Audi enters the premier class of motorsport. From 2026, the premium model will compete within the FIA Components 1 World Championship with a specifically developed energy unit. The undertaking shall be primarily based at Audi Sport’s facility in Neuburg close to Ingolstadt. That is the primary time in additional than a decade {that a} Components 1 energy practice shall be in-built Germany.
Audi introduced its entry at a press convention on the Components 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. On the occasion, Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Administration of AUDI AG, and Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Administration for Technical Growth, answered questions within the firm of Components 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali and Mohammed ben Sulayem, President of the Worldwide Car Federation (FIA).
“Motorsport is an integral a part of Audi’s DNA,” says Markus Duesmann. “Components 1 is each a worldwide stage for our model and a extremely difficult growth laboratory. The mixture of excessive efficiency and competitors is at all times a driver of innovation and know-how switch in our trade. With the brand new guidelines, now’s the best time for us to become involved. In any case, Components 1 and Audi each pursue clear sustainability objectives.”
The important thing to getting concerned is the world’s hottest racing sequence is the clear plan to change into extra sustainable and cost-efficient. The brand new technical guidelines, which can apply from 2026, concentrate on better electrification and superior sustainable gas. Along with the present cap on prices for groups, a value cap for energy unit producers shall be launched in 2023. As well as, Components 1 has set itself the formidable objective of being a carbon-neutral racing sequence by 2030.
Actively Shaping Components 1’s Transformation
Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board for Technical Growth, says: “In view of the main technological leaps that the sequence is making in direction of sustainability in 2026, we will communicate of a brand new Components 1. Components 1 is remodeling, and Audi desires to actively help this journey. A detailed hyperlink between our Components 1 undertaking and AUDI AG’s Technical Growth division will allow synergies.”
From 2026, the electrical energy output for the facility items, consisting of an electrical motor, battery, management electronics, and a combustion engine, will enhance sharply in comparison with at present’s Components 1 drive programs. The electrical motor will then be practically as highly effective because the combustion engine, which has an output of about 400 kW (544 hp). The extremely environment friendly 1.6-liter turbo engines run on superior sustainable gas – additionally a prerequisite for Audi’s entry into the sequence.
Excessive Recognition in Key Markets and with Younger Goal Teams
Globally acknowledged, extremely emotional, and technologically superior – that’s how Components 1 has met Audi’s precise necessities. The sequence holds races in all related markets of the model. As a spectacular platform for probably the most demanding electrified racing automobiles on the planet, it’s of specific curiosity to automotive producers. Audi is taking over the problem of proving its “Vorsprung durch Technik” on this aggressive setting.
The nice curiosity in Components 1 is world and the racing sequence is likely one of the sporting occasions with the very best attain on the planet. In 2021, greater than 1.5 billion TV viewers watched the races. Components 1 is common in key markets reminiscent of China and the USA, and the pattern continues to rise – even amongst younger goal teams. On social media, Components 1 is now experiencing the very best progress charges among the many world’s hottest sports activities.
Neuburg Web site to Develop the Energy Unit
The facility unit shall be constructed at Audi Sport’s state-of-the-art Competence Middle Motorsport in Neuburg an der Donau, not removed from AUDI AG’s firm headquarters in Ingolstadt. “For the event and manufacture of the Components 1 energy practice, we are going to construct on the precious experience of our motorsport workers, proceed to spend money on our motorsports middle, and in addition recruit extremely specialised professionals,” says Audi Sport Managing Director Julius Seebach, who organized the entry into Components 1 as a part of Audi’s realignment of motorsport.
In Neuburg there are already take a look at benches for F1 engine testing in addition to for electrical motor and battery testing. Extra essential preparations are at present being made by way of personnel, buildings, and technical infrastructure, with every part important to be in place by the tip of the yr. A separate firm was not too long ago based for the facility unit undertaking as a completely owned subsidiary of Audi Sport. Adam Baker will take over the administration of the corporate and thus the Components 1 undertaking as CEO. The educated engineer has held numerous senior positions for producers and groups in motorsport. Earlier than becoming a member of Audi in 2021, he labored for the FIA for 3 years.
Audi will announce a call on which staff they are going to be lining up with in 2026 by the tip of this yr.
Components 1 Determination Governs Motorsport Focus
Audi Sport is pooling its strengths for the Components 1 undertaking and as a consequence is discontinuing its LMDh undertaking. The motorsport division had not too long ago suspended the event of the sports activities automotive for endurance racing. Alongside buyer racing, Audi Sport will proceed its innovation undertaking with the RS-Q e-tron within the Dakar Rally. Subsequent yr, Audi’s purpose is total victory within the desert.
Whether or not the World Rally Championship, World Sportscar Championship, US motorsport, DTM, Le Mans, or Components E – Audi Sport has set requirements in lots of classes with quite a few titles. “Components 1 is the following main milestone in Audi’s motorsport historical past,” says Julius Seebach.
Rolf Michl to succeed Julius Seebach
Audi’s entry into Components 1 marks the conclusion of its motorsport restructure, but in addition the shut of a formative interval at Audi Sport GmbH. Managing Director Julius Seebach will be part of AUDI AG on September 1, 2022, and can tackle a brand new strategic enterprise space in Technical Growth, reporting on to the Government Board.
Hoffmann, who, in his position as an Government Board member additionally serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board of Audi Sport GmbH, want to thank Seebach for his efficiency: “Julius stands for strategic foresight, constant motion, and sustainable ends in difficult instances.” Beneath his management, Audi Sport GmbH has repeatedly achieved report gross sales and earnings figures. Gross sales doubled with the RS mannequin offensive and the all-electric RS e-tron GT was efficiently dropped at market.
In 2020, Seebach additionally assumed accountability for motorsport at Audi and resolutely made it prepared for the longer term. Beneath his management, probably the most complicated racing automotive in Audi historical past was developed in report time: the RS Q e-tron for the Dakar Rally. Following its profitable debut with 4 stage wins on the Dakar Rally in January, the Audi RS Q e-tron achieved its first total victory in Abu Dhabi in March – the primary triumph of a automotive with an electrical powertrain in a desert rally. Getting into Components 1 is the profitable conclusion of his work.
Beginning September 1, Seebach shall be succeeded by Rolf Michl, who has been Chief Working Officer Racing at Audi Sport since February. Along with Dr. Sebastian Grams, he’ll type the Administration Board of Audi Sport GmbH. Michl has a level in enterprise administration and is a long-standing member of the Audi Sport household. After holding numerous positions in advertising at AUDI AG and Audi Sport, he took over as Head of Product Advertising and marketing RS Fashions in 2016. After transferring to Abt Sportsline as Director Car Customization, he returned to Audi Sport GmbH as Head of Gross sales/Advertising and marketing in 2019. Michl has performed a key position in shaping the corporate’s portfolio and gross sales successes over time. Hoffmann notes that “Rolf is an genuine chief and brings with him the expertise he’ll want from motorsport and sequence manufacturing.” Along with his positions in advertising, Michl was chargeable for devising and implementing the Audi Sport TT Cup in 2014.