Audi chooses Formula E over LeMans and F1

"Audi is nowhere near the first manufacturer to jump into Formula E, despite the fact that the series only has 22 races under its belt. Renault, Jaguar, Citroën DS, Mahindra, and NextEV all run teams in the series. Others, like BMW and Faraday Future, have partnered with teams and plan to increase their involvement over the years. And Mercedes-Benz recently announced plans to join the series in 2018." This makes the three manufacturers in F1 look like they may not be there for long. Unless F1 co-opts Formula E by slanting the rules to make it totally electric.

Formula Self-Driver is next!

Audi just quit Le Mans to focus on Formula E - The Verge

 

Just as well, one they they might be the same race class...

 

I think they'll eventually merge F1 and FE. I don't want it however.

 

In the distant future yes.

But we will have a full hybrid era before that.

 

With all the Lawsuits, legal bills and payouts coming VAG's way due to their Diesel emissions scandal, Formula E is the cheapest way for Audi to go racing!

 

HMmmm. Maybe its time for them to go back to pedal cars.

 

The blindingly obvious point is that loads of manufacturers are flocking to Formula E and can't get in quick enough. It's relevant to them and cost effective in a way that F1 just isn't. I wonder if buffoons who run F1 will wake up and do something about this evaporation of support...

 

FE vs F1 costs are incomparable, especially Dollar per success rate.

How many billions did Toyota/Honda burn through without any success? If it wasn't for the silly engines, would Mercedes enjoyed the success they have? I think they'd have won races, and with have a battle for the championship, but in all reality, it would likely have been Red Bull for 2 of the last 3 years, with 2015 a 3 sided coin toss between Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes.

Formula E they have to spend a lot less money to be fast. Hell...they can dominate it for all I care, at least I don't have to see it .

 

I think you mean VW board chose FE over WEC for Audi. Regardless of finances, the writing was on the wall as soon as Porsche joined. Either one winning would be at the expense of the other. The same happened in 98.

 

When a 200 pound battery can support 1000 HP for 2 hours.

 

They can keep FE, what a load of rubbish. Silent scalectrix cars running around boring people to death. Good god, who on Earth wants to see that crap?

 

The cost of Formula E is peanuts for a company like VW. They only have to build the electric engine, the rest is standard, and most probably they even are subcontracting it.

It was quite obviuos that when Porsche got settled in sports cars, they´d retire Audi. It doesn´t make much sense keeping two brands in the same (and very expensive) championship, specially now that they´re having "unexpected" expenses and that diesel and VW in the same sentence is not cool anymore.

 

'OTTO' F1 will be next up in line...perfect...please just beam me up Scottie!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb0Kzb3haK8

 

Yes, but, but, but...

According to Leo Turrini's blog this morning, the original plan was for Audi to go into Formula One and build an engine for Red Bull, as soon as Porsche had settled in Endurance. Then came the Dieselgate...

Il segreto Audi e il Quizzone | Profondo Rosso

Rgds

 

VW announced earlier this year that they want to be selling 2-3 million electric cars a year by 2025. Formula E fits better with that business goal than F1. Both on a marketing and a technology/research basis. Perhaps, someday they can develop a car than can complete an entire race.

 

Ugh Formula E is killing racing.

 

Is it. I see tech killing racing, jobs and other things. Can we kill tech to save ourselves? We have been out voted by those who create and become wealthy via 'tech'. Not easily will they give up those gains. Hang on for the ride!

 

lmp1 in crisis? Nissan left after half a season, audi abandons, who can they lure?

 

Agreed. Formula E blows IMO!

 

It's the ACO writing silly rules that is killing endurance racing.

LMP1 are expensive hybrid only allowed to race in the WEC, but not in regional championships in Europe, Asia and USA. So, it's only factory teams that can afford them.

Private teams must race in regional championships in LMP2 which is a specs series.

 

I do.

Formula E is in its infancy; give it time and it will become like any other series.

At the moment, it's like a PR exercise, trying to attract a new audience with races in towns.
Once they get to proper circuits, Formula E will progress by leaps and bounds.

 

The cost of LMP1, much like F1, is astronomically high. Audi's budget was 240 million last year. Realistically, how many people watch the other 7 or so races other than the 24h? I think very, very little.

LMP2 are cost restricted and it's a competitive class. Engines are ~75K max, chassis was 325K max I think. That's a good deal. I'm not 100% sure on this, but IIRC you can basically get any chassis you want, and mate it with any engine you want (NA or Turbo, open or close top).

There is no reason why LMP1 should be that much more expensive. Sure, allow for bigger engines, bolt-on hybrid systems on top of an LMP2 chassis and ''free'' front and rear wing development, no one would be much wiser, they've got the obvious speed advantage over LMP2...job's a goodun.

 

There are only 4 chassis homologated in LMP2, and there is a mandatory engine.

LMP2 is specs series for private teams; factory teams are not allowed to compete.
Also, LMP2 doesn't allow platinum or gold-rated drivers, and only one silver-rated driver per crew.
It's only for gentlemen drivers.

 

One of the reason LMP1 isn't so attractive is that the cars are only allowed to race for the World Endurance Championship, but not for regional championships like IMSA-Weathertech, or European Le Mans Series, or Asian Le Mans Series.

LMP1 is only for factory teams, and you must compete in the whole series to avoid fines.

Before, teams used to pick and choose the races they wanted to compete.

For example, Daytona 24 hours and Sebring 12 hours are more prestigious than a race at COTA, but they are not part of WEC, so LMP1 cannot compete there. These races used to be as prestigious as Le Mans 24 hours years ago, but the ACO has eliminated them from the WEC.

 

Ah I wasn't aware it's single engine only now, last year they still had several engines...