Audi will return to Le Mans and to sports prototype racing with an electrified sports car in the 2023 season.

The sports prototype for the new LMDh category is currently being created at Audi Sport in parallel with the innovative SUV for the Dakar Rally. "Of course, the Dakar team is under greater time pressure, because there are only just under eight months left until our first participation in the Dakar Rally in January 2022," says Andreas Roos, who is responsible for all factory motorsport commitments at Audi Sport. "But, we also want to be perfectly sorted for our comeback at Le Mans. That's why we are running both projects in parallel with the highest priority."

All the basic concept decisions have been made in the meantime. "We have selected a chassis partner and decided on an engine concept. Together with our colleagues from Audi Design, we are currently defining the look which will excite our fans," says Andreas Roos. "Our goal is for the first prototype to be on its wheels early next year and to complete its roll-out in the first quarter." An intensive test programme will follow in 2022. The first race is planned for the Daytona 24 Hours (U.S.A) in January 2023.