German manufacturer Audi have announced their plans to integrate Formula E into their works programme.
In the 2016/17 season of the FIA Formula E Championship, which is set to start next month with the Hong Kong ePrix, Audi will provide further technical and financial support to the Abt Schaeffler team. The team has been partnered with Audi Sport since the first Formula E race.
For season four Audi are planning to step fully into Formula E. With Abt Schaeffler they will have a factory-based works programme that will work on the powertrain, alongside Audi’s commitments in the World Endurance Championship and DTM.
“Electric mobility is one of the key topics in our industry,” says Dr. Stefan Knirsch, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at Audi. “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 the light of these plans, adapting our motorsport program and taking up a commitment in a fully electric racing series is only a logical move.”
While not as important from a technical standpoint, the Abt Schaeffler livery will showcase Audi’s four-ring starting at the testing session at Donnington Park next week.
The Abt Schaeffler team announced that Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt would stay for season three in May. Di Grassi came close to winning the Drivers’ Championship, but lost out to Renault e.dams’ Sebastien Buemi.
