July 10 – 12), the Sachsen Classic (August 21 – 23) and the Schloss Bensberg Classics (July 18 – 20). Modern classic cars from the Audi Tradition collection can be seen at the Bodensee Klassik (May 1 – 3), and Audi is principal sponsor at the Autozeitung Youngtimer Classic (September 6). Other highlights are the Rossfeld International Edelweiss Hillclimb in Berchtesgaden (September 26 – 28), the Schottenring Classic Grand Prix for motorcycles (August 16 – 17) and participation in the 10th International Concours d’Elégance (August 29 – 31) in Schwetzingen.