Audi took the endurance racing world by surprise on Monday when it announced it was preparing to return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with an LMDh program, joining past rivals like Toyota and Peugeot on the global stage of endurance racing.
Since the turn of the millenium, few brands have become as synonymous with Le Mans as Audi, with a near unbroken string of victories between 2000 and 2014.
Thanks in no small part to their diesel technology, Audi has become the second most successful manufacturer at Le Mans behind Porsche and allowed Tom Kristensen to become the most successful driver to ever race in the French endurance classic with nine overall victories.
With the news of Audi’s return still fresh in everyone’s mind, MotorsportWeek.com takes a stroll through the history books to explore how Audi became one of Le Mans’ biggest names.
The early years
1999: Audi arrives at Le Mans with the R8C (pictured) and the open-topped R8R, which would be succeeded by the R8 
2000: Audi introduces the twin-turbocharged V8 and takes its first win with Biela, Kristensen and Pirro 
2002: Emanuele Pirro hoists himself out of his R8 as Audi seals a third straight win with a podium sweep 
2004: After the factory team withdrew and Bentley won in 2003, customer outfit Team Goh leads another Audi podium sweep 
2005: After Pescarolo Sport took pole, Champion Racing took the R8’s fifth and final Le Mans win
The Diesel Wars begin
2006: Audi takes the first of diesel win in Le Mans history with the R10 
2007: The start of the diesel wars as Peugeot arrives – but Audi beat their French rivals for win number seven 
2008: After Peugeot took pole and led early, rain in the second half allowed Audi to catch up and take a third straight win – but the gap was tightening 
2009: Audi introduces the R15 but struggles as Peugeot takes a one-two to end a five year winning streak
Diesel dominance & the hybrid age
2010: Spurned on by the loss to Peugeot, Audi brings out the R15 Plus and sweeps the podium as Peugeot fails to finish 
2011: Despite horrific crashes for McNish and Rockenfeller, the all-new R18 comes out on top in a nailbiting fight with Peugeot 
2012: A new era with the introduction of the World Endurance Championship and the hybrid R18 as new opponent Toyota stumbles upon its return 
2013: Audi defeats a stronger Toyota as Le Mans mourns Allan Simonsen’s tragic passing 
2014: Coming back from a turbocharger issue, Lotterer, Fassler and Treluyer took Audi’s 13th and final victory 
2015: At the peak of the LMP1 Hybrid era, Audi’s years of dominance were ended by Porsche 
2016: In what would turn out to be its last appearance at Le Mans, Audi was relegated to third behind the Porsche-Toyota drama
