The ski slopes have been prepared, the preparations have been completed: Kitzbühel is ready for the Hahnenkamm race – the absolute highlight of the skiing year. For the seventh time now, Audi AG is the main sponsor of the classic, which has been staged since 1931. The 68th edition will be run from 18 to 20 January, and this Friday the traditional Audi Night will be celebrated.

When celebrities from the world of sports, entertainment, business and society gather at the famous hotel “Zur Tenne” during the skiing spectacle, a newcomer from Audi will be part of the action: The new A3 Convertible is the star guest at the Audi Night and – even in snow – sparks the viewers’ desire for the open-air pleasure it promises to deliver.

At daytime only the athletes, who are matching their strengths against each other in the Super-G, the downhill race on the legendary “Streif” and the slalom event, are the stars. For the first time ever, the three competitions will finish at the same place, as the basic preparation of all the slopes had been completed at an early stage. Meanwhile the track has been blocked and is currently in the final stage of being made ready for racing.

Audi is not only the main sponsor of the race in Kitzbühel and, therefore, sporting the Four Rings around the track. Guests also have the opportunity to personally experience the comfort, elegance and sportiness that are hallmarks of the Audi models and their quattro drive in the total of 70 Audi Q7 and Audi A8 vehicles which again make up the event’s shuttle fleet.

The 2007/2008 season now marks the sixth year for Audi to accompany the Audi FIS Ski World Cup as the title sponsor and name-giver. Whereas in addition to the DSV the Alpine national teams from Sweden, Finland, France, Liechtenstein, Italy and Switzerland have already been receiving support for a longer period of time, two new members have joined the sporting Audi family this season: With immediate effect, off the track the athletes from Austria as well as the United States can rely on the equally sporty and safe power of Audi models.

In addition to the vehicles being made available to the active contenders, officials and coaches, the skiers also benefit from the manufacturer’s technical know-how: Like the DSV athletes, they regularly train at the Audi Wind Tunnel Centre in Ingolstadt in order to gain a crucial advantage in the fierce competition.