After seven successful seasons and 84 races in the highly charged world of Formula E, Audi will bid farewell to the formula as a factory parcipant this weekend as the brand sets its sights on a new motorsport challenge – the Dakar Rally.

Two races remain this weekend in Berlin to wrap up the 2020/21 season and for Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler, almost anything is possible in both the drivers’ and teams’ standings. The top 15 drivers separated by just 33 points with a maximum 60 points on offer weekend. René Rast in 10th and Lucas di Grassi in 14th are still within striking distance as is Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler in the team classification.

“Audi was the first German manufacturer to compete in Formula E. In recent years, the series has accompanied our brand in its transformation to electric mobility and provided us with many unforgettable moments that will forever remain a part of our history,” says Julius Seebach, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH and responsible for motorsport. 

“It’s time for us to take the next step in motorsport. The Dakar Rally offers us the opportunity to break new ground as a pioneer and to present and further develop our expertise in the field of electric mobility under extreme conditions.”

The brand’s reputation in Formula E is formidable, having been involved in the formula from the start. For the first three years as the private team ABT Sportsline with the support of the technology company Schaeffler, and as an official Audi factory team since 2017, Audi has amassed 46 trophies and a string of records, including the most fastest laps by a team or the most podium positions by a driver with Lucas di Grassi.

Indeed di Grassi, who won the Drivers’ championship in season three, holds a string of records and is one of only two drivers on the grid to have contested all Formula E races so far, and the only one to have done so for the same team – Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler.

He is the only driver to score seven podium finishes in a single season – and did so in seasons two, three and four. He has scored points in 62 races so far, and with 2877 laps under his belt, he has completed the most laps in Formula E and is the only one to have won from eight different grid positions so far.

“We’re coming to Berlin to say goodbye to Formula E and to our fans with our heads held high,” says Team Principal Allan McNish. “Lucas and René have competed in many races in Berlin and have both been on the podium. We as a team have experienced some of the most emotional moments here in recent years. So it’s the perfect place for the final chapter of our Formula E adventure, which we obviously want to end with as many trophies as possible.”

Berlin E-Prix

For the finale of its first World Championship season, Formula E will once again use the former Tempelhof Airport with its 2.355-kilometre track this weekend. On Saturday, the course will be driven counterclockwise, on Sunday in the opposite direction. All channels, including broadcast times, can be found online at the official website.

In addition to the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler factory team, the Envision Virgin Racing customer team will also be racing for points with the e-tron FE07, which was developed by Audi. This season, Nick Cassidy and Robin Frijns are competing for the British squad which, like Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler, has been a member of the Formula E family since the first race in 2014. With seven podium finishes in the season so far, Envision Virgin Racing leads the teams’ standings.