24H OF THE MANS – DISAPPEARANCE OF FERDINAND PIECH, FIGURE OF PORSCHE AND AUDI

Ferdinand Piëch, a former Volkswagen AG executive and designer of the Porsche 917, has died.

Ferdinand Piëch died Sunday at the age of 82. The grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the eponymous brand, was Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG until 2015 but he was also very involved in motorsport.

This training engineer designed the Porsche 917, which allowed the manufacturer to clinch the first of its 19 successes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1970, with the K version of the car.

Ferdinand Piëch contributed to the development of the Audi brand in the 1970s, initiating the development of Quattro all-wheel drive transmissions, which greatly contributed to the builder's reputation. He was then in favor of Audi's arrival at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999.

ACO pays tribute to Ferdinand Piëch

The 24 Hours of Le Mans honored Ferdinand Piëch. He remained close to the event for several decades and started in 2001.

"As determined as it was ingenious, Ferdinand Piëch was a personality in the automotive world," said Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, organizer of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. "He had a successful career. Team boss, captain of industry, he contributed to the history of our sport, of our race, his disappearance underlines all the more the value of all that he has impulsed. "

"On behalf of the Western Automobile Club, I present my most sad thoughts to his family and loved ones. "