Audi is shocking the motorsport world with the announcement that it will stop participating in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) after this year. It follows Mercedes-Benz, which left the famous class after the 2018 season. According to Audi, it no longer fits into his vision of the future.
Since the creation of the modern DTM in 2000, Audi has been inextricably linked to the racing class. The same was true for Mercedes-Benz. However, Mercedes stepped out at the end of 2018 and now Audi follows. BMW is therefore the only remaining German manufacturer in the DTM. Aston Martin is also participating. According to Audi, the decision to leave the DTM has come from a review of its future plans: “Audi is developing as a premium mobility provider with a carbon neutral base, and in line with this, the brand is revising its motorsport program,” said a spokesman. Audi now wants to fully focus on the (all-electric) Formula E and customer teams.
The departure marks the end of a very successful era. Since 2000, the ‘modern DTM’ has won the championship nine times with an Audi. Also last year, the brand from Ingolstadt pulled the longest end, with driver René Rast. In 2000 Audi started with the TT as a DTM car, followed by the A4, the A5 and the RS5. Although the decision to step out is now in line with the earlier decision of Audi’s parent company Volkswagen to focus solely on electric motorsport, the uncertain financial future due to the corona crisis is also believed to play a role. Either way, it is a pity.