Audi to leave Formula E, enter Dakar, return to Le Mans

Audi will depart the Formulation E collection following its inaugural FIA Environment Championship period to concentration on Le Mans and Dakar attempts, corporation associates confirmed Monday. Audi will field a factory-backed Dakar Rally entry in 2022, and its return to Le Mans is envisioned as quickly as 2023. 

The 2020-2021 Formulation E period is the to start with in which Audi has fielded a auto with a factory-designed electric powered powertrain. As it turns out, it will also be the very last. Audi will continue to develop Formulation E powertrains for its motorsports buyers, but its operates method will be terminated at season’s conclusion. 

“The Dakar Rally will replace Audi’s factory involvement in Formulation E, which will no extended be ongoing in the form of an Audi factory group following the 2021 period,” the corporation claimed in its Dakar announcement. “The use of the freshly created Audi powertrain by purchaser teams will continue to be possible beyond following yr.”

“In addition, we are assessing other possible fields of activity for us in worldwide motorsport,” claimed Audi Activity Controlling Director Julius Seebach.

For each Autosport, people “other possible fields of activity” include a return to Le Mans, this time with an LMDh entry. LMDh will make on the revised IMSA LMP2 chassis launching in 2022, but will function 670-horsepower hybrid powertrains. LMDh (Le Mans Daytona h) is meant to be a decreased-cost option to the flagship Hypercar class.

“Audi is the to start with auto company that has committed to build a feasible option push principle for the Dakar Rally, earning it a pioneer in motorsport after all over again,” the corporation claimed. “In 2012, Audi reached the to start with victory of a hybrid racing auto in the Le Mans 24 Hrs. The Audi R18 E-Tron Quattro remained unbeaten in the world’s most crucial endurance race three instances in a row.”

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