According to Autocar, Audi is set to withdraw from the World Endurance Championship, ending its long association with the Le Mans 24 hour race by ceasing its LMP1 motorsport operations. High ranking insiders close to chairman Rupert Stadler suggest that the company has made the decision to end LMP1 motorsport engagements from the end of 2017. This decision comes as part of the cost cutting initiatives introduced by the VW Group after the dieselgate saga.
“The decision to end Audi’s commitment to LMP1 is also tied to a decision made by the Volkswagen Group to no longer showcase its diesel engine technology in a motorsport environment in aftermath of its diesel emission manipulation scandal.”
