Audi launches its first factory-backed Formula E team

Audi has launched its first works Formula E, which will compete in the 2017/2018 season that kicks off in December.

The German car giant has taken over from the ABT Schaeffer team that had been backed by Audi Sport since the championship’s inception in 2014.

While the bodywork of Formula E cars cannot be modified by teams, the all-electric powertrains can be developed by manufacturers to increase power output and battery range.

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Electric road come with up to four motors, one on each wheel, but Motor Authority says Audi’s e-tron FE04 racing car uses just one power unit, paired to a “high-efficiency transmission with a single gear”.

The carmaker will use the series to “promote” its road car division, says Jalopnik, as it aims “to have over 20 electrified (as in, either hybrid or full-electric) cars on sale by 2025”.

Audi isn’t the only Volkswagen-owned company to enter the series: Porsche announced in July it would drop its highly-successful Le Mans programme to focus on the all-electric single-seater series.

Both teams will be joined by rivals BMW and Mercedes, with the latter opting to drop its DTM German Touring Car outfit to enter Formula E.

The season starts in Hong Kong on 2 December, with Audi fielding reigning world champion Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt as its driver line-up. Porsche, BMW and Mercedes will join the series for the 2018/2019 season.