The Audi R8 is the most successful Le Mans prototype ever and is still the world's only race car to combine direct fuel injection and turbo charging. For its TFSI technology, which initially established itself on the race track and, meanwhile, inspires high-volume production, Audi was honoured yet again: An international panel of experts presented Ulrich Baretzky, Head of Engine Technology at Audi Sport, with the "Race Engine Designer of the Year Award".

"I'm very proud of this award, which I receive on behalf of my team," explained Ulrich Baretzky at the presentation in the Royal Air Force Museum in London. "What we achieved with the R8 was genuine team effort."

In the 77 races contested to date, the Audi R8 scored a total of 61 outright victories, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) six times in succession. Even more impressive is the reliability of its 3.6 litre twin-turbo V8 power unit: Since making its debut in March 2000 there was not a single engine failure during a race - an achievement, which also impressed the Race Tech World Motorsport Symposium expert panel that consists of high-profile technicians from various facets of motorsport including Formula 1.