Audi Hungaria: Alfons Dintner to become new CEO as of October 1

“Throughout my career I have worked at various locations of the Volkswagen Group, always looking for new challenges. So I am looking forward to my future duties as Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi Hungaria,” Alfons Dintner said. “It is important to me to get to know not only the company, but also the employees, the city of Győr and the country. Audi Hungaria is a central pillar in the Group and I will work to ensure that we can continue to strengthen this position in the future.”

Alfons Dintner was born in 1963 in Hepberg (Bavaria). Following vocational training as a fitter and graduating from the Munich University of Applied Sciences with a degree in precision engineering, Dintner began his professional career in 1987 with AUDI AG in Ingolstadt. He was put in charge of the Audi TT paint shop in 1998. In 2001, Dintner was given overall responsibility for the paint shop at the Ingolstadt plant. In addition to his work for AUDI AG, Dintner also assumed a variety of planning and consulting duties during this period within the Volkswagen Group, including at SEAT, Volkswagen South Africa, Bentley, Lamborghini and FAW-Volkswagen. He moved to Brussels in 2007. He assumed the dual function of Plant Manager and Spokesman for the Management of Audi Brussels. Dintner and his leadership team were responsible here for the ramp-up of the Audi A1.

He followed the call of Volkswagen de México in 2011 where he was Board Member for Production and Logistics. Dintner and his team handled a number of model start-ups in Puebla. In addition, a second production site was also successfully opened in Mexico under his leadership – the engine plant in Silao. In 2014 he became CEO of AUDI MÉXICO S.A. de C.V. In this function he was responsible for the establishment of the first Audi plant in Mexico as well as for the ramp-up of the successor to the Audi Q5. He returned to Ingolstadt in 2019, where he managed the Pre-Series Center (VSC) of AUDI AG. 

Victories for Audi Sport in Australia, China, Germany and Japan

Audi R8 LMS GT2

Successful showing of the Audi R8 LMS GT2: The new Audi R8 LMS GT2 made a brilliant debut at Barcelona. American privateer James Sofronas drove the latest model from Audi Sport customer racing in the finale of the Blancpain GT Sports Club, exclusively meeting with rivals in GT3 race cars. The conceptual differences between the race cars made for two thrilling races. In round one, Sofronas was running in the second spot up until a safety car period. Thanks to the high end speed of his Audi, he subsequently took the lead but in cornering repeatedly had to defend himself against the GT3 models with their better aerodynamic downforce. Two opponents still overtook the German GT2 race car in the final stage but the Californian and Audi Sport Team WRT were very happy with third position. In the second race, Sofronas at the start overtook four cars and in second position once again set his sights on a podium finish when, just like the race leader, he slipped into the gravel trap on an oil spill and subsequently finished the race with a clear deficit. Following an altogether successful debut, the GT2 sports car will enter its first full season in 2020. The GT2 Sports Club Europe at five racing events will receive a dedicated classification, plus there will be two racing series for this new type of race car in North America and Asia. 

Audi RS 3 LMS (TCR)

First victories in Japan: Team Hitotsuyama Racing on the fourth race weekend of the TCR Japan achieved its breakthrough with the Audi RS 3 LMS. Takuro Shinohara had set the best time in qualifying on four previous occasions but never managed to convert the results into victories. In race one at Okayama, the Japanese converted his fifth pole position into a victory with an 8.9-second advantage, marking Audi’s first success in the sprint racing series in Japan that was incepted this year. A day later, Shinohara again started from the top spot but dropped to fourth position right at the beginning of the race. As early as on lap three he had fought back to the very front and went on to celebrate his second victory with a 4.8-second advantage. As a result, Hitotsuyama Racing took the lead of the standings with an advantage of one point. 

Third victory this season on the Nordschleife: Team Bonk Motorsport for the third time this year won the SP3T class in the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring. Privateer Hermann Bock, who races together with changing teammates, shared the cockpit of the Audi RS 3 LMS with Jürgen Nett this time. After four hours of racing, the duo had achieved a dominant advantage of 3.33 minutes in round seven. In the SP3T class standings of currently 41 classified participants, Hermann Bock is sitting in the runner-up’s spot following his most recent success. 

Strong fighting spirit at the end of the season: Antti Buri in the finale of the ADAC TCR Germany gave his all once again. The Finn in race one at the Sachsenring from fourth on the grid fought back to second position. In the second race, he improved from the seventh spot on the grid to third place in an Audi RS 3 LMS. Originally, he had crossed the finish line in the top spot, which would have earned him the championship title, but then was handed a penalty due to a collision. In his so far best season with Audi, the privateer with Team LMS Racing has clinched three victories, two second and three third places and in the end ranks in third position of the standings. René Kircher from Team Hella Pagid Racing One ended the season in another Audi RS 3 LMS in third place of the Juniors’ classification. 

Coming up next week

03–06/10 Spa (B), TCR 500

04–05/10 Mantorp Park (S), rounds 13 and 14, TCR Scandinavia

04–05/10 Mantorp Park (S), rounds 11 and 12, GT4 Scandinavia

04–06/10 Hockenheim (D), rounds 13 and 14, Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup

04–06/10 Monza (I), rounds 7 and 8, Campionato Italiano GT Sprint

04–06/10 Monza (I), rounds 13 and 14, TCR Italy

04–06/10 Mugello (I), round 6, TCR DSG Endurance

05–06/10 Skopje (NMK), round 16, FIA CEZ

05/10 Highlands (NZ), round 2, South Island Endurance Series

– End –

“Chefsache Inklusion” network meeting at Audi

“Chefsache Inklusion” network meeting at Audi

“Lived inclusion is an important success factor,” said Wendelin Göbel, Member of the Board of Management for Human Resources and Organization at AUDI AG, at the start of the event. The automobile manufacturer has been committed to inclusion at its Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm locations for many decades. The brand with the four rings received the “Industry Inclusion Prize” in the “Corporation” category in 2017 for its exemplary integration of people with health impairments. AUDI AG currently employs a total of almost 3,500 people with disabilities at the Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm locations, which corresponds to a 6.6 percent rate of severely disabled employees (as of August 2019).

At the conclusion of the network meeting, Sozialverband VdK President Verena Bentele is expected to present a summary. Sozialverband VdK is a partner in Berufsförderungswerk (BFW) Nuremberg. Bentele, a former Paralympic champion, knows Audi well – she visited the Ingolstadt plant two years ago to examine the integration jobs in production and also tested an ergonomic seat for employees with health impairments. In advance of the event, the VdK President said: “‘Chefsache Inklusion’ brings together decision-makers from business who know that good employees are an important success factor for any company – and everyone’s talent should be put to good use, whether they have a disability or not. Audi is a prime example of how to successfully employ people with health impairments and keep know-how in the company. So we are thrilled that the expert forum is taking place in Ingolstadt.”

Study by the University of St. Gallen on working at Audi: A good mix makes the difference

Audi has been cooperating with the University of St. Gallen for years. Professor Stephan Böhm presented the results of his research to the conference participants: “Audi is placing a special focus on employing people with disabilities in keeping with the principle ‘We live responsibility’. Our scientific evaluation confirms that inclusion pays off: We surveyed several thousand Audi employees – the clear result: Teams with a high proportion of severely disabled people are more creative and generate more ideas. They are therefore also more successful in terms of cost-effectiveness.”

More about the “Chefsache Inklusion” network meeting

The Bundesverband Deutscher Berufsförderungswerke (Federal Association of German Vocational Training Centers) initiated the “Chefsache Inklusion” series of events in 2014. The vocational training centers have been hosting the “Chefsache Inklusion” event series since then. The expert forum brings together decision-makers from business who know that employees are an important success factor for every company – whether they have a health impairment or not. More at: www.chefsache-inklusion.de

Start of the RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback at Audi Hungaria

“The new version of the Audi RS Q3** with our award-winning five-cylinder engine is a highly emotional model. With the RS Q3 Sportback**, we are adding a completely new RS model to the product portfolio of Audi Sport GmbH,” says Oliver Hoffmann, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH.

 “So far, we are producing 13 variants of five basic models in Győr. This level of complexity requires our employees to be precise, flexible, and extremely competent,” says Zoltán Les, manager in charge of vehicle manufacturing at Audi Hungaria. “I’m very proud of our team that has once again implemented two further model start-ups successfully.”

The Audi RS Q3 and the Audi RS Q3 Sportback are synonymous with strength and outstanding performance. Virtues that are also reflected in the design. The Singleframe with no color-contrasting surround in the compact SUV creates an even sharper impression. The gloss black grill with three-dimensional honeycomb structure is inset deeper and directly into the RS bumper with its large side air inlets. The striking boomerang-shaped blades in the bumper are designed exclusively for the RS Q3. The RS genes are also apparent in the flat slits above the Singleframe radiator grille.

Within the Audi Q3 family, the RS Q3 (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km*: 8.9–8.8; combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 203–202) and the RS Q3 Sportback (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km*: 8.9–8.8; combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 204–202) represent the sporty spearhead. The performance figures for the compact engines are compelling: five cylinders, a power output of 294 kW (400 metric hp), 480 Nm of torque, quattro all-wheel drive. The five-cylinder engine is a modern classic. The 2.5 TFSI engine, which is produced at Audi Hungaria, received the sought-after “International Engine of the Year Award” for the ninth consecutive time last year.

The multi-award-winning five-cylinder engine gains a good 17 percent more power at an unchanged displacement of 2,480 cc. The engine’s maximum torque is available over the very broad rev range between 1,950 and 5,850 rpm. The RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds. The top speed is regulated at 250 km/h or an optional 280 km/h.

1-2-4-5-3 – firing alternates between adjacent cylinders and those far apart from one another. The particular firing sequence and the odd number of cylinders make for a very special rhythm and unique engine sound. The dual-branch RS exhaust system underscores the characteristic sound of the five-cylinder firing sequence.

The RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback will be available at dealerships in Germany and other European countries beginning at the end of 2019.

Crowning event for Audi champions: DTM finale with F1 World Champions and three Japanese brands

At the Hockenheimring, Audi will not only have to prevail against its DTM competitors Aston Martin and BMW but also against a delegation from the Japanese Super GT Championship. Honda, Lexus and Nissan each have deployed one of their turbo race cars to the DTM finale at Hockenheim before the first joint race of the DTM and the Super GT is held at Fuji, Japan, at the end of November. One of the guest entrants will be 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button.

“I’m tremendously looking forward to the race with the Japanese,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass. “We want to give the spectators a foretaste of how we envision the DTM in the future. Hockenheim is a race track that has always made fantastic racing possible. At the same time, we’d like to underscore our strong performance in the 2019 season with a good conclusion.”

Even before the last two races Audi is delighted about the so far most successful DTM season in the company’s history. Ten victories, ten pole positions and ten fasted race laps are credited to the Audi RS 5 DTM with its more than 610-hp two-liter four-cylinder turbo engine. 35 of 48 possible podiums were clinched by Audi drivers in the first sixteen races of the year. Five times the podium was completely in Audi’s hands, and eight times the front row of the grid. On 384 of 667 laps, an Audi driver was at the front of the field. The brand secured the manufacturers’ title as early as four races before the end of the season, and the titles in the drivers’ and teams’ classifications in the third from last race.

This success may still be topped: In 1991, 2015 and 2016, Audi achieved ten victories in one DTM season, respectively. In the finale at Hockenheim, this record might even be surpassed.

The Audi RS 5 DTM is already the most successful DTM race car in the company’s history. Since 2013, the RS 5 DTM in 111 races achieved 49 victories, 39 pole positions and 45 fastest laps.

The lion’s share of this impressive track record belongs to René Rast. The high-flyer has clinched two championship titles, 16 victories, twelve pole positions and seven fastest laps in his first three DTM years and broken two records within an extremely short space of time: At the end of 2017, the Audi driver scored six victories in succession. Plus, since the Nürburgring Saturday, Rast has been the first DTM driver to have secured pole position seven times in a single season.

Following his early title win at the Nürburgring, the driver from Audi Sport Team Rosberg can tackle the finale with ease. “Obviously, we’d still like to win the teams’ championship,” says Rast. “But after the championship title, the pressure is gone. I’ve been looking forward to the first race with the Japanese all year. Now I can really enjoy it. I think it’s going to be mega cool. For the first time, we have six manufacturers in the field. That’ll no doubt be really special. And the races at Hockenheim are always worth watching. The Parabolika is a highlight with DRS.”

Runner-up in the standings Nico Müller at the end of his so far best DTM season is “extremely” looking forward to Hockenheim, too. “That’s always kind of a home round with many Swiss fans,” says the driver from Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline. “The season’s finale is really special with a mega atmosphere. We still have the big aim of securing the runner-up’s spot in the championship – and ABT continues to have the chance of winning the teams’ championship. That’s what we’re fully focused on.”

Before the finale, Müller has a 41-point advantage over Marco Wittmann in the best BMW. In the teams’ standings, Audi Sport Team Rosberg is 32 points ahead of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline. 96 points are yet to be awarded at Hockenheim.

Audi Sport Team Phoenix might still be able to bump BMW Team RMG from third position in the teams’ championship. The squad is spearheaded by Mike Rockenfeller in fourth position of the drivers’ classification. “Actually, my goal was to still finish the championship in third place,” says “Rocky.” “After the bad Nürburgring weekend, this is no longer realistic. That’s why I’m just going to enjoy the finale, go flat-out and try to make the best of it. I’m tremendously looking forward to the three Japanese. That’s going to be exciting.”