Audi targets Formula E

Once upon a time, Audi proved to the world that the idea of a diesel powered race car was not the stuff of fiction, winning at the cauldron of international motorsport, Le Mans on debut. Then, Audi won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a hybrid race car (again on debut) and again shifted the common perception of what a race car was and how it should perform.

Furthering the brand’s extensive advances in electronic propulsion, Audi Sport will extend its partnership with Team ABT Schaeffler with a planned motorsport partnership in the Formula E program for the 2017/2018 season which starts in Hong Kong on October 9th this year.

In addition, the company plans to incorporate Formula E into a factory-backed motorsport program as of the 2017/2018 season. 

“Electric mobility is one of the key topics in our industry,” says Dr. Stefan Knirsch, Member of the Board of Management, Technical Development, AUDI AG. 

“We intend to evolve into one of the leading premium car manufacturers in this field. By 2025, every fourth Audi should be an electric vehicle. The first model for this is planned to be an SUV we’re going to present in 2018. In light of these plans, adapting our motorsport program and taking up a commitment in a fully electric racing series is only a logical move.”  

The man behind Audi’s hugely successful racing program around the world, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, says that it is an obvious progression for the brand that has continuously revolutionised international motorsport throughout its history.

“Audi has consistently been using motorsport to test and develop new technologies further for subsequent use in production,” he said. “With quattro drive we revolutionised rally racing and subsequently set standards in circuit racing as well. In the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi was the first manufacturer to have achieved victories with a TFSI engine, a TDI and a hybrid race car, so writing motorsport history on several occasions. Now we intend to repeat this in fully electric racing. Formula E with its races being held in the hearts of major cities is an ideal stage for this purpose and Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport a logical partner for us.” 

Audi Sport has been giving its name to the team ever since the inaugural 2014/2015 Formula E season, making factory driver, Lucas di Grassi available as part of the co-operation. In addition, the team has been able to use Audi Sport’s infrastructure in Neuburg – the sensational motorsport facility to test and fine tune. 

Starting in the 2016/2017 season, Audi is going to intensify the existing partnership with Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport with financial and technical support. For the 2017/2018 season, on the road toward a fully-fledged factory commitment, Audi Sport will be joining the development step by step in close cooperation with technology partner Schaeffler. 

Final testing was completed at Donington in the UK last week where Lucas di Grassi completed 269 laps without incident over three days on the 4.003km track. The drivers are also familiarising themselves on the simulator with the short city street circuit in Hong Kong (one of the race locations) which has a length of barely two kilometres.

The 2016/2017 Formula E season calendar currently features 12 races in 10 international cities, starting in Berlin next June. Certainly it will be a demanding season, but one that Audi has already tested and is confident of strong results.

Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport drivers, Daniel Abt (Germany) and Lucas di Grassi (Brazil) are now tackling their third joint Formula E season as teammates and Di Grassi was third in the drivers’ classification in the inaugural season and runner up in the championship title in the 2015/2016 season – so top spot is now firmly in the sights.

This heralds not only another exciting time for Audi Sport (the only German team planning to incorporate Formula E into a factory-backed motorsport program as of the 2017/2018 season) but for international motorsport in general – another age is about to dawn and not surprisingly, Audi is at the forefront.