On Wednesday, 26th October 2016, Audi announced a factory-backed commitment in the all-electric Formula E racing series that will already commence in 2017. This means that the German manufacturer is currently being in the greatest transformation stage in the company’s history.
Chairman of the Board of Management Rupert Stadler pointed out that it was important to focus on the things that would keep Audi competitive in the years ahead. “We’re going to contest the race for the future on electric power. As our production cars are becoming increasingly electric, our motorsport cars, as Audi’s technological spearheads, have to even more so,” he said.
Photo: Audi Kommunikation Motorsport
In the future, Audi will be using the know-how and skills of the motorsport experts from Neuburg and Neckarsulm partially in motorsport and partially in production development. On the road towards a full factory commitment, the manufacturer is now actively joining the technical development and in addition intensified the existing partnership with Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport in the current 2016/2017 season.
While the commitment in the DTM will remain untouched, the brand will terminate its FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) commitment, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, at the end of the 2016 season. No final decision has yet been made concerning a future involvement in the FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX).
Read more about Audi’s decision to leave FIA WEC here
