This is some seriously significant news for all motorsport fans. 

Audi has announced that it is making a shift and 2021 will be its final Formula E season, as it develops a prototype range-extender EV to enter into the Dakar Rally in 2022.

In the official announcement, the brand states that “Audi is facing one of the greatest challenges in motorsport.” 

“The brand with the four rings will be competing in the famous Dakar Rally for the first time in 2022 with an innovative prototype. The alternative drive concept combines an electric drivetrain with a high-voltage battery and a highly efficient energy converter for the first time. Cross-country rallying will be the spearhead of the factory motorsport commitment in the future.”

Of course, we’re also lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the vehicle. From what we can see, it looks pretty mean (in a really good way).

And if that’s not enough reason for anyone to get excited, Top Gear has highlighted that Audi is “intensively preparing to enter the new sports prototype category LMDh with its highlight races, the Daytona 24 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours.”

Why is this move so interesting? “LMDh regulations are exclusively for hybrid racing machines, so Audi can extract that much more out of its engines as the brand inevitably moves to a totally electric future,” reports Roadshow.

Frankly, we’re ⚡️electric ⚡️ with anticipation for the future of motorsport right now!