We recently learned that Audi, the most dominant force in the FIA WEC (World Endurance Championship) for almost two decades, would be leaving the famous motorsport. Instead, the four-ringed brand will be competing in the all-electric Formula E. This move is wise for Audi, as it will get the brand out of a very expensive sport — which costs Audi half a billion dollars ever year — that isn’t making a good business case anymore and getting into a sport that pushes technology for the future. But Audi’s Le Mans departure means a lot more to the FIA WEC, and the rest of the motorsport world, than many might think.
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Firstly, Audi is by far and away the largest contributor to the sport, providing over $500,000,000 to the FIA. So right there, the FIA is losing its main contributor and is going to struggle to try and make that lost money up. Secondly, without Audi dominating the sport as it used to, that leaves Porsche as the only true force in the sport. The WEC will struggle to hold the same level of viewership and fanbase without Audi. But, most importantly, Audi’s shift to Formula E will be a massive gain for the all-electric sport.
While BMW has helped Formula E a bit, teaming with Team Andretti, Audi will be the sport’s largest an most important manufacturer team and likely the most dominant. If Audi can replicate even half of the level of success that it had in Le Mans, it will be the leading Formula E team within only a few seasons. The ABT Schaefler Audi Sport team has already won a few races and is already one of the top dogs in this season. This, in terms of popularity, will help tremendously.
At the moment, Formula E is almost a novelty. Its fanbase is minute, its TV time is almost nonexistent and its advertising is slim at best. However, gaining the most dominant endurance racing manufacturer team in the past two decades will help considerably. People will tune in to see how Audi fairs in Formula E after its success in the WEC. This, in turn, will create more popularity for Formula E, making the sport more exciting, more competitive and, ultimately, more successful.
It will also help other manufacturers in Formula E, such as BMW. While they might not appreciate Audi’s presence if it keeps winning, they will appreciate the fanbase Audi has brought and the level of popularity. It would be like the current NFL dynasty New England Patriots moving to the CFL (Canadian Football Leauge), it would bring a massive influx of competition which would bring in a larger fanbase.
So while Audi may have made this switch from endurance racing to Formula E as a business decision, being that the recent diesel scandal has robbed Audi of both some much need cash and clean image, it’s one that will have a much further impact than just Audi’s pockets.
[Source: QuattroDaily]
Formula E will be LIT
Audi is giving the FIA 500,000,000 a year?
Audi spends that much, in cars, Audi pace cars, advertising, etc. Audi is the FIA’s biggest contributor.
Maybe, but the FIA doesn’t get all that money for this, the team budget for cars is nothing to with them, somebody will step in and provide the safety cars etc on the same basis, and as for advertising, the event promoters and venues handle much of this.
It’s sad to see Audi go after making history in WEC. But with electric cars on the rise I’m happy to see electric cars develop through motorsports, and start the brands competing while developing something new just like they started over a century ago.
To be fair VW group just relocated their team under the Porsche name.
Formula E is not a novelty — maybe at the beginning but not now in season three. The drivers will tell you that; the Formula E grid has the best drivers in the world. BMW has said it will have a works team starting in season 5, and Mercedes has reserved a slot as a works team, also starting in season 5. The Renault works team is currently number one; Jaguar joined Formula E as a works team starting this season. None of these manufacturers think Formula E is anything close to a novelty. They all think it’s the future.
Formula E will be the new Formula 1.
so maybe porsche will also leave WEC and join f1? :O what do u think?
I am a huge Audi fan, probably one of the biggest in the states and have followed the Le Mans cars since the beginning and this is pretty much the end of Audi racing to me. They still have DTM and RX but Formula E, no matter how many decals they put on them will ever represent true Audi. Audi brought FSI, LED and Laser headlights among many other things from its Le Mans racing but racing in a spec series is not bringing any kind of advantage. The only thing Formula E proves is that electric cars do not have the range of other race cars since their pit stops consist of swapping cars instead of tires. Not to mention Audi’s main marketing advantage over everybody since the Group B rally cars has been Quattro, and that will never be allowed in the idiotic Formula E. I will not support them in this series, they are not the real Audi.