Audi quit WEC

Audi have announced they will end their successful LMP1 programme at the end of the current season.

It brings a conclusion to 18 years competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where they have won 13 times.

During that time they also won the 2012 and 2013 teams' and drivers' titles in the WEC, four American Le Mans Series titles, and two European Le Mans Series championships.

The German marque will instead focus on competing in the FIA Formula E championship where they have increased their involvement with the Abt team.

"We're going to contest the race for the future on electric power," said Audi chairman Rupert Stadler in a statement.

"As our production cars are becoming increasingly electric, our motorsport cars, as Audi's technological spearheads, have to even more so."

The move comes despite Audi motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich previously claiming that the manufacturer's Formula E involvement would have no bearing over whether they would continue their LMP1 operation.

Volkswagen Audi Group have been keen to reduce costs through motorsport in the wake of the 'Dieselgate' fiasco which has seen them pay out millions of dollars in fines.

However, alongside their increasing Formula E involvement, Audi will be continuing their DTM programme and are reportedly looking to increase their involvement with Mattias Ekstrom's world championship winning rallycross team.