Audi to revive old racers at Goodwood Festival of Speed
06 May 2009|2,703 views
 |
Germany's Rohrl and Ickx, from Belgium, will drive an original flame-belching 1986 Audi Sport quattro S1 Pikes Peak rally car and a rare 1936 Auto Union Type C Grand Prix single-seater respectively at the festival, which will run from 3rd - 5th July.
Rohrl is still revered today as "the greatest rally driver of all time". The 62-year-old who won the 1980 and '82 World Rally Championship titles and scored 14 WRC victories spanning 12 years, drove for Audi from 1984.
Elected "Rally driver of the century" in Italy, "Rally driver of the millennium" in France and described as a "Genius on Wheels" by Niki Lauda, Rohrl nowadays is a representative of Porsche AG and has been given special permission to appear at Goodwood with Audi Tradition.
"I'm really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the cars I drove during my time with Audi," confirmed Walter. "I am especially happy to sit in the Audi Pikes Peak car again. In addition, to be at Goodwood, will be a big experience for me."
Audi is also planning a "car fest" for attending enthusiasts with a mouth-watering line-up of past and present competition machinery plus its latest concept cars for the road, as the event's "featured marque" is days from celebrating its Centenary on 16th July.
In his heyday as an Audi "factory" driver, Rohrl drove both rally and racing cars which have long since achieved legendary status including the Audi quattro A2, which headed straight to the chequered flag in the 1984 Monte Carlo Rally, and the "short" Audi Sport quattro. Walter was the only person to win the WRC event - the 1985 San Remo Rally - in the Audi Sport quattro S1, the last generation of the Sport quattro.
Arguably the most unforgettable triumph in Walter's Audi career came on Pikes Peak - a 12.5-mile, 156-corner hill climb in Colorado featuring sheer drops off the narrow and winding, rocky track to the 14,000 feet summit.
On the Audi Sport quattro S1's very last outing, Rohrl smashed all records in the United States' most famous hill climb named the "Race to the Clouds". In a breathtaking drive, he became the first person to climb the 6,500 ft course in under 11 minutes, consequently leaving his indelible mark on motorsport history.
The spectacular be-winged Audi Sport quattro S1 Pikes Peak that Rohrl will drive at Goodwood features a 2.1-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine producing over 600 bhp.
Ickx, meanwhile, was the record Le Mans 24 Hour race winner until Audi's Tom Kristensen surpassed the 64-year-old's tally of six victories in 2005. Jacky, who also achieved 25 podium place finishes in Formula One, drives a 1936 Auto Union Type C which was lovingly and expertly rebuilt in 1998.
The V16-engined "Silver Arrow" was capable of reaching speeds in excess of 354 km/h despite its colossal 1,000kg weight, with the Type C's engine churning out an impressive 520 bhp.
Auto Union all but dominated Grand Prix racing from 1934 onwards and set records that took decades to beat. For example, the power levels of the unlimited 1937 models were only equalled in the early 1980s by turbocharged Formula One Grand Prix cars.
Almost all of the original race cars were lost during or after World War II. Audi has since rebuilt the cars that have been found based upon remaining parts, plans and knowledge.
|
Germany's Rohrl and Ickx, from Belgium, will drive an original flame-belching 1986 Audi Sport quattro S1 Pikes Peak rally car and a rare 1936 Auto Union Type C Grand Prix single-seater respectively at the festival, which will run from 3rd - 5th July.
Rohrl is still revered today as "the greatest rally driver of all time". The 62-year-old who won the 1980 and '82 World Rally Championship titles and scored 14 WRC victories spanning 12 years, drove for Audi from 1984.
Elected "Rally driver of the century" in Italy, "Rally driver of the millennium" in France and described as a "Genius on Wheels" by Niki Lauda, Rohrl nowadays is a representative of Porsche AG and has been given special permission to appear at Goodwood with Audi Tradition.
"I'm really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the cars I drove during my time with Audi," confirmed Walter. "I am especially happy to sit in the Audi Pikes Peak car again. In addition, to be at Goodwood, will be a big experience for me."
Audi is also planning a "car fest" for attending enthusiasts with a mouth-watering line-up of past and present competition machinery plus its latest concept cars for the road, as the event's "featured marque" is days from celebrating its Centenary on 16th July.
In his heyday as an Audi "factory" driver, Rohrl drove both rally and racing cars which have long since achieved legendary status including the Audi quattro A2, which headed straight to the chequered flag in the 1984 Monte Carlo Rally, and the "short" Audi Sport quattro. Walter was the only person to win the WRC event - the 1985 San Remo Rally - in the Audi Sport quattro S1, the last generation of the Sport quattro.
Arguably the most unforgettable triumph in Walter's Audi career came on Pikes Peak - a 12.5-mile, 156-corner hill climb in Colorado featuring sheer drops off the narrow and winding, rocky track to the 14,000 feet summit.
On the Audi Sport quattro S1's very last outing, Rohrl smashed all records in the United States' most famous hill climb named the "Race to the Clouds". In a breathtaking drive, he became the first person to climb the 6,500 ft course in under 11 minutes, consequently leaving his indelible mark on motorsport history.
The spectacular be-winged Audi Sport quattro S1 Pikes Peak that Rohrl will drive at Goodwood features a 2.1-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine producing over 600 bhp.
Ickx, meanwhile, was the record Le Mans 24 Hour race winner until Audi's Tom Kristensen surpassed the 64-year-old's tally of six victories in 2005. Jacky, who also achieved 25 podium place finishes in Formula One, drives a 1936 Auto Union Type C which was lovingly and expertly rebuilt in 1998.
The V16-engined "Silver Arrow" was capable of reaching speeds in excess of 354 km/h despite its colossal 1,000kg weight, with the Type C's engine churning out an impressive 520 bhp.
Auto Union all but dominated Grand Prix racing from 1934 onwards and set records that took decades to beat. For example, the power levels of the unlimited 1937 models were only equalled in the early 1980s by turbocharged Formula One Grand Prix cars.
Almost all of the original race cars were lost during or after World War II. Audi has since rebuilt the cars that have been found based upon remaining parts, plans and knowledge.
Latest COE Prices
February 2025 | 1st BIDDING
NEXT TENDER: 19 Feb 2025
CAT A$85,000
CAT B$111,104
CAT C$62,506
CAT E$110,000
View Full Results 
Thank You For Your Subscription.
