One event at the start of every new season has become a much loved tradition at FC Bayern: the day the players take delivery of their new Audis. Following morning training at the Säbener Strasse facility, coach Carlo Ancelotti and his men boarded the team bus for the transfer to Ingolstadt, where captain Philipp Lahm and Co reported to the Audi Forum for the ceremony.
After the official handover by Audi CEO Rupert Stadler and a group photograph, Ancelotti and his men signed autographs and posed for snapshots with the large crowd of FCB fans at the factory. Striker Robert Lewandowski competed with a fan in the Audi Champion Shot, a test of shooting accuracy mounted in the boot of an Audi A1, with the pro giving convincing evidence of his scoring ability.
The preferred option among the FCB stars this year is the Audi RS 6 Avant 4.0 TFSI quattro, ordered by no fewer than eight players including Jérôme Boateng, Xabi Alonso and Javi Martínez. “They’re always fantastic cars,” said Boateng during the annual handover event hosted by the manufacturer, one of FC Bayern’s stockholders. “This is a great car, very beautiful both outside and inside.”
Lewandowski, Mats Hummels and four other players went for the Audi RS 7 Sportback 4.0 TFSI quattro. Thomas Müller, saying he likes his car “small, compact and a little less of a standout” selected an RS Q3 performance 2.5 TFSI quattro, while family men Lahm and Arjen Robben each drove away in a roomy Audi Q7 3.0 TDI quattro. “It’s something very nice every year!” the Dutch ace smiled.