Audi’s Formula E Journey Comes To A Close This Weekend

• by Matt Penny
• August 10, 2021
• 4 min read

Audi has won 46 trophies in the series, both as a private team and as a factory-based group from 2017 onwards.

Could Audi secure a win in the last race of the season? © Credit to Formula E

• Audi’s Factory Involvement
• Decorated In Electric Racing
• Final Race Weekend

Audi’s Factory Involvement

It’s true, much to the surprise of Formula E fans. Audi’s factory involvement in the competition will come to a close this weekend after the final two races of the first World Championship season.

The reason for this decision is unknown. However, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH, Julius Seebach, did say the following:

“Today, electric mobility at Audi is no longer a vision of the future but the present. The best example is the Audi RS e-tron GT1, our first fully electric high-performance model for the road.”

“This means it’s time for us to take the next step in motorsport as well. The Dakar Rally offers us the opportunity to break new ground as a pioneer and to present and further develop our expertise in the field of electric mobility under extreme conditions.”

Decorated In Electric Racing

Audi is a founding member of the Formula E and has been around since its inaugural season. In total, the team has secured 46 victories on the grid, operating as a private team and a factory-orientated outfit.

Audi is to say goodbye after 84 races total, an impressive run that Formula E fans won’t soon forget.

“Audi was the first German manufacturer to compete in Formula E. In recent years, the series has accompanied our brand in its transformation to electric mobility and provided us with many unforgettable moments that will forever remain a part of our history.”
— Julius Seebach, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH

One of the carmaker’s prized drivers, Lucas di Grassi is one of only two drivers to have driven in all Formula E races to date. The Brazilian holds multiple records, in fact. He is the only driver to score seven podium finishes in a single season.

As I write this, my eyes fill with tears. It is so sad to see @AudiSport leaving @fiaformulae but at the same time we have accomplished so much. I can only be thankful to everyone that worked so hard for us to achieve this. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Life goes on ???? pic.twitter.com/UFITkmRVwO

— Lucas di Grassi (@LucasdiGrassi) August 9, 2021

It will be interesting to see what he chooses to do next following Audi’s departure.

Final Race Weekend

Everything is to play for as we come into the final race weekend of the World Championship season. The top 15 drivers are within 33 points of one another. Remember, up to 60 points are up for grabs, so anything can happen.

Audi drivers René Rast (10th) and Lucas di Grassi (14th) could still run away with it, ending the carmakers electric racing journey on a high note.

The thought of winning this weekend picks up even more when you realise the final race weekend takes place in Berlin, the home of Audi. The first race will take place at 2pm on Saturday, followed by a 3:30pm start on Sunday.

“We’re coming to Berlin to say goodbye to Formula E and to our fans with our heads held high,” says Team Principal Allan McNish.

“We as a team have experienced some of the most emotional moments here in recent years. So it’s the perfect place for the final chapter of our Formula E adventure, which we obviously want to end with as many trophies as possible.”

What’s next for Audi in the racing space? Well, the team is looking to compete in the Dakar Rally with its RS q e-tron platform. So you won’t have to wait too long to see them in action once again.

Matt Penny

Since a young age, Matt has been enthusiastic about technology and the role that electric power will play in the future of transport. In particular, he is passionate about electric motorcycles and electric motorsport and looks forward to seeing those two fields grow in the coming years. When not behind a screen, you can find Matt watching the rugby or lost in a good book.

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