Photo: Minb Yung Yoon on Carbodydesign.com
Audi is rumored to leave the World Endurance Championship after completing the 2017 season. While the news has been commented by the company’s head of motorsport as being a matter that is not decided yet, people are starting to wonder if another brand will step in to fill the gap left by Audi’s possible departure.
Mercedes-AMG, one of Audi’s traditional rivals, has the finances, historical implications, and a motive to join the World Endurance Championship.
The three-pointed star from Germany left the WEC in the late 1990s, when one of its CLR models flipped at Le Mans, but the brand has been involved in DTM and Formula 1 for an extensive period.
Recently, Mercedes-AMG has announced it considers entering Formula E in the 2018-2019 season. The German carmaker already has a deal with Formula E Operations, which is the corporation that controls the top tier of electric vehicle racing.
However, the motorsport program that could be unleashed by Mercedes-AMG in the World Endurance Championship focuses on its existing Formula 1 entry.
While it may seem unlikely for the company to spend a colossal amount of money for entry into another branch of motorsport while also maintaining an effort in Formula 1 and possibly entering Formula E, Mercedes-AMG seems to be the most likely candidate for the World Endurance Championship.
The Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 team has already won the constructor’s title for the 2016 F1 Championship by a considerable margin, and there are still four races to go.
The driver’s title hangs between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, the main racers for the Mercedes-AMG team. With that much talent on board, the German automaker has what it takes to enter WEC without looking for new drivers.
For the moment, nothing is officially decided regarding Audi’s potential departure from the World Endurance Championship, and Mercedes-AMG’ entry is a mere possibility at this point.
However, the three-pointed star could do it without a hitch, if you consider its funding and current involvement in motorsport.
The three-pointed star from Germany left the WEC in the late 1990s, when one of its CLR models flipped at Le Mans, but the brand has been involved in DTM and Formula 1 for an extensive period.
Recently, Mercedes-AMG has announced it considers entering Formula E in the 2018-2019 season. The German carmaker already has a deal with Formula E Operations, which is the corporation that controls the top tier of electric vehicle racing.
However, the motorsport program that could be unleashed by Mercedes-AMG in the World Endurance Championship focuses on its existing Formula 1 entry.
While it may seem unlikely for the company to spend a colossal amount of money for entry into another branch of motorsport while also maintaining an effort in Formula 1 and possibly entering Formula E, Mercedes-AMG seems to be the most likely candidate for the World Endurance Championship.
The Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 team has already won the constructor’s title for the 2016 F1 Championship by a considerable margin, and there are still four races to go.
The driver’s title hangs between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, the main racers for the Mercedes-AMG team. With that much talent on board, the German automaker has what it takes to enter WEC without looking for new drivers.
For the moment, nothing is officially decided regarding Audi’s potential departure from the World Endurance Championship, and Mercedes-AMG’ entry is a mere possibility at this point.
However, the three-pointed star could do it without a hitch, if you consider its funding and current involvement in motorsport.
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