Just like the first generation cars, these second generation machines will be built by the series and will be leased to the teams that sign up. Renault and McLaren obviously were there from the beginning. Audi joined quickly. So did Jaguar and BMW. Mercedes-Benz and Porsche are set to join the list of automotive brands and renowned names in the world of motorsport. It’s a return to the old days when auto racing was from the research and development budget instead of the marketing budgets. Manufacturers want you to know they’re committed to electric powered cars. Porsche and Audi, in fact, have redirected some of their sports car racing budgets to Formula E and other forms of electric car racing.
Let’s take a moment here. Nearly every race fan believes auto makers are in racing to win races. You play to win the game, right!? But car makers are in racing to prove to car buyers that their technology, corporate aggression and branding are in every car they put in the showrooms around the world. Automakers want to win races, especially if it’s against their showroom competitors. But their main goal in any kind of racing is to sell cars. If they can’t do that, what’s the point? Chevrolet wants to beat Ford. Toyota wants to beat Nissan. Corvette wants to beat Porsche and BMW. And so on.
Audi Formula E
