Audi pulling out of ALMS :(

[RippleChip]

Audi has today announced that it will not contest the American Le Mans Series next season with its new R15 TDi.

The German manufacturer had already confirmed that it would not defend its Le Mans Series title in Europe in 2009, citing money saving as the reason.

With no full ALMS campaign either, the R15's only confirmed outings next year will be in the Sebring 12 Hours in March and the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

Audi motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich praised the ALMS - which the marque had competed in for nine seasons - and the Champion team that ran the R8 and R10 in America.

"The decision to withdraw was a very difficult one," he said. "The extraordinary dedication and precision of Team Champion was the key to Audi's victories over the last few years in America.

"We achieved an unprecedented winning series together - since the 2000 season Audi has won the LMP1 title nine times in succession."

The recent announcements mean that Audi's motorsport involvement next season is, at the moment, restricted to the DTM, Sebring and Le Mans, and the customer programme with the new R8 GT3 car.


http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72333

[Hamotee]

I was just getting ready to post the same thing. That sucks! Damn the economy!

[littlewhite]

EH! read that also… Honda pulled out few days ago in F1 also…

[JTninja]

Yep, hopefully Dave at Champion can do something...

[aaaudiprotein]

Penske might do the same thing

[Dday216]

This sucks ass. my uncle owns Patron Highcroft racing and i was so excited to watch him race the audis next year.

[MYDWAGON]

I was just getting ready to post the same thing. That sucks! Damn the economy!

Audi as turned a profit since 1992.Audi dominates and then moves on.They did it in Pikes Peak,Trans Am,Rally Cup,ALMS.I'll miss the the hospitality tent.Andy,James,Francesca,Vanessa and others did a great job.

[InTTruder]

Yup- they're preparing for the ACO LeMans/LMS series, and getting the privateer R8GT3 out to new customers.

[Hamotee]

They are not going to be in the LMS either. It looks like just 24 hour of Le Mans and Sebring.

From autosport.com

Audi motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich has confirmed that the manufacturer will not attempt to defend its Le Mans Series title next season with the new R15 TDi.

Alexandre Premat and Mike Rockenfeller won the LMS title this year in an Audi R10, but Ullrich says in this week's Autosport that the decision not to return was made to save money.

"We will not participate in the LMS," he said. "We all have to face that the economy is moving and everyone has to put something into their pocket to save money.

"The LMS has grown quite significantly but you have to face the fact that to make the best out of less money, there is no choice but to cut parts of the programme."

The Le Mans 24 Hours is, so far, the only confirmed outing for the R15 beyond the American Le Mans Series season-opener, the Sebring 12 Hours, in March.

Again, damn the economy.

[Blitzkrieg989]

Thats so stupid why pull out lol

[OneSickSedan]

OMG man Audi's pulling out ALMS? Damn it! Thank God I went to the Long Beach Grand Prix this past season to watch them race. I was looking forward to next year but it looks like it was my first and last time. Wow I'm bummed. Hopefully the R8GT3's will be competing next year. That will give me a reason to go.

And Honda pulling out F1? WTF is going on? Now F1 is down to 9 teams so only 18 cars. Thats 2 teams out in 1 season's time. First it was their junior team Super Aguri and now Honda? Wow man this really really sucks ass.

[MYDWAGON]

I'll be trying to catch them at Sebring this year for the last hurrah.I don't blame Honda.F1 is being ran into the ground anyway.

[Hamotee]

I'll be trying to catch them at Sebring this year for the last hurrah.I don't blame Honda.F1 is being ran into the ground anyway.

Agreed.

[Quattro06]

I think it is the worst thing they could do. So much for seeing my favorite team this year Glad i got to go see them down at Sebring last year. Stuped F'in economy!

[Hamotee]

Any of you guys planning on going to Sebring?

[MYDWAGON]

I think it is the worst thing they could do. So much for seeing my favorite team this year Glad i got to go see them down at Sebring last year. Stuped F'in economy!

It's not the economy's fault.

[Quattro06]

It's not the economy's fault.

I know but that is what the article said that i read. im sure it's other reasons too but that has to be one of them.

[Quattro06]

Any of you guys planning on going to Sebring?

Im planing on it but who knows what will happen.

[Hamotee]

It's not the economy's fault.

It might not be the only reason, but it was defiantly a major factor. Dr. Ulrich has said so several times in interviews. Audi seems to be taking a very conservative approach to the auto market. Even though they had their best year to date, they have decided to scale back production and cut costs.

Read

Nervous consumers don't make major purchases, which actually seems to hurt the economy even more....but I'm no economist.

Lets hope for a good showing at Sebring.

[JTninja]

Lets hope Acura and Autocon pounds their butt! Maybe if they get a beating, they'll have to return....Imagine, Acura producing comercials, announcing that they've beat the all mighty Audi....:D

And then Audi will fire back with a 4 car assult from Le Mans on....one can dream, right? :D

[MYDWAGON]

I would like to see them return with the R8 in the GT2 class.
They may blame the economy but I think it's just an excuse to get around the real reason.First they announce the R15 and within a week they pull out.

[blacka4]

^^ yeah wtf is up with announcing a new car (I know they had to do the closed roof) then leaving the series...something else has to be in the works like maybe a GT2 or GT1 series car

[Hamotee]

I would like to see them return with the R8 in the GT2 class.
They may blame the economy but I think it's just an excuse to get around the real reason.First they announce the R15 and within a week they pull out.

Good point. I would bet that they have been developing the R15 for almost a year or more now. They probably have too much money in the project just to walk away from it so they are going to try to get some use from it.

[audiracer4life]

I have been going to Elk Heart Lake, WI (Road America) to watch Audi for several years. This was the best summer tradition I had with all my friends from the Audi dealership I used to work at. This was the closest place for me to watch AMLS... now it's all the way down to FL. BOOOOO.

[Jon_Rhea]

Any of you guys planning on going to Sebring?

I'll be there, already ordered tickets and a parking pass. Not sure where I'll be staying yet . . . probably sleepin in the S4!!

[MaverickUF]

I'm going to Sebring. Last year was awesome.