Microsoft and Audi have entered into a partnership that includes having the amazing Audi R8 V10 be the new cover car for the Forza Motorsport 3 game. Audi has also been a multiple winner at the historic 24 hours of Le Mans endurance race. To celebrate their rich heritage at Le Mans and the launch of the new Forza Motorpsort 3 game they decided to team up to host a 24 hour video game endurance challenge.

This special event was named the AXF-24 challenge and was held at Audi’s Forum located on Park Avenue in Manhattan. The event started at 9am EST on Saturday the 13th of June and concluded the following morning at 9am; these are the exact times of the 24 hours of Le Mans race being held in France. 3 teams were entered in the challenge; the teams consisted of 3 players each. These teams beat thousands of other Forza Motorsport gamers from around the country and were flown to NYC for the event. All three teams raced the Audi R8 V10 in the new game on the virtual Le Mans track; this was the first time that these gamers had ever played Forza Motorsport 3. The winning team received an all expense paid trip to the 2010 24 hours of Le Mans race and will be hosted by our friends at Audi Motorsport.

After 24 hours of grueling race action, all three teams managed to finish the 24 hours race and most of them said the challenge was much more difficult than they expected. The teams were given breaks every hour and allowed to switch drivers. During the 24 hour challenge, there were many distractions as visitors to the Audi forum enjoyed drinks, food, live DJ’s, screenings of Audi’s motorsport documentary “The Truth in 24” and live pitstops on a championship winning Audi R10 race car.

The first time event was a success and Audi and Forza Motorsport 3 were able to showcase their brands to racing enthusiasts and gamers alike.