Report: Audi will drop Le Mans program, join Formula 1
10-28-2014, 04:09 PM
#18
Formula One Spin Doctor
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
You mean 60's and 90's , there was no Porsche F1 effort in the 50's or 80's, The 80's was a customer supplied engine , entered as TAG, not Porsche, a one time deal . There effort in the 90's was there attempt to put a truck v12 into an F1 car ... 
You could see the tears in Albereto's eyes .....
You could see the tears in Albereto's eyes .....
10-28-2014, 05:11 PM
#19
All marketing.
F1 is just global NASCAR (btw, try to buy a RWD pushrod V8 Camry).
Racing can work. I think Corvette's Endurance Racing elevated them both from engineering, and street cred, and the C7 is a for real sportscar.
Porsche is VWG's performance division, and needs racing to sell 911s (even though they make most of their money making Cayannes).
But Audi, as good as their cars are, still trails MB, BMW, and even Lexus in the luxury segment, and if you are trying to sell $100K sedans in China (which you do), prestige sells, and F1 is about prestige. So, silk-screening your logo onto a hand-build Brit race-car may be a good marketing strategy for Audi.
F1 is just global NASCAR (btw, try to buy a RWD pushrod V8 Camry).
Racing can work. I think Corvette's Endurance Racing elevated them both from engineering, and street cred, and the C7 is a for real sportscar.
Porsche is VWG's performance division, and needs racing to sell 911s (even though they make most of their money making Cayannes).
But Audi, as good as their cars are, still trails MB, BMW, and even Lexus in the luxury segment, and if you are trying to sell $100K sedans in China (which you do), prestige sells, and F1 is about prestige. So, silk-screening your logo onto a hand-build Brit race-car may be a good marketing strategy for Audi.
10-28-2014, 08:07 PM
#21
Rennlist Member
10-30-2014, 12:18 AM
#23
Rennlist Member
This could not be further from the truth. A $100K car in China is dominated by A6 where import tax is 100%. Audi has about 60%+ market share since 5 years ago. Majority of the balance belongs to the 5 series.
10-30-2014, 09:14 PM
#25
It's got a Gurney flap, too. Must be Kilbort's ride.
As others have mentioned, Audi is huge in China.
10-30-2014, 09:20 PM
#26
Rennlist Member
10-30-2014, 11:54 PM
#27
Rennlist Member
Audi/VW is popular because they are one of the first foreign car manufacturers to set up a factory in China. Mercedes only offers 100% import up until 2 years ago.
Last edited by chsu74; 10-31-2014 at 12:12 AM.
11-05-2014, 12:22 AM
#28
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
4 November 2014 – Audi has said it has no plans to enter Formula 1 in 2016, despite new reports to the contrary, fuelled by the recent appointment of former Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali.
"There is no decision that we are going in that direction," Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport, told Autosport.
"Audi has a motorsport programme that at the moment is based on the World Endurance Championship and the DTM, and we are working on the cars for next season.
"There is no other programme."
He also clarified that Domenicali's new job at Audi is unrelated to motorsport, as GPUpdate.net reported last week.
"Inside the Audi AG, Stefano Domenicali will be responsible for the development of new business areas in services and mobility, that are complementary to the existing activities of Audi AG," the spokesman said.
"With his previous professional career, he has ideal conditions to support, in his field of activity, the successful internationalisation course of the Audi AG."
Meanwhile, asked if Audi might consider Formula 1 in the longer term, Ullrich replied: "There is nothing decided."
"There is no decision that we are going in that direction," Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport, told Autosport.
"Audi has a motorsport programme that at the moment is based on the World Endurance Championship and the DTM, and we are working on the cars for next season.
"There is no other programme."
He also clarified that Domenicali's new job at Audi is unrelated to motorsport, as GPUpdate.net reported last week.
"Inside the Audi AG, Stefano Domenicali will be responsible for the development of new business areas in services and mobility, that are complementary to the existing activities of Audi AG," the spokesman said.
"With his previous professional career, he has ideal conditions to support, in his field of activity, the successful internationalisation course of the Audi AG."
Meanwhile, asked if Audi might consider Formula 1 in the longer term, Ullrich replied: "There is nothing decided."