In a spectacle of speed and celebration, Audi’s heroes of the desert sands, fresh from their triumph at the Dakar Rally, made a grand entrance back on home turf, thrilling crowds in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm with tales of their electrifying adventure. The dynamic duos of Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz, Emil Bergkvist, and Stéphane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger, basked in the adoration of the masses, cruising through the factory sites in their electrically charged chariots, leaving a trail of awe and autographs in their wake.
Gernot Döllner, Audi’s chief cheerleader and Chairman of the Board, led the raucous welcome. “These victories aren’t just a feather in our cap; they’re a turbocharged crown,” Döllner proclaimed, lauding the team’s victory as a landmark in Audi’s storied racing legacy. The electric drive, he noted, not only pushed the boundaries of “Vorsprung durch Technik” but also brought a spark of rally magic to the home crowd, proving that even the harshest terrains are no match for Audi’s innovative spirit.
Wednesday saw the rally royalty grace Ingolstadt with their presence, engaging in a whirlwind of tours, autographs, and a special appearance at the works meeting, where they were introduced by Döllner himself. The Audi Piazza transformed into a rally bivouac, complete with an original service truck, immersing employees in the true spirit of Dakar.
The celebration revved into high gear in Neuburg an der Donau, where Döllner and the Audi board hosted a victory bash at the Audi Sport premises, crowning the event with the illustrious Dakar Rally trophy, a new jewel in Audi’s competitive crown. Rolf Michl, Audi’s Head of Motorsport, expressed his gratitude to the tireless team and the triumphant trios, celebrating the culmination of a challenging chapter with the trophy in hand.
The festivities continued on Thursday in Baden-Württemberg, with the rally champions touring the Audi Böllinger Höfe and mingling with the workforce at Neckarsulm. This whirlwind tour reaffirmed a cherished Audi tradition, celebrating the bond between its racing legends and the enthusiastic employees who support them, echoing the victories from the Le Mans program, the DTM, and customer racing.
Audi’s electrifying escapade at the Dakar Rally has not only added a thrilling chapter to its motorsport legacy but also ignited the passion and pride of its workforce, proving once again that with innovation and team spirit, the impossible becomes possible.
