Audi announces its withdrawal at the end of 2016

The first rumors had emerged on the sidelines of the Fuji event, but Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, questioned by AUTOhebdo on the subject, had wanted to temper the situation.

However this Wednesday, the information was indeed confirmed by the staff of the brand with the rings: Audi will no longer be involved in the World ChampionshipEndurance, nor to 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2017.

The firm will refocus its forces on Formula e, with reinforced involvement via Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport. “We are going to compete in races in the future focused on electric energy, underlines Rupert Stader, chairman of the board of directors. As our production cars are increasingly oriented towards electric, our motorsport cars, as Audi's technological spearheads, must be even more so. »

It is therefore the end of an era for the world of endurance. Winner 13 times of the Sarthe double clock since 2000, Audi has been a pioneer in technological advances on the famous Le Mans event, with the introduction of diesel (first victory in 2006), a technology at the center of Audi's strategy , but hit by the recent Volkswagen scandal, or the hybrid (first victory in 2012, during the return of a world endurance championship). His various prototypes have compiled 185 races, 106 victories, 80 poles and 94 best laps in the race.

Pillar of WEC, and titled four times (Drivers and Manufacturers crowns in 2012 and 2013), Audi Sport has accumulated 16 victories (before the last 2016 events) in the WEC, and saw Tom Kristensen (record holder for victories at Le Mans with nine) join its ranks. success), Allan McNish, Dindo Capello, Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard, the André Lotterer trio, Marcel Fässler, Benoît Tréluyer, or even Loïc duval.

“After 18 years of prototype racing which was an exceptional success for Audi, it is obviously very difficult to leave, admits Audi Motorsport Director Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. Audi Sport Team Joest has shaped the WEC during this period like no other team.

I would like to express my thanks to our team, to Reinhold Joest and his team, the drivers, partners and sponsors for this extremely successful cooperation. It was a great moment! »

Audi, however, has confirmed its involvement in the championship DTM.