The Audi Ski Event in Austria

To celebrate the start of the 2016 Hahnenkamm ski-racing weekend in Kitzbühel, Austria, Audi held a sensational event to celebrate its weekend hosting duties. Top stars from the worlds of entertainment and sport turned up to a special gala ball to mark the event, including Bayern Munich footballer Mario Gotze, actor Jason Statham, supermodel Irina Shayk and actress Gwyneth Paltrow.

Branded the Audi Quattro #SuperQ challenge, four skiing stars and four professional athletes took to a purpose-built ice and snow-laden track to race the formidable Audi S1 EKS RX quattro. Audi RS 3 Sportbacks were also available to drive on the day.

Athletes were instructed by professional racers Mattias Ekström and Edward Sandström; Ekström commented, ‘I was surprised to see how quickly these guys learned and the high level they drove on. However, sitting next to them in the passenger's seat accelerated my heart rate.’

The triumphant winners were Norwegian leader of the Slalom World Cup, Henrik Kristofferson and Italian MotoGP star Andrea, who narrowly beat German slalom star Felix Neureuther and Polish Enduro rider Tadeusz Błażusiak.

About Dovizioso, Kristofferson said, ‘That was scary. Andrea accelerated when I'd have long started braking.’ He added, ‘All in all, it was a tremendous day that was huge fun. Driving such a car was an impressive experience. And it's my first victory in Kitzbühel – maybe I'll be able to repeat it in the slalom on Sunday.’