Ullrich salutes Alboreto in sad farewell.

Family, friends, companions and fans attended the funeral of Audi works driver Michele Alboreto at a service held at the Catholic Parrocchia Gesu Salvatore church in Basiglio, Italy, this afternoon [Friday].

Alboreto was fatally injured on Wednesday while testing the Audi R8 racing sportscar on the Lausitzring, and his role in the Audi team was marked by a heavy presence amongst the many hundreds of guests by colleagues from the German operation.

During the hour-long service, which was attended by the Audi AG board of directors, the head of Audi Sport, Dr Wolfgang Ullrich said farewell to his driver, and again shared his heartfelt sympathy and condolences with the family of the Italian.

"Michele, you gave us so much, we will miss you terribly and you will always remain in our hearts," he concluded in his speech, which addressed the congregation in the driver's native Italian.

"Caro Michele, your whole life was dedicated to motorsport, the love for your family and your close friends," Dr Ullrich said.

"I called you up for Audi in 1998 to share your experience and your energy in developing a racing sportscar for Le Mans. In the shortest time you won the hearts of the whole team and became one of us. Always open, helpful and always there - you were a wonderful person and an extraordinary personality. With impressive professionalism and conviction you were a perfect representative of Audi.

With enthusiasm and dedication you made it possible for us to develop an extremely successful sportscar. You lost your life the day before yesterday, while undertaking your favourite work in the cockpit of our R8 in preparation for your great goal - the victory in Le Mans with Audi.

Michele, you gave us so much, we will miss you terribly and you will always remain in our hearts."

Alboreto was due to have contested the Le Mans 24 Hours in June, having been successful in the Sebring 12 Hours earlier in the year.