Ullrich receives Spirit of LeMans award

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport, was honored Thursday by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest with the Spirit of Le Mans award. The ACO honors each year persons who make lasting impacts on sports car racing at Le Mans and around the world.

Dr. Ullrich joined Audi in 1993 as he transformed the organization’s motorsport ventures and captured seven national super touring car championships. In 1999, he and Audi took up the challenge of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a podium finish in the marque’s first appearance at the world’s premier auto race. Since that time, Audi has captured six overall Le Mans wins and seven LMP1 manufacturer championships in the American Le Mans Series.

Audi is the most successful prototype manufacturer in the history of the Series with 62 victories (50 with the venerable Audi R8 and 12 with the diesel-powered R10 TDI).

“I am very moved," Dr. Ullrich said when accepting the award. “When I came to Le Mans in 1999, I never thought we could be so competitive. The Spirit of Le Mans is very important to me. There is a large group of people at Audi who work very hard to achieve these successes. I would not be here without them."

“Dr. Ullrich believes in Le Mans and he believes in endurance," said Jean-Claude Plassart, President of the ACO. “That is very important and key to us. We like men who help others and send them on to victory."

Famed French journalist also received the Spirit of Le Mans following 58 years of covering the 24 Hours. Last year, American Le Mans Series founder Don Panoz was honored along with seven-time and race winner Tom Kristensen.