More than 60 years separate these two prototypes, yet they look a bit alike and have the same logo ... But are not from the same manufacturer!

In 1932, four German manufacturers, including Audi, decided to join forces to survive the crisis following the Wall Street stock market crash. The new consortium was called the Auto Union and was then symbolized by a logo representing four rings (one for each brand).

Taken over in 1964 by Volkswagen, Audi has taken the visual identity of Auto Union and has assumed courageously its troubled past, relating to the overwhelming dominance of the Silver Arrows in Grand Prix racing during the pre-war period (1934-1939). The Ingolstadt brand strives to build faithful historic replicas, such as the Type C model of 1937 which, with its streamlined body, looks good together with the Audi R8.

This photograph was taken at Montlhery in the Paris region on June 25, 2000, just one week after the first success of Audi in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The two prototypes, more than 60 years apart, were driven at this opportunity by the winners that year, Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela.

An unusual car, the Auto Union Type C, designed by Ferdinand Porsche raced in the autumn of 1937, and set the land speed world record with the extraordinary average of 406 km/h in the hands of Bernd Rosemeyer. On the track, this speed was reached in 1988 only by the WM Peugeot during the 24 Hours of Le Mans! A few months later, in January 1938, Bernd Rosemeyer died during a new attempt in trying to beat the record set a few hours earlier by Rudolf Caracciola in a Mercedes W125 with 434 km/h. This performance, achieved on a stretch of motorway, remains to this day the highest speed achieved on the open road!

Julien HERGAULT / ACO - Translated by Tony LIGHT / ACO