The IZOD IndyCar Series kicked off its new car and engine formula in 2012 with three manufacturers producing 2.2-liter turbocharged V6s. Japan’s Honda, America’s Chevrolet and England’s Lotus rose to the challenge, with Honda winning the Indy 500, Chevrolet the Manufacturers’ title and Lotus a hasty exit after falling well short of its goals.
With Lotus gone and the IndyCar Series lacking a European presence among its engine wars, news from Silverstone during last weekend’s season-opening FIA World Endurance Championship round has revealed one of Europe’s most active manufacturers is considering joining the fray.
Meeting with a small group of reporters, including SPEED’s John Dagys, Audi board member Wolfgang Durheimer, the company’s head of technical development and overseer of its motorsports activities, highlighted three possible factory programs the brand is considering for North America— the proposed domestic DTM championship in 2015, the United Sports Car Racing (USCR) series that launches in 2014 and, in a fairly sharp reversal on its previous stance, IndyCar.
After mentioning Audi’s potential American sports car opportunities, the 54-year-old German revealed the Le Mans kings could be interested in open-wheel racing.
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