Audi

Immortalised by its slogan, ‘Vorchsprung durch Technik’ (‘Advancement through Technology’), Audi has been pushing the boundaries of motorsport for decades. The company’s predecessor Auto Union was famed for competing during 1930s and Audi Sport have been continuing that tradition since their introduction in 1978. Within three years, Audi had shocked the world with a sensational debut at the Monte Carlo Rally: after ten kilometres of the first stage and on a snow-covered track, Hannu Mikkola, driving the now-legendary Audi Quattro, overtook a Lancia Stratos that had started a minute before him. In the autumn of 1981 at the San Remo Rally, a World Rallying Championship round was won for the first time in history by a female: Michèle Mouton behind the wheel of another Quattro. A period of dominance between 1982 and 1984 brought home two drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles in the WRC which Audi credit for driving the forces behind the commercial success of Quattro drive. In 1996, the Audi A4 Quattro alone won the title in seven countries. Since then, Audi been successful at Le Mans, where the marque produced the first ever diesel-powered and hybrid-powered victors in 2006 with the R10 TDI and 2012 with the R18 e-Tron Quattro respectively, in the DTM racing series, sporting many constructor wins, and, more recently, Formula E, taking the 2017-18 Team’s Championship title. In fact, Audi have never finished below third in Formula E Team’s Championship since it commenced.