Audi's final GT3 automotive supply marks the top of an period, however will F1 push be value it?

As Audi appears forward to its formidable System 1 challenge in 2026 with Sauber, it’s concurrently abandoning its historical past in different disciplines of motorsport. The German producer has pulled the plug on each single considered one of its racing programmes with a view to redirect its concentrate on F1, regardless that its swathe of followers don’t affiliate the model with single-seater or system racing.

An image displaying Audi’s buyer racing boss Chris Reinke handing over the supply of the last-ever R8 LMS GT3 to Austrian businessman and novice driver Michael Doppelmayr completely encapsulates Audi’s pedigree in motor racing. Whereas the naked carbon fibre R8 LMS is proudly positioned within the centre, the {photograph} additionally reveals a lot of Audi’s Le Mans Prototypes and Group B rally automobiles at Audi Custom, the corporate’s cell museum.

One must look very onerous to identify a Silver Arrow with which the model then often known as Auto Union competed in grand prix racing within the Thirties. If there’s any picture that reveals what Audi Sport stands for, it’s this one.

It’s why the choice to step by step curtail the GT3 programme is especially unhappy for each Audi and the broader motorsport world. The R8 is likely one of the most well-known automobiles within the GT3 area and simply some of the profitable, with victories in all main endurance occasions together with Bathurst 12 Hour, Nurburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours. In all, Audi produced 310 examples of the automotive throughout a number of generations, profitable 125 drivers’ titles and 197 different championships since 2009.

Audi has promised to supply technical assist and spare elements for the R8 LMS GT3 till 2032, nevertheless it’s unlikely the automotive shall be seen in motion at first of subsequent decade. Audi not supplies manufacturing facility backing to its buyer assist groups, whereas its pool of manufacturing facility drivers was additionally disbanded on the finish of 2023. The 4 drivers that remained on its roster in 2024 are additionally set to go away as their contracts expire this 12 months, that means any staff with an R8 must supply drivers on their very own and pay their salaries.

Then there’s the small matter of the automotive turning into outdated within the face of newer fashions and Evo variations launched by rivals. Slowly all present outfits shall be left with no choice however to maneuver to newer automobiles from different producers. Even Abt Sportsline, a staff whose relationship with Audi stretches again 25 years, has been pressured to name it quits and swap to Lamborghini for its two-car DTM assault in 2025. The times of the R8 LMS GT3 on the monitor are numbered, at the very least in skilled motorsport.

Audi took its seventh win within the Nurburgring 24 Hours this 12 months, however extra success is tougher to foresee

Picture by: Gruppe C GmbH

“It’s the finish of an period, nevertheless it was a private privilege for me to have the ability to play a really outstanding position on this for Audi,” Audi’s Reinke advised Donaukurier. “I had this privilege as soon as earlier than as total challenge supervisor within the LMP challenge, and when that ended, you additionally had a sense of vacancy since you had recognized very strongly with it.”

It’s reported {that a} whole of 101 individuals work at Audi’s buyer racing division. It’s unclear what’s going to occur to them now that Audi has ceased manufacturing of the R8 LMS GT3, however Reinke hopes they may have the ability to proceed engaged on motorsport-related initiatives away from competitors.

It’s straightforward to see why Audi was lured by the pull of F1, which is now in a greater form than ever earlier than. However it’s the excessive alternative price that makes individuals query whether or not it’s definitely worth the gamble.

Audi’s choice to place all its eggs in a single basket would nonetheless have been comprehensible if its F1 challenge was operating easily. But when the final six months are something to go by, issues have been something however

Within the final 5 years, Audi exited Class One-based DTM, pulled out of System E, put an finish to a stillborn LMDh challenge, killed off a Dakar Rally staff after simply three years and ceased the manufacturing of its long-running GT3 automotive. In fact, a few of these choices had been introduced lengthy earlier than it laid out its ambition of getting into F1, nevertheless it has nonetheless left far too many championships in such a span of time.

Buyer racing – which additionally contains GT4 and TCR racing – was one space the place Audi may have continued with restricted funding, given the income it generates instantly by promoting automobiles and spare elements to impartial groups. In fact, in some unspecified time in the future Audi would have needed to introduce a successor to the R8 LMS – and discover a base mannequin in its street automotive vary for a similar – nevertheless it’s a hurdle it may have overcome with comparatively restricted funding. In spite of everything, it didn’t must essentially construct its subsequent GT3 automotive round a thoroughbred racer just like the R8 and will have opted for a sedan as a base mannequin, just like rival producer BMW’s M4 GT3.

Audi’s choice to place all its eggs in a single basket would nonetheless have been comprehensible if its F1 challenge was operating on monitor. Nevertheless, if the final six months are something to go by, issues have been something however clean.

Audi went from desirous to personal not more than 75% of Sauber to taking on all the possession of the corporate, solely to then promote a ‘vital minority’ stake to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund. One ought to laud Audi for turning up the wick, after realising that progress on the chassis facet of the operation was slower than it had anticipated. However it’s equally a worrying signal that it wanted to lift recent funding from an exterior supply with simply over a 12 months left earlier than its new automotive/engine hits the monitor for the primary time.

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has bought into the F1 team amid financial worries at Audi parent brand VW

Qatar Funding Authority (QIA) has purchased into the F1 staff amid monetary worries at Audi dad or mum model VW

Picture by: Audi

Maybe of extra concern is the administration upheaval at Audi. Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann had been axed in the summertime in favour of former Ferrari F1 staff principal Mattia Binotto and present Purple Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley. The 2 have a giant job of their palms to regular the ship and ensure Audi is in the absolute best form for 2026.

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However it actually gained’t be a simple job and the staff’s incapability to draw a star driver – with Carlos Sainz selecting Williams over partnering Nico Hulkenberg – reveals the grid doesn’t consider will probably be in a position to hit the bottom operating when the brand new laws kick in in somewhat over 12 months.

Audi may most likely take encouragement from the way in which it rotated its Dakar programme to win the distinguished rally raid on its third try in 2024. The Ingolstadt-based marque made a good debut in 2022 with the RS Q e-tron however went backwards in its second 12 months of service, as reliability niggles left it and not using a shot towards the mighty Toyota Hiliux. That prompted its rally arm to return to the drafting board and repair the automotive’s inherent weaknesses, these efforts permitting it to lastly win the massive prize in January this 12 months with Carlos Sainz Sr.

Nevertheless, whereas Audi’s hybrid Dakar challenger was nothing wanting a technological marvel, its powertrain was derived from the two.0-litre turbocharged engine it pioneered within the DTM and paired with the electrical motor it developed in System E. Whereas the data it gained within the DTM, System E and Dakar shall be immensely helpful, it has to construct an F1 energy unit from a clear sheet of paper, which might be the most important problem in its sporting historical past. Even the diesel-powered R18 wouldn’t match the complexity of the hybrid engine that can energy its first-ever F1 automotive.

Till a month in the past, Audi was set to be the one new producer staff to enter F1 in 2026, and therefore was set to be a focus. However with Cadillac’s entry now being accepted, it means the eyeballs shall be break up between the 2 giants of the automotive world, slashing its return on funding.

One can hope that Audi, with all its may, would ultimately have the ability to turn into a confirmed power in F1. Nevertheless, it could be silly to imagine that it could hit the bottom operating immediately. Even when Binotto and Wheatley are given the liberty to run Audi’s grand prix operation as a modern F1 staff, with out extreme management from the board, it could take a number of years earlier than will probably be in a position to often problem for victories and championships.

Having an present racing programme, like in GT3s, would have helped Audi shift the main focus away whereas it minimize its tooth in F1. Sadly, having determined to scrap its involvement elsewhere, Audi would have nowhere to cover when it steps as much as the massive sport in 2026.

Success for Audi in customer racing would be a handy distraction if its F1 programme falls flat, but that luxury won't be available in 2026