Audi Sport’s 2024 Dakar Rally winners enjoy accolades in Germany
Victorious team tours the company’s sites
Audi Sport’s triumphant return from the 2024 Dakar Rally held in Saudi Arabia ignited a wave of enthusiasm across Germany, the team’s home country.
The winning team, consisting of drivers Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz, alongside their teammates Emil Bergkvist and Stéphane Peterhansel with co-drivers Edouard Boulanger, basked in the limelight at the Audi Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm facilities, following their victory in the Audi RS Q e-tron in the desert rally.
The victorious motorsport drivers showcased their electric off-road prototypes, navigating the factory sites and generously offering autographs to the elated workforce.
Gernot Döllner, Chair of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, hailed the Dakar triumph as a monumental achievement in Audi’s rich motorsport history.
“Victories like the one at the Dakar Rally stand as pivotal milestones for Audi,” said Döllner.
“By showcasing our electrified drive in one of the world’s toughest competitions, Audi exemplifies ‘Vorsprung durch Technik.’ The passionate Audi employees relished witnessing their victorious motorsport heroes.”
Plant tour
On a midweek visit to the Ingolstadt plant, the winning trio and their co-drivers treated the workforce to a plant tour, autograph signings, and work meeting participation.
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner introduced the triumphant rally drivers to the employees and offered heartfelt congratulations on their exceptional success.
The Audi Piazza transformed into a rally-style bivouac around an authentic service truck, adding an authentic touch to the celebration.
Later that evening, Döllner and fellow board members hosted a warm reception in Neuburg an der Donau for the rally drivers and Audi Head of Motorsport Rolf Michl’s team.
The festivities reached their zenith at the Audi Sport premises, culminating in a victory celebration.
The 2024 Dakar Rally trophy, a striking addition to Audi’s extensive collection of motorsport accolades spanning over four decades, symbolised the reward for the team’s technical, sporting, and organisational prowess.
There was another round of celebrations as the rally drivers visited the Audi workforce at the Baden-Württemberg site.
The day began at Audi Böllinger Höfe, where employees enjoyed an autograph session before embarking on a plant tour and attending the works meeting in Neckarsulm.
The dual appearance at both German sites mirrors Audi’s longstanding tradition of welcoming top racing drivers, reinforcing the bond between the company and its dedicated employees after significant triumphs.
(L-R) Lucas Cruz, Gernot Döllner, Carlos Sainz and Rolf Michl pose during the 2024 Dakar Rally celebrations in Ingolstadt. Credit: Audi Sports
