Carpooling – Vincent Vosse

Finding you in an Audi R8 hardly surprises me. How was this link with this brand born?

It's more a question of image. Audi offers a younger sporting vision than the two other competing German manufacturers as well as a certain simplicity. I have always loved this brand. In the 80s, cars weren't crazy.

It all started in rally with the Quattro, then this demonic S1 Group B, which gave a new image to Audi, maintained with the first 4×4 car in WRC. Then there was the DTM, with these 200 Quattros fighting against the M3s. It accelerated with the A4. In Tourism (Belgian Procar. Editor's note), I drove an Audi 80 then an A4.

The renewal continued with the arrival of the first very sporty models like the RS4 or the RS6 and finally this R8. I never would have thought that Audi would make a road GT of this type. They have built their own identity. But it is also a human story, of encounters. In my career, I drove for Audi Belgium, an importer with whom I established links.

Finally, one year, Audi Sport invited me to an event, in South Africa, where all the manufacturers (engaged in Tourism. Editor's note) were present. I met two people there who left an impression on me: Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (former director of Audi Sport. Editor's note) and Siegfried Krauss, his right-hand man, who retired at the beginning of July. The human factor is, for me, very important.

How did you get into motorsport?

I am originally from the Spa region, from Verviers to be exact. It's difficult to be better placed then. Since I was 5 years old, the 1977 edition, I have attended the 24 Hours of Spa every year. I have always loved the atmosphere of the race, and even more those ofEndurance, Touring or GT.

I was less attracted to F1, which my parents were less passionate about, even though, in the early 80s, we all watched the Grands Prix. For me, F1 is Nelson Piquet's Brabham. But Le Mans attracted me more than Monaco.

Your youthful heroes could only be Belgian?

Unlike today, I didn't have much knowledge of motorsport. I fell under the spell of drivers like Stefan Bellof, Derek Bell and Hans-Joachim Stuck, who were active in several categories. But I never imagined, one day, being in their place.

It is certain that someone like Jacky Ickx amazed me. I am lucky to have met him several times and I know Vanina (his daughter, editor's note) well, having competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with her (in 2001 in a Viper GTS-R, editor's note). Jacky, when he arrives somewhere, something happens. I'm not saying that because I'm Belgian. He has this presence, a name, a story too.

It was a period that fascinated me, that’s when I caught the virus. And as I rode, I became more and more bitten…

Check out our Carpooling with Vincent Vosse, in issue 2176 of AUTOhebdo, available now in digital version and on newsstands.