As one of two prize winners, Romain Dumas was presented with a new award uniting two events. For the first time in 2009 the ACO and ADAC awarded a prize to a German and French personality for their sterling efforts at both the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as the 24 Hours Nrburgring. Romain Dumas, who competes at Le Mans for Audi, won the classic in the Eifel for the third time in succession. The second prize winner is the 13-time Le Mans participant and engineer Jrgen Barth who won the long-distance race in 1977.
Audi handed over a new highlight to the automobile museum at Le Mans for its comprehensive historical collection: An Audi R10 TDI. The first diesel-powered car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans has its own place in the Museum on the Sarthe.
Officials, volunteers and rescue workers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year once again travel under the badge of the four rings. Audi provided 24 "Official Cars" for operational purposes - the Safety Car, Race Control, Medical Car, Fire Safety, Track and Extrication. The models ranged from the Audi TT Coup to the Audi S6 Avant, Audi RS 6, Audi Q5, Audi Q7 to the Audi R8. Furthermore, the two top models of each respective product line - the Audi R8 V10 and TT RS - were available for the race as extra Safety Cars.
Two former Audi Le Mans winners, who recently competed in the 24-hour race around the Nrburgring for Audi teams, use their motorsport expertise as television commentators this year. Frank Biela made his dbut as commentator for the German language Eurosport programs, Emanuele Pirro commentated for the actual race in his mother tongue for Eurosport Italy, and in French for Eurosport France for the historical race held on Saturday morning. Former Le Mans winner Hans-Joachim Stuck, today Motorsport Representative for the Volkswagen Group, was also busy at Le Mans as TV commentator.
Nick Mason hung around at Le Mans as an Audi UK guest. The motorsport enthusiast and drummer of rock group Pink Floyd will drive an Auto Union race car in three weeks between 3 and 5 July at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. His love of motorsport continues in the family: Holly, the rock musician's daughter, contested the historical legends race at Le Mans on Saturday. This year she will marry racing driver Marino Franchitti.
Claudia, the wife of Audi factory driver Lucas Luhr, had originally planned to travel to Le Mans. However, a sudden and special "addition to the family" complicated matters: At the request of their children, the family has recently grown through the addition of a ten-week old Labrador crossbreed. Even though he is only four years old, the couple's son Gianluca proved his reputation as family jester: The puppy was aptly named as "Rocky", the nickname of Lucas Luhr's teammate Mike Rockenfeller.
Allan McNish saw an Audi R10 TDI win immediately before starting the 24-hour race. At Silverstone in the week before Le Mans the Scot saw how junior high-school students representing Dalbeattie High School won the British Championship for radio-controlled model cars.