Audi mulls Grand-Am and IndyCar

Audi wants to extend its reputation in the USA and is considering greater involvement in American motor racing. The Ingolstadt manufacturer has already signed an agreement with the Grand-Am, theImsa and the IT-R (organizers of the DTM) to create a new series based on the German Touring Car Championship and that the firm with the rings is already represented with its R8 LMS. But the German brand, once again victorious at the 12 Hours of Sebring which hosted the LMP1 for the last time this year, wants to go further by considering competing in the Daytona Prototype category in the future United Sportscar Racing Championship and even considering a presence in IndyCar as an engine manufacturer.

“We are talking about ideas at the moment”, explained Wolfgang Durheimer, member of the technical development department at Audi AG. “I will be for Daytona Prototypes in Grand-Am because I think it is important to have victories in the general classification. Category victories (with the R8 LMS) are great but in the end you have to win races. We could also place ourselves in IndyCar because I think it is a very popular discipline and the Indianapolis 500 represents an exceptional event. »

Note that Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, Audi's sporting director, had already mentioned the wish to see the German manufacturer at the highest level of Grand-Am during the 12 Hours of Sebring (see: AUTOhebdo n°1901).

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