Audi Tradition is celebrating three major anniversaries at the Festival of Speed in Goodwood, Great Britain, from July 12 to 14. The world's largest event for historic motorsport is taking place for the twentieth time and attracts 150,000 visitors from all over the world with a "best of" program.
Audi is sending an icon, the Auto Union Type C racing car from 1936, and celebrating two milestones in Audi Sport history: 30 years ago, in 1983, Hannu Mikkola became the first Audi driver to become World Rally Champion in the Audi Rallye quattro A2, and 25 years ago Audi Sport won the American TransAm racing series with the Audi 200 quattro in its very first year.
Hannu Mikkola became world rally champion 30 years ago in an Audi
Hannu Mikkola is celebrating his own history at this year's Festival of Speed: 30 years ago, he became world champion with the Audi Rallye quattro A2 - in England. The day of the decision had come in November 1983, the RAC rally on the British Isles was scheduled as the last round of the world championship. Mikkola had the most points in his account before the final round, only Walter Röhrl could catch him. When Röhrl did not compete, everything was decided. Mikkola: "There was a huge amount of tension that was released and I drove the RAC rally completely relaxed." He didn't do it that relaxed after all. Mikkola finished second behind his brand colleague Stig Blomqvist and celebrated the world championship.
Audi Tradition has a surprise in store for Hannu Mikkola: AUDI AG's historic department was able to bring home the winning car from the 1983 RAC Rally years ago. The elaborate restoration of the racing car in its original livery has been completed, and the maiden voyage belongs to the 1983 world champion. Mikkola: "Driving the car from back then is very emotional for me."
The appearance is made perfect by the man who was Hannu Mikkola's co-driver for eleven years: Arne Herz completes the 1983 world champion team at "Goodwood running up the hill".
Audi won the TransAm series in the USA 25 years ago
Just five years later, in 1988, when the rallying days were over and Audi Sport switched to the circuit, the brand with the four rings returned to the international stage with a bang: the Ingolstadt-based company stormed the American TransAm Championship with an Audi 200 quattro. A race-ready car was developed in just a few months.
Based on an Audi 200 quattro, a racing car with 510 hp and all-wheel drive was created with the standard five-cylinder turbo engine. At the end of the season, Audi had won eight out of 13 races and thus the manufacturers' championship. The Audi drivers were Hurley Haywood, Hans-Joachim Stuck and Walter Röhrl. Haywood won the drivers' title at the time. At the Festival of Speed, Hans-Joachim Stuck takes a seat in the cockpit of the Audi 200 quattro TransAm.
Lord March hosted the first Festival of Speed 20 years ago
No Festival of Speed without Nick Mason. The Pink Floyd drummer and racing car enthusiast has been involved since the very beginning, when Lord March invited him to the south of England. His father ran a race track on the family estate that was in danger of falling into oblivion; his son revived the legend and created a new one with the Festival of Speed.
This year, Nick Mason is driving for Audi Tradition for the seventh time. The rock star is now known as "the last factory driver of the Auto Union" due to his appearances in the Auto Union Silver Arrows from the 1930s.
At Lord March's special request, Audi Tradition is bringing the Auto Union Type C to Goodwood House for the Goodwood anniversary. Bernd Rosemeyer dominated the racetracks of Europe with this 16-cylinder car in 1936. Nick Mason drives this pearl of Audi's company history in the special equipment for hill climbs - with twin tires on the rear axle. The Pink Floyd drummer: "It is always a great pleasure and a privilege to drive one of the Auto Union Silver Arrows."
