Which future for Audi Sport customer racing ?

Since 2009, Audi Sport customer racing has been enjoying a lot of successes. The Audi R8 LMS GT3 stood alone until 2016 with the arrival of the RS 3 LMS (TCR). At the end of 2017, the R8 LMS GT4 was added to the range, followed by the R8 LMS GT2 in 2019. Eighteen official drivers are part of the 2022 squad. 

The Audi Sport customer racing adventure was crowned with success from the very beginning of the R8 LMS GT3 with three titles in 2009: FIA GT3, Belcar, ADAC GT Masters. The rest is in the books. The EVO2 version makes its debut this year with several victories to its credit. So does the future look bright ? Nothing is less certain... 

Who runs Audi Sport ?

Everyone knows Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, the charismatic boss of Audi Sport who left his post at the end of 2016 after the successes that we know. Dieter Gass took his place before being called to other duties. Audi Motorsport is now headed by Julius Seebach who works together with Oliver Hoffmann (technical development). The competition-customer department is headed by Chris Reinke who was previously on the LMP1 programme. 

The Hypercar adventure out...

While the Hypercar prototype was going to take to the track a few days later with WRT, the LMDh prototype developed with Multimatic is dead and the chances of seeing it resurface are close to zero. It was strange anyway that Audi never announced anything about this project, except for a few lines in a simple press release highlighting the Dakar rather than Le Mans. Yet the car does exist. Audi has never officially said that WRT would run the car and the Belgian team has never officially said that it would run the Audi. 

Is there a problem between Audi and WRT ?

Obviously, the end of the programme is a shame for WRT. Everything was ready, the recruitment was done. We can trust Vincent Vosse to bounce back given the quality of his staff, there is no doubt about that. It is an understatement to say that WRT has taken this abandonment of the project rather badly. If you are observant, you will have noticed some visual changes at WRT. When Valentino Rossi's programme was presented during the GT World Challenge Europe test at Paul Ricard, the #46 Audi had Audi Sport stickers on its sides and Vale had the four rings on the top of his suit and the R8 logo on the sleeves. None of that was there any more. The stickers disappeared at Imola and the suit has not been the same since Brands Hatch. Only the small R8 stickers, which are mandatory for all Audi teams, are still on the front of the Audi. This also applies to the #32 Audi of Vanthoor/Weerts, which has also lost its Audi Sport stickers.

The reminders to Audi Sport are becoming less and less present in the team. The same goes for the clothing and the trucks. The only recognisable brand is under the number plates of the trucks. 

The call of F1 stronger than anything else ? 

Audi Sport's communication is very quiet about a move into F1. When will it happen? With whom? Marketing seems to have decided in favour of F1 to the detriment of the LMDh, which would have added another stone to the competition-customer department, and moreover with a hybrid prototype.

What support for the GT3 teams ?

Three Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO2 will take part in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in a week under the Audi Sport banner, two at Car Collection, one at Phoenix. For Spa 24H, logic would have it that WRT, Saintéloc, Attempto and Tresor by Car Collection will benefit from the strong support of the brand as in the past. The recent rumours heard in the paddock make us fear that the support will be as strong as in the past. 

Towards the end of Audi Sport customer racing ? 

All good things must come to an end, and after Volkswagen Motorsport was dismantled, Audi could well suffer the same fate. When will it end ? We've heard everything from a very near end to a two-year deadline for GT3 and GT4. The question is whether Audi will give its 10 year old R8 a new car. It seems unlikely.