Audi celebrates its centenary at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

The focus of Audi's global celebrations is on the Festival of Speed with a truly breathtaking automotive ‘monument' in front of Goodwood House. With construction work fully underway, the Audi ‘Central Feature' art installation is one of the most ambitious and striking sculptures ever constructed for the Festival, representing the unique style of one of the World's most innovative automotive brands. A teaser image of the Audi structure is attached to whet the appetite.

The jaw-dropping 2009 Festival of Speed Central Feature will mark the second occasion that Audi has chosen to celebrate a significant anniversary at Goodwood. In 1999 Audi was honoured with one of the most striking and memorable Goodwood central features to date for its 90th anniversary.

The famous Avus race track banking was recalled in an astonishing installation that included an Auto Union Streamliner and stunning Audi Avus quattro concept car perched on the banking.

Audi's recent and historic Le Mans success will form part of the marque's celebrations at the Festival of Speed, harmoniously linking in with this year's Festival theme of ‘True Grit - Epic Feats of Endurance'.

To this end, the Audi R10 TDI has been selected as the subject for this year's official Festival of Speed image, beautifully painted as always by specialist motor racing artist Peter Hearsey. The Le Mans-winning Audi R10 TDI will be on show at Goodwood, as will this year's third-placed Audi Sport Team Joest R15 TDI, fresh from its Le Mans podium position.

A number of famous current and ex-Works Audi drivers will appear at the Festival, including Walter Rohl, Allan McNish, Hannu Mikkola, Stig Blomqvist, Emanuele Pirro, and Frank Biela.

In addition to Audi's Le Mans competition machines, other important competition cars representing the Ingolstadt marque's successful motor sport history will be on show. These include the innovative quattro rally cars - which will be seen being put through their paces on the Goodwood Forest Rally Stage - and the legendary Grand Prix Auto Unions, forming part of a comprehensive celebration of the 75th anniversary of the pre-War Silver Arrows racers.

Audi is erecting a stunning brand ‘showroom' display in the Festival exhibition area, which will be used to showcase the Brand's illustrious history, plus current product programme and merchandise. A number of important new Audi models will be making there UK debut at Goodwood, including the A1 concept car, the A5 Cabriolet, the TT RS and the R8 V10 supercar.

[IMG]http://www.oneshift.com/showroom/uploadimages/resized-2009063002806189.jpg[/IMG]
[I]Audi TT RS[/I]

[IMG]http://www.oneshift.com/showroom/uploadimages/resized-2009063002745546.jpg[/IMG]
[I]Audi A5 3.0 TDI Cabriolet[/I]

Credits: JRC