(Audi)
Audi is realigning its motorsports programs for 2020 and beyond. Part of the realignment is due to the fact that the brand is focusing on becoming "a provider of premium mobility with a carbon-neutral footprint," and is planning to generate about 40 percent of its sales with electric cars and plug-in-hybrids by 2025. The management board of AUDI AG also made its decision based on the severe economic challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. Consequently, Audi will not extend its commitment in the DTM touring car racing series beyond the 2020 season. Audi will, however, continue its involvement in Formula E with the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team as well as in customer racing support activities. “Audi has shaped the DTM and the DTM has shaped Audi. This demonstrates what power lies in motorsport – technologically and emotionally,” says Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “With this energy, we’re going to drive our transformation into a provider of sporty, sustainable electric mobility forward. That’s why we’re also focusing our efforts on the race track and systematically competing for tomorrow’s ‘Vorsprung.’ Formula E offers a very attractive platform for this. To complement it, we’re investigating other progressive motorsport formats for the future.” Audi has scored 23 championship titles in DTM, including eleven driver titles, plus 114 victories, 345 podium finishes, 106 pole positions and 112 fastest laps. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Is this the end of the line for DTM? Most likely, yes. The German automakers are eyeballs deep in battery electric vehicle development, so if a new series emerges from the ashes of the DTM, expect it to be an all-electric one. -PMD
Audi is realigning its motorsports programs for 2020 and beyond. Part of the realignment is due to the fact that the brand is focusing on becoming "a provider of premium mobility with a carbon-neutral footprint," and is planning to generate about 40 percent of its sales with electric cars and plug-in-hybrids by 2025. The management board of AUDI AG also made its decision based on the severe economic challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. Consequently, Audi will not extend its commitment in the DTM touring car racing series beyond the 2020 season. Audi will, however, continue its involvement in Formula E with the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team as well as in customer racing support activities. “Audi has shaped the DTM and the DTM has shaped Audi. This demonstrates what power lies in motorsport – technologically and emotionally,” says Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “With this energy, we’re going to drive our transformation into a provider of sporty, sustainable electric mobility forward. That’s why we’re also focusing our efforts on the race track and systematically competing for tomorrow’s ‘Vorsprung.’ Formula E offers a very attractive platform for this. To complement it, we’re investigating other progressive motorsport formats for the future.” Audi has scored 23 championship titles in DTM, including eleven driver titles, plus 114 victories, 345 podium finishes, 106 pole positions and 112 fastest laps. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Is this the end of the line for DTM? Most likely, yes. The German automakers are eyeballs deep in battery electric vehicle development, so if a new series emerges from the ashes of the DTM, expect it to be an all-electric one. -PMD