Audi voluntarily gives up top driver Rene Rast from 2023 despite a valid works contract: How the Ingolstadt-based company argues the decision
Why would a car manufacturer like Audi voluntarily part with one of its best drivers after twelve years together? That’s what many fans asked themselves after the Ingolstadt-based company announced on Tuesday that Rene Rast, the three-time DTM champion, was leaving the team prematurely despite a works contract that runs until the end of 2023.
“Audi is setting up its entire motorsport programme for electrification,” argues Audi’s new head of operations Rolf Michl, who has been in office since April. He says they then sat down with Rast and his manager Dennis Rostek for an “open discussion” about what they want to achieve in the future.
“Of course Rene has some goals, he wants to set the course for some new adventures. And at the moment Audi can’t make him an offer in that respect for the coming year,” Michl explains why they couldn’t reach an agreement.
No prospects for Rast at Audi
What he means by this is clear: The LMDh factory programme originally intended for Rast, with which the 35-year-old wanted to realise his dream of winning Le Mans overall after all, was stopped because the Dakar project produces costs that are too high. Audi withdrew from Formula E, which is still lucrative for the drivers, in 2021.
The only remaining factory project in the Dakar Rally is currently uninteresting for Rast from a sporting point of view because he has no off-road experience. And Audi’s Formula 1 plans are not an issue because entry into the premier class is not planned until 2026: by then Rast will be almost 40 years old – and he has hardly any experience in the monoposto sector.
That leaves only a GT3 commitment with Audi Sport Customer Racing – but Rast is too ambitious for that. “Our biggest goal is always to offer a professional racing driver the opportunity to develop further,” says Audi’s Head of Operations Michl. That’s what they’ve been able to offer Rast in the past, but no longer.
Separation “pretty tough from a personal point of view “
According to Michl, the separation from Rast, who is facing a move to McLaren in Formula E, is not without melancholy. “We have come to the decision to part our professional partnership at the end of the season and from next year. It’s quite tough from a personal point of view because we’re not just talking about a driver here, we’re talking about a long-time friend. “
In the end, however, respect for Rast and his career led to the decision to let him go: “We would like to give you further opportunities to develop on the race track,” said Michl. However, the friendship would continue in the future – besides, there were still “a few ideas” for the current season.
Rast fights with tears
Rast himself speaks of an “emotional and difficult day” – and struggles with tears. “Audi Sport has made me the driver I am today. I’ve had so many good times here – and I want to thank everyone for their efforts. Everyone has always stood behind me, helped me.” Even in difficult times, they “always motivated each other”, he says.
At least the memories of the successful era will remain forever, according to Rast: “I’m just grateful that Audi Sport gave me the opportunity to fulfil my dreams as a racing driver. Being a three-time DTM Champion is something special. And even when I’m old, I’ll look back on these times. “