INGOLSTADT: Audi will take part in Formula E, hoping to use the knowledge gained to produce its first electric SUV in 2018. It is expected that every fourth production Audi made would be an electric vehicle by 2025.
Audi will step up financial and technical support to its existing partnership with Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport for the 2017/2018 season, on the road towards a fully fledged factory commitment.
Audi’s commitment in Formula E will be visible to the fans as well. With immediate effect, the four rings would be prominently featured on the sides and the rear wings of the ABT Schaeffler FE02. The fully electric single-seater race cars will be sporting their new liveries on the race track for the first time from today to Wednesday at Donington Park in Britain where the final tests will be held before the Formula E season starts in Hong Kong.
The 2016/2017 Formula E season calendar currently features twelve races in ten international metropolises. On June 10, 2017, the electric racing series will visit Berlin. The two final races will be held in New York (USA) on July 29/30, 2017.
The drivers of Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport are Daniel Abt (Germany) and Lucas di Grassi (Brazil) who are now tackling their third joint Formula E season as teammates.
Audi has been using motorsport to test and develop new technologies further for subsequent use in production. With quattro drive, it revolutionised rally racing and subsequently set standards in circuit racing as well. In the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi was the first car maker to have achieved victories with a TFSI engine, a TDI and a hybrid race car. It is now using the same strategy in electric car racing.
