Erm, actually no, that intro is a bit misleading. In fact, there was a lot more going on in the 20 years in question than might first leap to mind with a number of factors coming into play throughout the period. Audi, though, has to be the first talking point as not only did it dominate the era, it also introduced new technology along the way.
Audi’s first steps into the 24 Hours were taken in 1999 with the closed- and open-topped cars and it was the open that was the preferred option, partly as it allowed quicker pitstops without the need for drivers wriggling in and out of a closed environment. The R8 soon became the car to beat and when the Joest team was running it, there was seemingly no stopping the Ingolstadt weapon. Other teams ran the cars with success, perhaps only in a titular way, but Team Goh and Team Veloqx operated successful cars, all with Audi Sport backing. As the regulations evolved, so did Audi and in the bleaker years within the 2000-’19 period was the only manufacturer capable of winning the race outright.
Those seasons made team owner and constructor Henri Pescarolo’s efforts impressive to say the least,
