Audi has taken decisive action! For the sake of F1, it will end the Dakar Rally project and support teams in other racing series

German carmaker Audi has made sweeping changes as a result of its entry into Formula 1 in 2026. The board of directors has decided to end factory and financial support for teams in the DTM, Dakar Rally and GT competitions.

Audi will enter Formula 1 from 2026, when the new powertrain regulations come into force. As a result, the German carmaker has made a fairly radical decision that will have an impact on its performance in motorsport.

Audi will end factory and financial support for teams in the DTM, Dakar Rally and GT classes. The reason for this is quite simple – full focus on F1.

Audi Sport CEO Rolf Michl confirmed this in an interview with Motorsport-Magazin. The decision was taken by the Audi Board of Management.

As a result, the Audi Dakar project will be discontinued next year, while the homologation of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 will be extended so that private customer teams can continue to participate in these competitions.

“This is a very clear decision that with the focus on entering Formula 1 in 2026, there will unfortunately no longer be any financial support from our side for the deployment of teams from 2024 onwards,” Michl told Motorsport-Magazin in the attached interview below.

“This specifically concerns the support of Audi Sport parts and drivers. We will ensure that our existing vehicles can remain in service in all respects. However, strategic deployment has not been approved for us from 2024 onwards. We had to accept the decision of the Audi Board of Management with a heavy heart,” he explained.

Audi will take over the Sauber team in F1 from 2026. It currently operates in the queen of motorsport under the name Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen, having joined forces with the Italian carmaker a few years ago.

In preparation, Audi is already looking for significant reinforcements to its team, just for 2026. James Key has joined from McLaren, who will take on the role of technical director at the German stable. For the simulator tests, Audi has hired Neel Jani.

Source: F1, Motorsport-Magazin, Audi Sport