A new experience of history with Audi Tradition

It’s full throttle for Audi Tradition as the 2012 season gets under way. Car enthusiasts can see its historic vehicles at more than 25 events throughout Europe during the year. In Monaco, legendary Formula 1 driver Jacky Ickx will be at the controls personally to drive the Auto Union Type D Silver Arrow dating from 1938 through the Principality. Nor would the list of events be complete without the Mille Miglia. And this year’s Audi Tradition display at the “Techno Classica” in Essen, the world’s largest historic car show, is twice the size of last year’s: valuable vehicles from the company’s history will be seen on more than 700 square metres of floor space.

The historic car world will soon be turning its attention to Essen in the Ruhr area of Germany for the 24th time in succession. Over 180,000 experts and historic car enthusiasts are expected to visit the “Techno Classica” there from March 21 to 25. Audi Tradition has adopted “hillclimb races” as its motto, and will be displaying notably successful cars from four generations. Among the most outstanding exhibits will be the Auto Union Type C driven by the unforgettable Bernd Rosemeyer, the Audi Type C “Alpine Winner” that was victorious in the International Austrian Alpine Rally three times in succession from 1912 to 1914, and the NSU 1300 TT, with which Siegfried Spiess became German GT Hillclimb Champion in all classes in 1965. A special highlight will be the Audi Sport quattro S1 in which living-legend rally driver Walter Röhrl hurtled to the top of Pike’s Peak in record time 25 years ago. Other classic cars from Audi Tradition will be on show too, as well as motorcycles that played a part in the history of DKW and NSU.

It will be possible to admire the Auto Union Silver Arrows in action no fewer than five times this year. Jacky Ickx leads off in the Auto Union Type D at the Grand Prix Historique in Monaco (May 11 to 13). After that it’s off to the motherland of motor sport: from June 29 to July 1 more than 160,000 enthusiasts will make their way to the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Audi Tradition will also be represented at this year’s Goodwood Revival (September 14 to 16). But before that a trip to Austria is scheduled: the 2012 Ennstal Classic is being held from July 11 to 14. The next date to note is July 28, when the “24 Heures de Francorchamps” is being run. The Auto Union Type C that won the Belgian Grand Prix here in 1937 will have the honour of opening the race.

The summer won’t be far off when five DKW models from the 1950s make their way to Brescia, Italy in mid-May. From May 18 to 20, the cars’ engines will warm to their task when the world-famous Mille Miglia is held. Another sporting highlight is the Kitzbühl Alpine Rally (May 30 to June 2). Audi Tradition first tackled the Austrian mountains here last year, and will be present this time with a DKW GT Malzoni, an NSU TT and an Audi 100 Coupé.

The heritage department of AUDI AG will be criss-crossing Germany this year, with plans to attend more than 15 events. The calendar lists such well-established events as the Donau Classic in Ingolstadt (June 21 to 23), the Heidelberg Historic (July 12 to 14), the Classic Days Schloss Dyck (August 3 to 5) and the Sachsen Classic (August 16 to 18) – which is held in the region from which the Audi brand originated. Audi Tradition is participating for the first time in the Bodensee Klassik at Lake Constance from May 3 to 5 with five modern classic vehicles. Other highlights include the international NSU Meet in Neckarsulm (June 7 to 10), the Schottenring Classic Grand Prix for motorcycles (August 18 to 19) and the Schloss Bensberg Klassik from September 7 – 9.

The Gran Premio Nuvolari, the second highlight of the season in “Bella Italia” (September 21 – 23), traditionally marks the end of the season for Audi Tradition.