Audi today broke ground on a new 47-hectare 'Driving Experience Centre' in Neuburg, southern Germany. When completed the new development will include a 30,000-square-metre skid pad, a 1.37-mile handling course, an off-road course and a climbing hill that will be over eight metres tall. The climbing hill will dwarf both the perimeter and soundproofing walls that are being installed to keep residents of Neuburg happy.

In addition to the driving sections the new development will also include a reception building with an auditorium for 200 guests, a restaurant, and a large presentation area, which can also be used for company events in future.

"The future driving experience centre at the new Audi site in Neuburg will be synonymous with customer delight and driving experiences. Here, existing and prospective Audi customers will soon be able to get to know our models from an entirely new perspective," explains Michael Dick, who is responsible for Technical Development at Audi AG. "The construction project shows clearly that Audi continues to grow - not only internationally, but also regionally."

While the centre will be open to existing and prospective Audi customers, they are unlikely to gain access to the Audi Sport Competence Centre that will be populated by 300 or so Audi Sport engineers relocating from Ingolstadt to the new facility. From their new base the engineers and mechanics will be organising their participation in races around the globe and using the circuit to put new race prototypes through functional testing.

Paul Healy - 28 Aug 2012