“I’m over the moon and my Mum can’t stop crying. She is so proud of me,” Scott said.  “My dad won Apprentice Of The Year when he worked at London Pride Buses, so I’m following in the family footsteps. The automotive industry is in our blood.“

It’s a fantastic start to his career and the team at Hatfield Audi are all delighted for him.  We are looking forward to seeing him progress through the Apprenticeship Programme.

It is great news for Hatfield Audi customers too, as they will benefit from Scott’s skills and technical ability in servicing and maintaining their cars to the very highest standard.

Scott joined Hatfield Audi as an Apprentice Technician in August 2010, and quickly showed a flair for the job. “From my first meeting with Scott, it was obvious he had the aptitude, skill and desire to succeed as a technician,” said Nick Jacques, Hatfield Audi’s Aftersales Manager. “From the outset, he has been totally committed to the apprenticeship scheme and his role in our Audi Centre. His reports from college have supported this and the feedback has always been very positive. 

“In his time at Hatfield he has endeared himself to the team and has forged a credible reputation, both with Audi and Spire Automotive. I fully expect Scott to complete his apprenticeship within the specified three years – on a high. He is a shining example of the type of apprentice we strive to attract and his work ethic accords closely with our brand values and behaviours.” 

Audi has built a reputation for service and training that is second to none, and the Audi Modern Apprenticeship Programme is one of the most comprehensive and sought after in the UK motor industry.

Scott added: “I have learned so much from the Apprenticeship Programme and from Hatfield Audi. Everyone is always encouraging me to do well.”

Congratulations Scott – very well done!

Debuts
From the present day Audi portfolio the Q3 compact SUV, the 340PS RS 3 Sportback, the new A6 Avant and the breathtaking 560PS R8 GT Spyder, all of which make their UK public debuts at this years Festival of Speed.

Stars of the future
A potential legend-in-the-making – the critically acclaimed lightweight aluminium, five-cylinder, 408PS quattro concept – will also be on hand to show how the revered Sport quattro of the Eighties could possibly be rocketed into the future.

Past masters
Meanwhile, Audi Tradition will also look to the past with two 1930s Auto Union “Silver Arrow” Grand Prix cars which will be piloted by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and Audi’s 1990 German Touring Car Champion Hans-Joachim Stuck. DKW, one of the four brands which joined forces to form the Auto Union marque which eventually gave rise to Audi, will also be represented by two pre-war motorcycles: a DKW SS 250 (1937) and a DKW SS 350 (1939).

Goodwood hill climb
On the competition front, the Audi R18 TDI sports prototype will be looming large in the F1 paddock in commemoration of the tenth victory for Audi in the 24 Hours of Le Mans marathon race earlier this month. One of the three winning drivers, Germany’s André Lotterer, will drive the innovative diesel-powered racer up the hill course at Lord March’s estate. Another legend destined for the hill will be the 1985 Audi Sport quattro S1 rally car, featuring the world-famous quattro all-wheel-drive technology which changed the face of rallying. One of its star drivers, Hannu Mikkola, who won the FIA World Rally Championship in a quattro in 1983, will be behind the wheel again over the weekend.

“Being a recipient of first class heart surgery myself, I felt that it was a time to reflect and to give a little back,” said Nick Jacques, the Aftersales Manager at Hatfield Audi, who completed the iconic 54-mile route – in the rain – in 4hrs 15mins..  “I wasn’t going for a record time, but completing the course before the sun set was a result! “

Nick Jacques – 4hrs 15mins

Tom Garofall - 4hrs 15mins

Daniel Hart – 4hrs 55mins

Dean Leighton - 8hrs+ to reach the other side of Ditchling Beacon!

It is not too late to donate, at http://www.justgiving.com/teams/spireautomotive.

Brown won the M25 Audi Qualifier staged at The Grove Golf Club today (7 June) with a score of 37-points in the Stableford rules matches.

Over 30 amateur golfers contested the 18-hole, Spire Audi sponsored competition at The Grove GC, London’s Country Estate, Chandler’s Cross. The top-4 finishers now pair up in an Audi Regional Final at the Goodwood Golf Club near Chichester, West Sussex, on 7 July.

The full list of golfers qualifying for the Regional Final from today’s event is:

• 1st Les Brown (61), from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. 37-points

• 2nd David Leigh (40), from Bradwell nr Braintree. 33-points

• 3rd Steve Thomas (43), from Cheshunt nr Waltham Cross. 32-points

• 4th Paul Barwick (40), from Rainham nr Gillingham. 31-points

Today’s one-day competition was supported by Spire Automotive which includes Finchley Road Audi, Whetstone Audi, Watford Audi and Hatfield Audi and is one of over 30 Audi quattro Cup events being staged between April-July. Three Regional Finals are staged in July with 16 “pairs” then contesting the Audi quattro Cup UK Final at Bowood Golf & Country Club near Calne, Wiltshire (14-15 Sep).

Ultimately two “pairs” representing Great Britain compete in the Audi quattro Cup World Final staged at The Mission Hills Resort in China (7-11 Nov). The Audi quattro Cup, being staged for the 21st year, is the world’s largest amateur golf competition with almost 80,000 players from over 50 countries expected to compete for a place in the week-long World Final.

To celebrate the arrival of the new city-friendly premium hatchback, actors Dominic Cooper, Gemma Arterton, Naomie Harris, Toby Kebbell, Keeley Hawes, Nat Parker and Colin Salmon were among the stars mingling with more than 450 guests at the event.

The guests drove away ‘en masse’ from London’s Battersea Power Station to mark the car’s inaugural appearance on UK roads, taking in some of the capital’s major landmarks – including the MI6 building, Lambeth Palace, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and Marble Arch.

The list of celebrity drivers included top talent from the worlds of music, sport, business and the media, such as model David Gandy, The Feeling’s front man Dan Gillespie-Sells, TV presenter and England Rugby star Matt Dawson, internet entrepreneur Tom Hadfield, T4 presenter Rick Edwards and singer Lemar.

The A1 range delivers all the quality, design and engineering synonymous with Audi. It is also the most efficient model in Audi’s portfolio, with such low CO2 emissions that all models from UK launch are exempt from road tax in the first year. The Diesel A1 can deliver top fuel economy of 70.6 miles per gallon.

First A1s were driven back to M25 Audi centres as part of the big A1 Driveaway – building up to the M25 Audi A1 Big Launch event which will take place next weekend 20 – 21 November. Don’t miss it!

More photos on Flickr>>

The duo, who work for Masterlease and are representing M25 Audi, scored a tremendous 41 points in the regional heat at Woburn Golf Club last month and will now take part in September’s final at Bowood Golf & Country Club.

Now in its 20th year, the Audi Quattro Cup is the world’s biggest amateur golf contest with over 85,000 contenders from more than 50 countries competing this year for a place in the week-long World Final, at the stunning Pevero Golf Club on Sardinia in October. Over one million golfers have taken part since the competition started in 1991, and every year the standard improves.

So congratulations to Clive and Dominic – and best of luck in the final. We’ll keep you informed of their progress!

The neck has been redesigned by Audi to ensure it cannot accommodate petrol nozzles. An internal fuel flap will open only when the larger diesel pump nozzle makes contact with it. The smaller diameter petrol nozzles do not make contact, so the filler flap remains closed and prevents access to the reservoir. It will also prevent any spillage on the forecourt.

This latest advance will be of particular interest to companies running vehicle fleets, but will also reassure for private motorists making the switch from petrol and those who aren’t the car’s sole user.

The newly-equipped cars in the A4, A5 and Q5 family will be joined by further Audi models soon as the system is rolled out gradually.

Audi A3 1.6 Sport Blue (1998, S-reg)

One of our favourite trade magazines has come up with a great way of supporting the motor industry’s official charity – known as BEN – and M25 Audi was delighted to help them out.

Car Dealer has set itself the challenge of raising enough money by the end of this year to buy a Porsche, which they will then sell and give all the proceeds to BEN.

How are they going to do it?  By starting with a cheap car, doing it up and selling it on – and repeating that process until they’ve got their Porsche.

Read more on the Car Dealer Magazine website>>

We were keen to get involved, and got them off to a fast start by donating a dark blue S-reg Audi A3 1.6-litre, worth around £1,500 at trade prices.  It sold on eBay for £790.03 – have a look at the details here.

There’s also a video of the car on YouTube>>

Enjoy the Easter Bank Holiday!

The Institute of Advanced Motorists has responded to the fuel price hike in the Budget by putting together some useful tips to help motorists cut their Easter Bank Holiday fuel bills.

IAM Chief Examiner, Peter Rodger, said: “A rise of as little as 1p per litre will quickly add up. Simple measures such as looking well ahead and slowing down earlier instead of always using the brakes to slow down can make a real difference.  A smoother driving style is the single best eco-driving tip.  Good economical driving starts with safer driving and anticipation.”

Make each litre last longer over Easter with good journey planning and forward thinking behind the wheel.

PS – Take a look at our Easter Opening Hours here

• Sticking to 70mph, instead of 80mph, can save around 4p per mile.

• An empty car roof box can increase fuel consumption by 20% on a motorway – if it’s not needed, don’t take it.

• A smooth driving style as opposed to an aggressive one has been estimated to save 15% fuel consumption.

• Correct tyre pressure reduces wear and helps fuel economy. Under-inflated tyres are unsafe, need replacing more often and can increase fuel consumption by 5%.  Check the pressure is right and that they are damage-free.

• Plan your route in advance. Continuous, smooth driving on uncongested routes is always more economical, even if they are longer.

• Remember to switch off the air-con and heated windows when they aren’t needed. Used together, these can increase fuel consumption by 15%.

• Take the unnecessary baggage out of your boot – the added weight will affect your fuel efficiency.

Enjoy the Bank Holiday!

Audi RS 5: View latest pictures on Flickr

Audi RS 5 is set to make its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show 04-14 March.. Take a look at the very latest photos of this new Audi RS on the M25 Audi Flickr photostream..