(© Ben Johnston 2014)
Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Peich resigned last week
leading to speculation that the company could launch a Formula One project
however Audi, the most likely marque in the VW portfolio to join the Formula
One ranks rejected the idea and it would appear that this would have proven to
have been the right decision.
The German manufacturer stated that they are focused on
their existing motorsport programmes in the World Endurance championship and
the German Touring Car Champion (DTM).
Audi secured their second consecutive win of the World Endurance
Championship season after taking victory at the 6 Hours of Spa on Saturday
evening. The win means that Audi have extended their lead over the Porsche LMP1
factory team to 27 points which puts them in an extremely strong position
heading into next month’s LeMans 24 Hours race.
Audi have been one of the most successful teams in the World
Endurance Championship in recent years with Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen and
although they have since retired they are still heavily involved in the Audi
programme as mentors bringing the young talent through the ranks, with that in
mind there is no way that Audi would jeopardise their standing in the World
Endurance championship to launch to an assault on Formula One as it is not
worth the gamble.
Toyota ploughed millions into their Formula One programme
from 2002 – 2009 with limited success. However in 2014, the company won the
World Endurance Championship with Anthony Davidson, a former F1 driver at the
wheel of one of their cars.
So for the moment at least there is no chance that Audi will
enter Formula One, and why would they when they are enjoying so much success in
the World Endurance Champion.
© Ben Johnston 2015
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