Audi Is Quitting The WEC To Focus On Formula E

Audi will pull out of the FIA World Endurance Championship at the end of the 2016 season, after announcing a new motorsport strategy that will focus on Formula E
Audi Is Quitting The WEC To Focus On Formula E

The LMP1 category of the FIA World Endurance Championship has taken a big hit, with Audi confirming it will wave goodbye to the series at the end of the 2016 season.

As always with these stories, there have been a whole host of rumours surrounding Audi’s involvement in the FIA WEC over the past few weeks, with some stating that the German manufacturer would pull out next year.

However, Audi has now made an announcement confirming it will completely cut its WEC programme at the end of this season, choosing to focus more on Formula E.

Audi Is Quitting The WEC To Focus On Formula E

Audi won the WEC titles in 2012 and 2013 and has claimed 13 Le Mans victories in its 18-year involvement in the famous endurance race.

Audi is calling it quits with LMP1 to instead go for factory involvement with the Abt Schaeffler Formula E squad – further proof of the all-electric series attracting the big motorsport names.

Audi Is Quitting The WEC To Focus On Formula E

Interestingly though, Audi’s DTM programme will be “untouched” – it’s one of three manufacturers competing in the tin-top series right now.

Here’s what the chairman of the board of management at Audi, Rupert Sadler, said on the decision:

“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.”

Audi Is Quitting The WEC To Focus On Formula E

And Audi’s head of motorsport, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, added:

“After 18 years in prototype racing that were exceptionally successful for Audi, it’s obviously extremely hard to leave. Audi Sport Team Joest shaped the WEC during this period like no other team. I would like to express my thanks to our squad, to Reinhold Joest and his team, to the drivers, partners and sponsors for this extremely successful cooperation. It’s been a great time!”

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Comments

Anonymous
10/26/2016 - 12:58 |
264 | 2
Anonymous

… It would be cool if Ferrari or McLaren could replace em :c

10/26/2016 - 13:05 |
26 | 0
Apex Predator

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I hope so. It would be a huge hit to the sport if Porsche and Toyota were the only successful teams

10/26/2016 - 15:49 |
14 | 0
Guillermo Torres

Nooooo 😭

10/26/2016 - 13:06 |
0 | 0
Scott Povey

They are also potentially increasing their support within world RX, including a possible hybrid RX car!

10/26/2016 - 13:11 |
33 | 0
Anonymous

Wish Audi was passionate about joining F1…

10/26/2016 - 13:13 |
134 | 0
Collector

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Formula E is the new F1. I see FE being more cooler than F1.

10/26/2016 - 16:17 |
28 | 28
Marchel Kindangen

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

To join in F1 requires 3x more than FE, which means Audi didn’t think of it because too expensive.

10/27/2016 - 07:18 |
6 | 0
Anonymous

Well Porsche is back in lmp1 so to be honest, I don’t really Mind. Otherwise it would’ve been VAG on 1st till 5th place with Toyota somewhere in the middle everytime

10/26/2016 - 13:24 |
0 | 0
JasonC302

… Audi Retires from LMP1… and yet here i am, still waiting For Mazda’s Return to LeMans with a rotary…

10/26/2016 - 13:28 |
20 | 0

Rotary wont happen

10/26/2016 - 14:25 |
4 | 2

I think the rotary was banned at that level of racing.

10/26/2016 - 20:55 |
6 | 0
Anonymous

Booo, hiss!!!

10/26/2016 - 13:36 |
0 | 2
bcrm

Could be a dieselgate thing, Probably to help develop the new VW all electric roadcar.

10/26/2016 - 13:44 |
28 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by bcrm

I agree

10/26/2016 - 14:22 |
0 | 0
CalmnessAndSandwiches

In reply to by bcrm

It is. It’s an act of desperation, not the “future” as they say it is.

10/27/2016 - 01:10 |
6 | 0