This year, Audi Tradition is presenting itself at more than 20 national and international events and celebrating numerous anniversaries.
It has been 50 years since the Audi name was resurrected. In 1965, the company with the four rings, which was then still called Auto Union GmbH, ended its two-stroke era, launched a new model with a four-cylinder, four-stroke engine and called it - Audi. Several of these first Audis after the Second World War will be making their way around Ingolstadt at the Donau Classic.
Techno Classics Essen as a prelude
The annual program kicks off with the Techno Classica classic car trade fair in Essen (April 15 to 19). The Audi stand in Hall 7 has the motto "Open to the top - 80 years of convertibles and roadsters". Audi will be exhibiting icons from the 1930s - from the Audi Front 225 to the DKW F5 Roadster and the Wanderer W 25 K.
Visitors can also see the Auto Union 1000 Sp Roadster from the 1960s and the first-generation Audi TT. 180,000 visitors are expected at the world's largest classic car fair in Essen.
Auto Union silver arrows in action
Historic Auto Union Silver Arrows from the 1930s will be on the starting line at a total of three events this year. The Type D twin-compressor from 1939 will unleash its 360 hp at the Hamburg Stadtpark Revival (September 5-6). The 1936 Type C will fire its 16 cylinders twice - both at the Classic Days Schloss Dyck (July 31 to August 2) and at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the world's largest historic motorsport event. It takes place from June 25 to 28.
Audi Tradition is not only sending the mightiest of its Silver Arrows onto the track, but is also celebrating the German Touring Car Championship (DTM), which was won for the first time in 1990, in this traditional setting. Back then, as at Goodwood, motorsport legend Hans-Joachim Stuck will be in the original car - an Audi V8 DTM. Audi Tradition is also sending a motorcycle into the race. The 1955 NSU Sportmax will be driven by two-time motorcycle vice world champion Ralph Waldmann.
The Donau Classic (June 18 to 20) around the Audi site in Ingolstadt and the Heidelberg Historic (July 9 to 11) near Neckarsulm are classics in the event program.
Anniversary at the Donau Classic
Audi Tradition is celebrating a very special anniversary at the Donau Classic this year. Exactly 50 years ago, the then Auto Union GmbH ended the two-stroke era of its DKW products. The new automobile, equipped with a four-stroke engine for the first time since the Second World War, was to be given a different name in order to deliberately break with the DKW brand history. The company opted for "Audi" - the name of one of the four predecessor brands that once symbolized the four rings.
This Audi, which was available with different engines at the time, is still regarded today as the starting signal for the rebirth of the four rings in the second half of the 1960s. Three of these cars will be taking part in the Donau Classic Rally on the occasion of the 50th anniversary.
Participation in the Eifel Rallye Festival and the Gran Premio Nuvolari
For the third time, Audi Tradition is taking part in the Eifel Rallye Festival (July 23-25) in Daun. Two-time German rally champion Harald Demuth will be driving a 1984 Audi Sport quattro Rallye, while the historic department of AUDI AG will also be a regular guest at the Gran Premio Nuvolari in Italy (September 18 to 20) at the end of the season. With automobiles from the era of the economic miracle, the race will then set off from Mantua across Tuscany.
With you everywhere
The brand with the four rings will also be flying the flag at the Bodensee Klassik (May 7 to 9), the Sachsen Classic (August 13 to 15), the Kitzbühel Alpine Rally (May 27 to 30) and the Schloss Bensberg Klassik (July 17 to 19). The final events of the season are the model car fairs at the Audi Forums in Neckarsulm (November 8) and Ingolstadt (November 29).
Further information can be found on the Audi website.