A record-breaking 170,000 spectators attended this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, which was dominated by Audi as it celebrated its centenary.

'True Grit – Epic Feats of Endurance' was the theme for this year’s event, where Audi was the featured marque. Rare Auto Union Grand Prix cars, all-wheel-drive Audi quattro rally and touring cars, and the latest diesel
Le Mans sportscars were all in action and on display to mark 100 years of Audi. There were also dedicated Audi areas, including the Audi terminal, the Audi experience and the 4 x 4 course.

Formula 1 and Le Mans legend Jacky Ickx drove the Auto Union Type D Dual Compressor, while Pink Floyd drummer and Audi enthusiast Nick Mason drove a 3.0-litre supercharged V12 Auto Union Type D. Former World Rally Champions Walter Röhrl, Stig Blomqvist and Hannu Mikkola, plus Le Mans 24 Hour race legends Allan McNish, Frank Biela, Dindo Capello, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner, were also in action for Audi on the hillclimb.


The Audi Experience offered customers a chance to find out more about the Audi brand and learn about motorsport history in the process. A programme of interviews and interactive displays, including a walk-in aerodynamics air tunnel, Ben Fogle's lecturette on feats of endurance and Sir Bobby Charlton's interview with Jamie Redknapp, were just some of the highlights.

Audi also ran the 4 x 4 area, where visitors could book themselves a session driving an A4 allroad, A6 allroad, Audi Q5 or Audi Q7 with an instructor around the purpose-built track. Events Manager Hannah Lake ran the 4 x 4 course and said: "We've had a brilliant weekend. We were fully booked every day and all the comments we've had from customers have been incredible.

"The 4 x 4 course is always a popular area because festival-goers get to take our cars on more than just a test drive. The course is a real test of each model's performance, as well as an exciting challenge for the customer in the driving seat."

The A1 concept was on display with the TT RS Coupe, which goes on sale next weekend (11 and 12 July), in the Audi terminal building.

Goodwood stats

· A record 170,000 people attended a sold-out Goodwood Festival last weekend

· Around 1,400 marshals kept competitors and spectators safe during the weekend

· It takes around 2,000 man hours of labour to build the temporary hillclimb course, and a further 1,200 man hours to dismantle it

· 4,000 straw bales weighing 1,400 tonnes are laid out around each track area. That’s 9.5km of bales, that are held firm by 5,500 timber stakes

· More than seven kilometres of temporary roadways are laid in the park
Every year, about 59,000 sandwiches, 49,000 hot drinks, 58,000 pints of beer and 496 cases of wine are enjoyed by hungry and thirsty visitors. Approximately 1,800 bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne are also quaffed by visitors and guests