Audi Expecting Customer Supported Pro Entries in 2024

Photo: Audi

Audi is expecting the continued presence of customer-funded pro entries in various GT3 championships around the world next year according to Head of Audi Sport customer racing Chris Reinke.

The German manufacturer, which has halted factory-supported, or so-called ‘strategic’ entries, along with a significant reduction of its works driver pool, is at this weekend’s FIA GT World Cup in Macau in a supporting role to Audi Sport customer racing Asia.

Reinke clarified that the two Absolute Racing-run Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo IIs are customer entries, backed by Audi China, with Audi Sport customer racing providing driver and engineering support this weekend.

Audi Sport’s final ‘strategic’ race came at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa in July when it supplied chassis and an increased level of support to multiple teams.

“We’re happy that we have pro cars here on the grid,” Reinke told Sportscar365 in Macau.

“How these arrangements will happen in the future, through the new circumstances defined, we have to find possibilities for us as well.

“I don’t expect it to be the last pro showing in Audi Sport customer racing cars for the future.

“From the moment being, we’re not decreasing staff.

“Therefore the group of people, Audi Sport customer racing, I expect to stay together and continue just supporting a market of different character.”

Reinke said he expects both Audi Sport customer racing Asia and Australia to likely continue in unchanged capacities next year, although they will not receive any financial support from Ingolstadt as had previously been in the case for ‘strategic’ races such as Macau or the Bathurst 12 Hour.

That could also extend to the Audi RS 3 LMS TCR competing in various touring car championships worldwide, including this weekend’s Kumho TCR World Tour event.

“I would expect so for the moment because, as we see here, we have a strong commitment from Audi Sport customer racing Asia, who will have at least the same commitment to Audi Sport customer racing as they have shown this year,” Reinke said.

“They will keep the flag flying for us here in Macau.

“With the success we have seen with the TCR car in general, also especially in the World Tour, I can also see that we find partners to also continue with these activities.”

Reinke added: “I’m not questioning the communicated decisions of the Audi brand. But that means we have to review our business model.

“Pro cars can be entered by private entities and it also makes room to show partnerships with commercial partners if Audi Sport takes a step back.”

Reinke wouldn’t be drawn to the exact number of drivers that will remain contracted to Audi Sport next year, who are on multi-year contracts, such as Christopher Haase.

However, he’s hopeful that this weekend’s FIA GT World Cup could serves as a model for future customer-driven pro entries around the world.

The majority of Audi’s current customer base have committed to continuing with the R8 LMS GT3 Evo II next year, including Sainteloc Racing and Attempto Racing in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS as well as Abt in DTM.

“This is proof of which a future model can be,” Reinke said of the Macau setup. “We have pro cars on the grid that we actually don’t finance. In this case it’s Audi Sport Asia that’s [supporting it].

“It could be elsewhere where a sponsor pays for it. It could be elsewhere where an investor pays for it. We come in as a support unit to increase the possibility to win.

“We try to make it work. This is a new challenge for us. Before we were steering. Now we are in the passenger seat and we have to find a solid role of who steers it.

“This is a transformation of the business.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John