Audi will depart the Method E sequence after its inaugural FIA World Championship season to deal with Le Mans and Dakar efforts, firm representatives confirmed Monday. Audi will discipline a factory-backed Dakar Rally entry in 2022, and its return to Le Mans is predicted as quickly as 2023.
The 2020-2021 Method E season is the primary through which Audi has fielded a automotive with a factory-built electrical powertrain. Because it seems, it can even be the final. Audi will proceed to supply Method E powertrains for its motorsports prospects, however its works program will likely be terminated at season’s finish.
“The Dakar Rally will change Audi’s manufacturing facility involvement in Method E, which can now not be continued within the type of an Audi manufacturing facility crew after the 2021 season,” the corporate stated in its Dakar announcement. “Using the newly developed Audi powertrain by buyer groups will stay potential past subsequent 12 months.”
“As well as, we’re evaluating different potential fields of exercise for us in worldwide motorsport,” stated Audi Sport Managing Director Julius Seebach.
Per Autosport, these “different potential fields of exercise” embrace a return to Le Mans, this time with an LMDh entry. LMDh will construct on the revised IMSA LMP2 chassis launching in 2022, however will characteristic 670-horsepower hybrid powertrains. LMDh (Le Mans Daytona h) is meant to be a lower-cost various to the flagship Hypercar class.
“Audi is the primary automotive producer that has dedicated to develop a viable various drive idea for the Dakar Rally, making it a pioneer in motorsport as soon as once more,” the corporate stated. “In 2012, Audi achieved the primary victory of a hybrid racing automotive within the Le Mans 24 Hours. The Audi R18 E-Tron Quattro remained unbeaten on the earth’s most necessary endurance race 3 times in a row.”
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