The DTM finale at Hockenheim on October 8-9 will be the last race for the German who has been with the team since 2011.
In 2016, he participated in DTM as a manufacturer, became a permanent member in the 2017 season, and won the title in his rookie season.
Within four years, Rast won three championship titles, won 24 races and scored 20 pole positions with Audi Sport Team Rosberg.
After moving to Formula E for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, Rast returned to DTM with Team ABT Sportsline this season and currently sits third in the rankings as the best Audi driver.
He said the decision was taken with “a heavy heart”, but added, “I still have some motorsport goals I want to achieve.”
Last says: “This decision has never been easy for me. Audi has been my life for the past few years. We have worked together wonderfully and celebrated many great successes.”
“I will never forget these moments and the many great people who made my victories and championship titles possible.
“Audi is a strong brand with attractive cars like the Audi RS 6 that I have enjoyed as a company car for many years. The Class 1 era of the DTM was an absolute highlight for me. The Audi RS 5 DTM, with its 4-cylinder turbo engine, was a great race car.
“Unfortunately, this era ended too soon. I also had the misfortune of having just joined the team when the program ended, both in Le Mans prototypes and in Formula E. It’s a real shame. was”
“I am enjoying the DTM more than I could have imagined in a GT3 race car, but I still have some goals that I want to achieve in motorsport.
“That’s why, when the 2022 season is over, we have to say goodbye to the heartbroken Audi fans.”
Podium: Rene Rast, Team ABT Sportsline
Photo credit: Alexander Trienitz
Rast began a partnership with Audi, competing with an Audi R8 LMS GT3 race car in the Audi Sport customer race, winning the ADAC GT Masters title in 2014, and racing at Spa (2012), Nürburgring (2014) and Daytona (2014). 2012 and 2016).
Rene Rast also joined Audi’s driver line-up at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015.
After Audi’s factory DTM effort ended, Rast competed in Formula E with the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team, scoring several podiums.
“What Rene Rast has achieved with Audi Sport, and in particular with the DTM, is unparalleled,” said Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Technical Development at Audi.
“It is all the more difficult to let go of Rene, who has been a successful partner for many years, as a race driver.
“Also, René is at a point in his career where he wants to set a new course. René Rast has a strong place in the history of Audi Sport and he will always be part of the Audi family. We will continue to be friends and we wish him all the best for his future.”
Julius Seebach, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH and Head of Motorsport at Audi. DTM’s Class 1 era exploits have always been closely associated with his four rings. ”
Rast was to lead the development of Audi’s LMDh Challenger for 2023 alongside longtime DTM rival Nico Muller.
However, the project was unofficially scrapped earlier in the year, and Audi released the Rast just a year after a two-year contract extension.
The news paves the way for Rust to return to Formula E next year, where he is linked to the new McLaren organization that will take over the title-winning Mercedes operations.
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