Audi to leave Formula E and focus on Dakar, Le Mans

[December 01, 2020]    (Reuters) - Audi will withdraw from the all-electric Formula E series as a works team at the end of next year to focus on the Dakar Rally and endurance racing including an eventual return to Le Mans, the carmaker said on Monday.

A logo of the German car manufacturer Audi is pictured at a dealership in Kiev, Ukraine June 9, 2020. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

The Dakar Rally will replace Formula E as the Volkswagen-owned brand's focus, although Audi said customer Formula E teams will be able to use a newly-developed powertrain beyond next year.

Audi will compete in the Dakar with an electric SUV prototype.

"Cross-country rallying will be the spearhead of the factory motorsport commitment in the future," Audi said in a statement.

The marque has been involved with Formula E since the series, now a recognised world championship, started in 2014 and won the team title in 2018.

Audi said it will enter a new LMDh category class of the world endurance championship, without setting a date for a works return to Le Mans.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Christian Radnedge)

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