For the first time in Audi Sport’s history, LMP and DTM prototypes from the former factory racing programmes are being made available for purchase in drivable condition.
In the first moves of the programme a presentation of the first two cars to be offered for sale took place at the Audi Sport racing legends headquarters at Neuburg an der Donau on Wednesday.
Additional marketing/ sales events will take place from May 9 to 11 at the Jim Clark Revival in Hockenheim (Germany), from July 3 to 6 at the Le Mans Classic event (France) and from July 10 to 13 at the Festival of Speed in Goodwood (United Kingdom).
This week’s event saw a select group of potential customers able to take a look at the first two models – chassis 107 of the Audi RS 5 DTM and chassis 207 of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro.
This specific R18 saw Romain Dumas/Loïc Duval/Marc Gené clinch the first victory of the RP2 generation in the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC at Spa-Francorchamps in 2012 in pre-hybrid R18 ultra spec. The car appeared throughout the 2012 season in both ultra, and later e-tron Quattro spec scoring a further five overall podium finishes. Its final appearance in factory hands came at the Le Mans test in 2013 running narrower development tyres for 2014 in the hand of Marco Bonanomi (pictured below).
The chassis of the DTM model is also a winner: in 2015, it triumphed with Timo Scheider at the DTM finale in Hockenheim though it was presented in the colours carriers by Ferdinand Habsburg.
The newly created Audi Sport racing legends project team is building up these cars with manufacturer expertise for a select circle of collectors. But the programme is set to reach much further than selling off cars destined to be museum pieces.
“We are rebuilding these chassis together with reconditioned parts from that time into racing cars according to strict standards and with a high level of expertise,” says Rolf Michl, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH.
“In some cases, even the developers from that era are involved in the current projects. The Audi R18 e-tron quattro and the RS 5 DTM are two of the fastest racing cars we have ever built. Customers can look forward not only to extremely sought-after racing cars, but also to a firework display of driving emotions. Our customers become part of a select circle, benefit from our motorsport expertise and receive comprehensive support.”
The first car is due to be sold and delivered to its new owner this summer. But the handover marks the start of comprehensive support: regular technical inspections, the offer of repairs, but also a spare parts service and expert advice from former developers to complete a range of services provided by Audi Sport racing legends.
The response to the announcement from Audi has been mixed – serious collectors are undoubtedly enthused by a new generation of cars being available for sale, others are openly concerned, particularly in the wake of the winding down of Audi Sports Customer Racing, of a selling off off the ‘family silver.”
Not so say senior sources at Audi – the winning cars from Audi Sport’s glittering history will remain in the care of Audi AG and their Audi Tradition team.
As for the future, whether the cars are seen on track publicly again or not, the fact that they are in working order must surely be a good thing.
