Jeff Hoare who won his Audi Driving Experience at Grange Audi's Open House competition reports...

Fully rested from our nights stay in Ingolstadt we arrived by taxi to the Audi Forum. The electronic bollards lowered to let us across the Piazza, past the Audi Museum, to the central reception. Outside the museum sat a shiny blue and alloy silver car that I couldn’t believe was ours for the weekend. In the reception our Audi Hostess Martina greeted my girlfriend Mary Ann and me. We sat in the lounge sipping coffee while Martina ran through all the information we needed to know before we set off. Martina asked if I’d seen the car outside the Forum when we drove in. I hesitated in saying ‘Yes’ and then just to confirm that she was referring to the same car said ‘the R8’ even though it was the only car on the Piazza that morning. Outside Martina talked us through all the controls and took a few photos for us. This was the top of the range R8 that comes with a 5.2 litre V10 as opposed to the “smaller” engine of the 4.2 V8. Before departing we toured the Audi Museum which takes you through the entire history of the company right through to the concepts for the future.

Departing from the Forum with a group of 20 or so admirers (of the car) we started towards our destination of Berchtesgaden, a small town nestled in the Alps just south of Salzburg. The initial stage of the drive was along the famous German Autobahn. This gave me time to adjust to the left hand drive and the jaw dropping acceleration coming from the 525bhp engine. The first time I put the foot down it felt like a truck had just slammed into the back of us. It was a quick introduction and showed that the car demanded respect. We had set a route that would take us onto the quieter roads so after an hour we left the Autobahn to slow down and take in the rolling hills of the countryside. Taking a lunch break in the sun in Walchsee we overlooked the lake with its various water sports in action. This gave time to reflect on the driving so far and the car itself. For a sports car the R8 is surprisingly comfortable and practical. We had two large backpacks; worryingly mine was the larger of the two. The boot located at the front accommodated one and the other behind the seats along with a day pack.
Setting off again we entered the Alps with the roads narrowing, progressing into more hills and tighter turns. With the power of the V10 no longer needed, balance and cornering came into play. It was easy to drive through the tight turns and steeply sloped roads and it felt like a car for everyday use. Arriving at the 5* Hotel Intercontinental Berchtesgaden Resort the concierge whisked away the car and showed us to our room. We spent the next few hours relaxing in the outdoor pool and spa. For dinner we dined in the Hotels Michelin Star Restaurant ‘Le Ciel’, the menu was mouth watering and the food did not disappoint. After dinner and a bottle or two of wine we called it a night.

The air of the mountainous Alps brings a certain kind of tranquillity so in the next morning we went off for a relaxing walk in the fresh air. After walking around the surrounding forest we got a bus up to the Eagle’s Nest. This was a mountain retreat built for Hitler and you reach it by a bus along a 4m wide road with a sheer drop to the side, then through a tunnel to the centre of the mountain where a brass lined elevator brings you up the 124m (406ft) into the building itself. Outside we took in the panoramic views over the Berchtesgadener Land including Konigsee Lake. Once descended back to the hotel we jumped into the R8 to drive around the nearby towns, Mary Ann got behind the wheel and proclaimed that it was the perfect car for a girl to drive. I sulked until we got back.

During the final night there was torrential rain followed by thunder and lightning. We awoke the next morning to find the first winter’s snow had set on the mountains. Before departing for Ingolstadt we had another fantastic breakfast followed by a final blast in the steam room. We loaded up the car and set off taking the minor roads which we had found provided a better driving experience and spectacular scenery. As it was 5° and wet I thought that the car would be slipping with the ABS kicking in at every turn but the R8 handled like it was glued to the road. As we got towards Munich the roads dried up and we joined the Autobahn. After cruising for a while at 120kph in the restricted speed zone we entered an unrestricted section. With a Mercedes SL63 AMG as a guide in front I put the foot to the floor. The acceleration felt like we’d been launched in a rocket, once I got to 260kph I levelled off and drove along for a few minutes. I’ve always wanted to drive on an unrestricted Autobahn; I just didn’t think it would be in a supercar! All too soon the turn for Ingolstadt crept quickly up and a few minutes later we were back at the Audi forum. I parked the car giving it a quick hug and waved goodbye. It was an unbelievable experience and it took another few days to sink in just how fantastic it was.

A once in a lifetime experience.