As we all know, when it comes down to the sports car manufacturers and suppliers, there is usually a pretty big background in the racing world and Audi has positioned itself as the sportiest supplier in the premium sector. The sportiness, the pioneering, the technology and the evocative design lay the foundations for the Audi brand success. Let’s dive into the racing history behind Audi.
The Audi Sport department was founded in 1978, has a total of 13 Le Mans victories and 12 DTM titles. The first motor racing activities of the Audi brand began late in the 1970s under the tagline Audi Motorsports. In 1980, Audi then changed the name of their Motorsport department to Audi Sport, after their entry into the World Rally Championship. Even during this time they still had works-run motorsports as part of their Technical Department. This close connection abled the technology to be a part of both motorsports and series productions. Some may even say this factor is exactly why Audi stayed on top in motorsports.
The Origins of Racing
The origins of motorsports for Audi goes back to before the First World War with one specific person standing out the most during this time. August Horch, the engineer and founder of the Horch and Audi companies. He initially focused on long-distance rallies to promote his company and the vehicles. August Horch himself even competed in these early days, not only was he head of engineering these vehicles but he was also the one to put many of them to the test. The company had a victory in 1906 at the Herkomer Run with beating other top brands such as Benz and Mercedes. The company had failed to repeat this victory in the following years creating a topic of controversy among the company’s management, this is what contributed to Horch’s eventual departure from the company he had founded. This departure had only led him to more success because in 1909 is when he had founded Audi. Between 1912 and 1914, Audi had won the Austrian Alpine Run three times in a row, basically making his Audi cars well-known overnight.
1932-1939
Does anyone remember the “Silver Arrow” cars of this time? Well, that is when motor racing made it obvious that sporting success had a major impact on sales. If you were winning then of course everyone would want that manufacturer's car. In 1932, the merge of all 4 companies, Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer finally happened, taking many names but one of them eventually just being Audi, hence the four rings in the Audi emblem. (You can refer back to a previous blog about the merge of the four companies on our blog page) It was so important to promote the new Auto Union name and with this ambitious team it had led them to only one decision to compete at the very highest level there was; Grand Prix racing. Although ambition lead them to this decision they still needed allot more of it to continue.
In 1932, when they had entered the Grand Prix, the regulations had changed meaning they needed to put their innovative minds together to come up with a new machine to meet these standards. With Ferdinand Porsche on their team this was nonetheless right up his alley. The most exciting part about what they created at this time was Porsche’s concept of the rear engine, from today’s perspective a mid-engine. This team was unstoppable when it came down to the engineering of this car. Porsche came up with a torsion bar for the suspension and multiple other notable technical features like the cars light weight construction, which permitted as large an engine as possible within the constraints of the 750kg weight limit: a 16 cylinder with a displacement of 6 litres.
From 1934 and on, Audi's biggest competition was Mercedes. Competition only led the company to even more innovative success. The Type C made its appearance, Porsche’s basic idea of “enormous grunt from low revs” worked better than ever. World speed records were highly prized during this time, if you weren’t fast, no one was really acknowledging you. Audi took that personally and took up the challenge against Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo, setting at least three dozen new speed records in various classes and categories.
Audi yet again creating a powerful racing machine, in 1938, the Type D came into the picture. Audi tackled a new racing formula. A three-litre, twelve cylinder supercharged engine. Which led them to even more victories.
The beginning of the Quattro Era
The rebirth, in 1965, added new significance to the topic of motorsports, where Audis motor racing heritage actually began. Winning the Monte Carlo Rally really gave the audience the love for Audi's Quattro vehicles. Audi dominated the rally racing, even took part in the Pikes Peak Hillclimb with various versions of the Quattro, winning three times in succession.
In 1986, Audi had said goodbye to rally racing, bringing 23 world championships and four titles home, and said hello to circuit racing. After dominating the rally world Audi had then made the Quattro suitable for circuit racing. First with the Audi 200 Quattro in 1989 in the Trans-am Series, then in 1990 and 1991 with two championship titles for the Audi V8 Quattro in the German Touring Car Championship- and also with the Audi A4 Quattro in the Super Touring Cars competition for production case cars. In fact, in 1996, the Audi A4 Quattro won the title in 7 countries. Fast forward, 2012-2016, four-wheel drive returns to the race track yet again in the e-tron Quattro LMP1 Audi R18 race car. Audi by all means was not shy of the spotlight.
A New Era
Audi began an exceptionally successful era heading into the new millennium with the entry of Le Mans pro types in 1999 and joining the DTM in 2004.
Fast forward again, the year is 2017, Audi had become the first German car manufacturer to enter the Formula E. In 2021, Audi sport ended its involvement as Formula E’s most successful team up to that point in time. Although not involved in Formula E, Audi had celebrated its victory and wrote Motorsport history at the Dakar Rally in 2024. It is said that Audi is in the process of now racing in Formula 1.
Audi has no doubt set many standards with their vehicles, and continued success in racing history with the R8 LMS, the RS Q e-tron writing a new chapter in modern day motorsports, the RS-3, and honestly so many other cars. Audi will only continue to make history with its innovative engineering, sleek designs and brilliant team.
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