News comes this morning from Team WRT that their partnership with Audi Sport customer racing in GT3 racing will come to an end after the 2022 season.
Team WRT has been racing with Audi GT3 machinery since its inception, in 2010.
The 13-season-long partnership has been one of the most successful in motor racing history, which has yielded to date 30 titles in the top European series for GT3 cars (in its different denominations: GTWCE, Blancpain GT Series, FIA GT3), including 18 Teams’ and 12 Drivers’ titles. In race wins, Team WRT has scored 54 out of the 60 wins conquered by Audi cars in SRO-organized European competitions. To that, add the successes in the most prestigious endurance races (24 Hours of Spa, Nürburgring 24 Hours, Suzuka 10 Hours, Bathurst 12 Hours, Dubai 24 Hours, FIA GT World Cup at Macau, Zolder 24 Hours, etc). Together, Team WRT and Audi have also been successful in the FIA WTCR Cup and have competed at the top in the DTM.
The team statement says that “At the end of the current season, Team WRT will engage in a new chapter of its racing journey, keeping its focus on the FIA WEC and GT3 racing. Relevant announcements will come in due course.”
There’s little doubt though that the future lies with BMW, the effective cancellation of Audi’s LMDH programme derailed multiple plans for WRT whose successful LMP2 programme had been conceived as a pathway to the new top class of prototype racing.
We’ll have to wait for further announcements but DSC expects the transition to take place for the team’s GT3 efforts next season, with a Hypercar programme in the FIA WEC beginning in the 2024 season.
Vincent Vosse, Team WRT Principal: “It is a very special and emotional moment for all of us at Team WRT and me personally, as we announce that a significant chapter of the history of our organization will soon come to an end and a new one will open. It couldn’t be otherwise as Audi has been the brand we have been associated with since the creation of Team WRT at the end of 2009 and our sole partner in GT3 racing.
“I remember vividly the mutual excitement of the first contacts, which were facilitated by the Belgian Audi Club and our friend J.G. Mal-Voy, who is always in our hearts. From there a fantastic journey took off. A fantastic one, not only because of the many successes but because of the outstanding cooperation and shared philosophy for excellence and innovation, always looking forward.
Along the way, we have made so many good friends and shared and enjoyed so many bonds in all circumstances, good and less good. There are so many people that we would like to thank that it is impossible to do it here. By naming Dr. Wolgang Ullrich, Werner Frowein, Dieter Gass, Rolf Michl, or also Romolo Liebchen, Chris Reinke, or Siegfried Krause, we really want to extend our appreciation and gratitude to all people involved in the common programs over those thirteen years. All things in life have a beginning and an end and our paths will now separate but the longstanding friendships will last. We all can have a sense of pride looking at what was accomplished together and we’ll all treasure the many good memories of this great period.”
Head of Audi Sport Customer racing Chris Reinke has responded: “After 13 fantastic years, we will be going our separate ways from 2023 but we will continue to have friendly ties.
“The close relationship with Vincent Vosse as well as with Yves and Pascal Weerts is characterized by deep trust, shared sporting values and an absolute drive for success. A big thank you to them and their entire team, combined with best wishes for the future.”
