We love the racing, and the personalities that populate it, a group often dominated by the drivers of course, they are the public face of many racing efforts.

From time to time though other individuals emerge, whether through personality, results, or both, to enrich the scene.

Dr Wolfgang Ullrich is certainly one of those. The man at the helm of Audi Sport’s racing efforts for the whole of the 20-1st century thus far, and a wee time before that! He has directed a programme of almost unbelievable success in sportscar racing, together with Touring Car efforts around the world, and latterly in DTM, and much more besides.

He steps down this week officially after a year of winding down the LMP1 programme, building up the Formula E effort, and making not a few approaches to other racing efforts on behalf of ‘his’ boys and girls – very many of whom have him to thank for a career breakthrough.

Have a very happy retirement Dr U. Your ability to win, and lose, with dignity will be much missed.

On The Pit Wall at DTM – Perhaps the only place we saw his poise dented!

On the top step of the Le Mans podium with Champion Racing’s Tom Kristensen, Marco Werner and JJ Lehto in 2005.

TK again, with Allan McNish and Dindo Capello, a legendary trio and the Boss!

A staircase of memories at Audi Sport’s Neuberg HQ

It seems Dr U didn’t get the memo about Team Shirts?

Celebrating 2004 DTM success with Mattias Ekström

Well they do refer to a rear wing as a parcel shelf sometimes! fond farewells at the retirement part in mid-December

Justifiably Proud

On the cans at the Spa 24 Hours, another race that fell to stunning Audi performances

With successor Dieter Gass, even the leaving card was engineered to be ultra light!

Leading from the front!

Focused!!

A tip of the hat to the Boss at the Bahrain finale for a stunning LMP1 run

If you think that figurine is small Wolfgang just think how tiny the McNish one must be!

He hasn’t changed a bit!

Emotional on the Bahrain 2016 podium with Reinhold Joest, Ralf Jüttner & Marcel Fässler

Unrivalled driving record, shakey cartooning skills!

TK presents a personalised copy of his book to a man that helped make it all happen!

On the Sebring grid with Ralf Jüttner and Alf!

2014 and the final Audi Le Mans win. For now!!