Following Honda ’s announcement that it will be exiting the world of F1 motorsports, Audi has announced that it will be pulling out for the American Le Mans Series in 2009. Audi entered the ALMS in 2000 and has been a dominant figure in the series through its Audi Sport North America team ever since.
Audi says the decision to leave the ALMS is a direct result of the slumping global economy. Despite Audi’s absence from the ALMS in 2009, the German automaker will still fully participate in European events.
Since 2000, Audi has won the LMP1 title nine times – consecutively. Audi’s ALMS team also took the checkered flag home last season in seven out of eleven races.
However, Audi will not be completely off the 2009 U.S. schedule. Audi plans to run its all-new R15 TDI sports prototype at the 12-hour race at Sebring next March in preparation for the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans.
