Photo : Sebastien BASSANI - ACO/ NIKON

In 2013 Dr Wolfgang Ullrich starts his 20th season as the head Audi Sport, with the intention of adding a few more lines in the history of the marque's record of success.

In 1999, a year after the sixteenth (and still most recent) success of Porsche at Le Mans, Audi arrived in La Sarthe and the following year began a reign which now makes it the second most successful manufacturer in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Dr. Ullrich also won transatlantic victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans (1600 km or ten hours on the Road Atlanta circuit), with impressive score of 31 wins combined on these three major races: twelve in La Sarthe, ten in Florida and nine in Georgia. A record that is breathtaking, and reached a new dimension in 2012 with the Drivers' and Manufacturers titles won in the new FIA World Endurance Championship jointly established by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and the Fédération Internationale Automobile.

Dr Ullrich and Audi have contested major GT marathons. After two consecutive victories at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (2011-2012), the R8 last year scored its first success at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Thus, the first goal of 2013 is to provide the German carmaker its first laurels in the GT class of the 24 Hours of Daytona (Florida, USA), which will take place on 26th and 27th January. Then, the R18 e-tron quattro will defend its titles against the Toyota TS030 Hybrid, both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the FIA World Endurance Championship. With, who knows, to new heights for Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, gloriously celebrating two decades of uninterrupted success, making him one of the great figures in the history of contemporary motorsports.

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Jean-Philippe Doret

Photo : CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, SARTHE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, FREE PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING, 13th JUNE 2012. After the first victory of a diesel engine in 2006, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (left, accompanied by one of his drivers Allan McNish) won in 2012 with the hybrid technology of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro in its first participation in the 24 Hours.