Audi will increase its involvement to full manufacturer status in the FIA Formula E Championship from 2017 onwards.
The announcement came as the German car make confirmed that it will be withdrawing from the World Endurance Championship at the end of the current season.
Audi’s Chairman of the Board of Management, Rupert Stadler said: “We’re going to contest the race for the future on electric power. As our production cars are becoming increasingly electric, our motorsport cars, as Audi’s technological spearheads, have to even more so. The first all-electric racing series perfectly matches the strategy of offering fully battery-electric models year by year starting in 2018, Audi currently being in the greatest transformation stage in the company’s history.
"The commitment in FIA Formula E will already commence in 2017. It is regarded as the racing series with the greatest potential for the future. That is why Audi has intensified the existing partnership with Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport in the current 2016/2017 season. On the road toward a full factory commitment, the manufacturer is now actively joining the technical development.”
Audi had already increased its presence on the Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport team this season. Through Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt the team has won four Formula E races, taken one pole position and set two fastest laps.