Audi will focus on Formula E; quits WEC (including the 24 Hours of Le Mans)

dZired · 27th October 2016, 14:34

Audi has officially announced its decision to quit from the World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This decision has been taken to focus and incline the motorsport arm towards Formula E racing series. The company has already collaborated with Team ABT Schaeffler to participate in the 2016-17 season of the all-electric racing series.

Audi will be terminating its FIA WEC contract at the end of the 2016 season. This will mark an end to its 18-year participation in the Le Mans races, in which the company has earned 13 victories. Audi was also awarded the drivers' and manufacturers' titles in 2012-13.

With Audi out of the World Endurance Championship, there are now only two manufacturers left to compete in the races - Porsche and Toyota. On the other hand, Formula E has managed to attract attention of various big names in the automotive industry, including Audi, Citroen, Mercedes, Jaguar, Renault, and Mahindra.

This major change in inclination of Audi's motorsport strategy is also being seen as a step to focus on zero-emission vehicles. Manufacturers are known to use the knowledge and experience gathered in motorsports to develop new production vehicles. With Audi planning to introduce multiple zero-emission vehicles in its portfolio by 2025, Formula E championship can indeed turn out to be beneficial for the company's development.

Audi will focus on Formula E; quits WEC (including the 24 Hours of Le Mans)-audi_r18_etron_quattro.jpg

Link to Team-BHP News

Omkar · 16th December 2016, 14:07

Porsche's way of saying goodbye!

Quote:

Do you remember how Audi Sport bid us welcome to the FIA WEC and the 24h of Le Mans three years ago? This is how we would like to say goodbye. Thanks for all the tough fights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4cJCiYvgeo&t=5s

frostbite911 · 22nd December 2016, 12:45

So here is a scale model of Audi's 2017 car :(

Audi will focus on Formula E; quits WEC (including the 24 Hours of Le Mans)-audi.jpg

The car had been under development months before the axing of the program in October. It was never fully built.

embee · 22nd December 2016, 13:19

Nice Video!

Found the below article after a little research on the web.

"The news of Audi's upcoming departure from its long reign atop global sports car racing was as shocking as it was inevitable. Reasoning behind the withdrawal was painfully Germanic: a calculated business move, and nothing more. And even if it was inevitable, the loss of Audi from the WEC is on par with McLaren leaving F1, Ford leaving NASCAR, or Ganassi leaving Indycar. Make no mistake, this is a big deal.

The same machine-like efficiency Audi introduced to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999 was applied by its board of directors—and its accounting department—to forecasting its future at the French endurance classic. With a rumored annual investment of a half-billion dollars to consider, the numbers seemingly stopped making sense for the brand."

Audi will focus on Formula E; quits WEC (including the 24 Hours of Le Mans)-landscape1476451416audir18.jpg

Read More @
http://www.roadandtrack.com/motorspo...dis-exit-from/

27th October 2016, 14:34	#1
dZired Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,868 Thanked: 7,972 Times View My Garage	Audi will focus on Formula E; quits WEC (including the 24 Hours of Le Mans) Audi has officially announced its decision to quit from the World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This decision has been taken to focus and incline the motorsport arm towards Formula E racing series. The company has already collaborated with Team ABT Schaeffler to participate in the 2016-17 season of the all-electric racing series. Audi will be terminating its FIA WEC contract at the end of the 2016 season. This will mark an end to its 18-year participation in the Le Mans races, in which the company has earned 13 victories. Audi was also awarded the drivers' and manufacturers' titles in 2012-13. With Audi out of the World Endurance Championship, there are now only two manufacturers left to compete in the races - Porsche and Toyota. On the other hand, Formula E has managed to attract attention of various big names in the automotive industry, including Audi, Citroen, Mercedes, Jaguar, Renault, and Mahindra. This major change in inclination of Audi's motorsport strategy is also being seen as a step to focus on zero-emission vehicles. Manufacturers are known to use the knowledge and experience gathered in motorsports to develop new production vehicles. With Audi planning to introduce multiple zero-emission vehicles in its portfolio by 2025, Formula E championship can indeed turn out to be beneficial for the company's development. Link to Team-BHP News Last edited by dZired : 27th October 2016 at 14:36.
	(5) Thanks

22nd December 2016, 12:45	#3
frostbite911 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Chennai Posts: 91 Thanked: 247 Times View My Garage	Re: Audi will focus on Formula E; quits WEC (including the 24 Hours of Le Mans) So here is a scale model of Audi's 2017 car :( The car had been under development months before the axing of the program in October. It was never fully built.
	() Thanks

22nd December 2016, 13:19	#4
embee BHPian Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: DL/GBN Posts: 223 Thanked: 309 Times	Re: Audi will focus on Formula E; quits WEC (including the 24 Hours of Le Mans) Nice Video! Found the below article after a little research on the web. "The news of Audi's upcoming departure from its long reign atop global sports car racing was as shocking as it was inevitable. Reasoning behind the withdrawal was painfully Germanic: a calculated business move, and nothing more. And even if it was inevitable, the loss of Audi from the WEC is on par with McLaren leaving F1, Ford leaving NASCAR, or Ganassi leaving Indycar. Make no mistake, this is a big deal. The same machine-like efficiency Audi introduced to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999 was applied by its board of directors—and its accounting department—to forecasting its future at the French endurance classic. With a rumored annual investment of a half-billion dollars to consider, the numbers seemingly stopped making sense for the brand." Read More @ http://www.roadandtrack.com/motorspo...dis-exit-from/
	(1) Thanks