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

As Audi seems to be forward to its bold System 1 undertaking 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 the intention to redirect its give attention to F1, regardless that its swathe of followers don’t affiliate the model with single-seater or system racing.

An image exhibiting Audi’s buyer racing boss Chris Reinke handing over the supply of the last-ever R8 LMS GT3 to Austrian businessman and beginner 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 exhibits a lot of Audi’s Le Mans Prototypes and Group B rally vehicles at Audi Custom, the corporate’s cell museum.

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

It’s why the choice to steadily 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 vehicles within the GT3 area and simply probably the most 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, successful 125 drivers’ titles and 197 different championships since 2009.

Audi has promised to supply technical assist and spare components for the R8 LMS GT3 till 2032, nevertheless it’s unlikely the automotive might be seen in motion firstly of subsequent decade. Audi not supplies manufacturing unit backing to its buyer assist groups, whereas its pool of manufacturing unit drivers was additionally disbanded on the finish of 2023. The 4 drivers that remained on its roster in 2024 are additionally set to depart as their contracts expire this yr, that means any group 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Then there’s the small matter of the automotive turning into outdated within the face of newer fashions and Evo variations launched by rivals.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 current outfits might be left with no possibility however to maneuver to newer vehicles from different producers. Even Abt Sportsline, a group whose relationship with Audi stretches again 25 years, has been compelled to name it quits and change to Lamborghini for its two-car DTM assault in 2025. The times of the R8 LMS GT3 on the observe are numbered, not less than in skilled motorsport.

“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 undertaking supervisor within the LMP undertaking, 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’ll be capable 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. Nevertheless it’s the excessive alternative value 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 undertaking was working 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 undertaking, killed off a Dakar Rally group after simply three years and ceased the manufacturing of its long-running GT3 automotive. After all, a few of these choices have been introduced lengthy earlier than it laid out its ambition of coming into F1, nevertheless it has nonetheless left far too many championships in such a span of time.

Buyer racing – which additionally consists of GT4 and TCR racing – was one space the place Audi might have continued with restricted funding, given the income it generates straight by promoting vehicles and spare components to impartial groups. After all, 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 highway automotive vary for a similar – nevertheless it’s a hurdle it might have overcome with comparatively restricted funding. In spite of everything, it didn’t have to 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, much 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 undertaking was working on observe. Nevertheless, if the final six months are something to go by, issues have been something however easy.

Audi went from desirous to personal not more than 75% of Sauber to taking up all the possession of the corporate, solely to then promote a ‘important 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 aspect of the operation was slower than it had anticipated. Nevertheless it’s equally a worrying signal that it wanted to lift contemporary funding from an exterior supply with simply over a yr left earlier than its new automotive/engine hits the observe for the primary time.

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Picture by: Audi

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

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Nevertheless it actually received’t be a simple process and the group’s incapability to draw a star driver – with Carlos Sainz selecting Williams over partnering Nico Hulkenberg – exhibits the grid doesn’t imagine it will likely be capable of hit the bottom working when the brand new laws kick in in slightly over 12 months.

Audi might most likely take encouragement from the best way it circled its Dakar programme to win the celebrated 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 yr of service, as reliability niggles left it and not using a shot in opposition to 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 yr 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 information it gained within the DTM, System E and Dakar might be immensely useful, 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 may energy its first-ever F1 automotive.

Till a month in the past, Audi was set to be the one new producer group 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 might 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 be capable to grow to be a confirmed power in F1. Nevertheless, it will be silly to imagine that it will hit the bottom working right away. Even when Binotto and Wheatley are given the liberty to run Audi’s grand prix operation as a smooth F1 group, with out extreme management from the board, it will take a number of years earlier than it will likely be capable of frequently problem for victories and championships.

Having an current racing programme, like in GT3s, would have helped Audi shift the main target away whereas it lower its enamel 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 buyer racing can be a helpful distraction if its F1 programme falls flat, however that luxurious will not be out there in 2026

Picture by: Alexander Trienitz