German Carmaker Audi Expected To Join Formula 1 In 2018, Report Says

Audi "will reportedly enter F1 at the beginning of the '18 season," according to the DPA. The Auto Bild report says Audi, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, "would discontinue its German Touring Car Championship (DTM), World Endurance Championship (WEC) and 24 Hours of Le Mans programs in order to do so." Former Ferrari Team Principal Stefano Domenicali is expected to lead Audi's F1 effort. The investment for the project is coming from the Middle East, with Red Bull as the main sponsor. The report says that "several signatures" are still missing for the project to get going. Auto Bild "did not name a source for the report." Rumors about the Volkswagen Group's "potential involvement in F1 are nothing new." However, on Saturday a VW spokesperson said, "Please understand that we do not participate in such speculations" (DPA, 9/21).