Though Tom Kristensen holds the win records at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (9) and the 12 Hours of Sebring (6), the feat is in large part thanks to Audi and Dr. Ullrich, who put together a solid team when he joined the marque in endurance.

The Austrian's approach is methodical: Audi entered a closed model and an open one at its first participation at Le Mans so as to determine which would best serve its purposes. Drivers are recruited both into the Audi pool, like Frank Biela, and into endurance, like Tom Kristensen or the trio that won at Le Mans in 1998, Allan McNish, Laurent Aïello and Stéphane Ortelli.

Competitors build fast cars that can last, or not, for 24 hours, Dr .Ullrich's men design cars that are easy to repair: less than 10 minutes to switch out a gearbox before the action is prohibited by the regulations.

One must remember the 2004 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans when JJ Lehto and Allan McNish hit the safety barrier almost at the same time and returned to the pit with severely damaged cars: the first reached the third step on the podium with the American team Champion, while the second had to settle for fifth place. Final example at Petit Le Mans in 2008 when the Scot went off-track in the pre-grid lap. The mechanics worked their fingers to the bone to allow the three-time winner at Le Mans to start only two laps behind despite extensive damage culminating in a majestic win over Peugeot.

The professionalism and discipline do not impede a true family atmosphere and a unique bond. In 2011, after the retirement of two cars following accidents at Le Mans, no one threw in the towel: the three teams of engineers and mechanics took great care with the only surviving R18 whose driver line-up claimed the top step on the podium thanks to 13 short seconds at one of the best editions of the 21st century so far.

On the other hand, the 2015 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will undoubtedly not figure among Dr. Ullrich's favourites with an Audi team who couldn't catch a break and who handed the win to its great rival, Porsche. Nobly, the day after the race, Audi released a statement to the press with a slogan that says a lot about the marque: "Porsche wins the race. And our respect."

With great respect, Dr. Ullrich, Happy Birthday! See you at the 84th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans...

Cécile Bonardel / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, MONDAY JUNE 9 2014, SCRUTINEERING. Like his drivers, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport, signs an impressive number of autographs during the week of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.