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24th
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German car manufacturer Audi apparently is ready to cease its endurance and touring cars programs in favour of assault on Formula 1 from 2016.
Several European motorsport publications Friday claim that sources at Audi and its parent company, the Volkswagen Group (VAG), have revealed that Audi is set to abandon both the DTM touring car championship and world endurance racing (including the 24 Hours of Le Mans) in favour of Formula 1.
Insiders say VAG will combine its FIA World Endurance Championship and DTM budgets, plus a Red Bull sponsorship package to try to put together its F1 effort.
Other sources have also confirmed that Audi will bow to internal Volkswagen Group pressure and leave the Le Mans and World Endurance Championship to its sister brand, Porsche, which has entered the series this year with the 919 Hybrid.
It is also strongly suggested that Audi would prefer buying an existing F1 team, rather than building up its own from scratch.
Because Red Bull has long been the major sponsor of Audi's leading team in the DTM, Audi could well buy into Red Bull Racing or Toro Rosso.
On a final note, Audi has recently hired Stefano Domenicali, the man who headed the Scuderia Ferrari for years.
Several European motorsport publications Friday claim that sources at Audi and its parent company, the Volkswagen Group (VAG), have revealed that Audi is set to abandon both the DTM touring car championship and world endurance racing (including the 24 Hours of Le Mans) in favour of Formula 1.
Insiders say VAG will combine its FIA World Endurance Championship and DTM budgets, plus a Red Bull sponsorship package to try to put together its F1 effort.
Other sources have also confirmed that Audi will bow to internal Volkswagen Group pressure and leave the Le Mans and World Endurance Championship to its sister brand, Porsche, which has entered the series this year with the 919 Hybrid.
It is also strongly suggested that Audi would prefer buying an existing F1 team, rather than building up its own from scratch.
Because Red Bull has long been the major sponsor of Audi's leading team in the DTM, Audi could well buy into Red Bull Racing or Toro Rosso.
On a final note, Audi has recently hired Stefano Domenicali, the man who headed the Scuderia Ferrari for years.