• Latest
  • Trending

Abt leaves Audi after sim-racing fiasco

May 27, 2020

Nick Cassidy to race with Citroën in Formula E while balancing WEC drive with Peugeot

September 17, 2025

Cormac Buchanan battles through tough Misano weekend in Moto3 rookie season

September 16, 2025

Ryan Yardley and David Musial Jr. claim victory in Porsche Endurance Challenge at Road Atlanta

September 15, 2025

Tough weekend at the Bend for Giltrap and Osborne in Porsche Carrera Cup

September 15, 2025

Scott McLaughlin secures historic podium for JMR at Suzuka 1000km

September 15, 2025

Kiwis – Born to Fly 3. First trailer drops and final phases of shooting commence.

September 15, 2025

Kostecki and Hazelwood win The Bend 500 as Payne delivers podium for Kiwis in Enduro Cup opener

September 14, 2025

Christopher Bell wins as Van Gisbergen’s playoff dream ends at Bristol night race

September 14, 2025

Feeney Earns Pole, Wood and Payne Starting in Top 10 at The Bend

September 13, 2025

Wood leads the way in final practice at The Bend

September 13, 2025

Drama at The Bend: Whincup runs into Pye during safety car simulation, Moffatt fastest

September 13, 2025
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
VelocityNews
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time updates on Kiwi drivers, events and much more!
Subscribe to New Alerts
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

Abt leaves Audi after sim-racing fiasco

by Josh Revell
May 27, 2020
in Esports, Formula E, International, News
0

Daniel Abt has confirmed he will no longer compete for the Audi Formula E team after an incident in the latest Race at Home Challenge sim racing event.

After having initially been suspended and fined after it was found that Abt had let a professional esports racer take control of his car, he confirmed via video statement that he would no longer compete for the German brand.

Abt released the video statement earlier this morning on YouTube (with English subtitles), detailing his reasons for actions, stating that he thought the idea would be ‘funny’ and planned to make a video about the ruse.

18-year-old Lorenz Hoerzing, who has been competing in the Challenger races of Formula E’s events, has drafted in to run in his place. Hoerzing even appeared on the drivers’ group Zoom call under the name “Daniel Abt” and was dressed in Audi red, but had a microphone blocking his face.

As a result, Hoerzing has been barred from competing in any Challenger events going forward.

Hoerzing led most of the race but came to blows with Mercedes-Benz driver Stoffel Vandoorne, allowing Nissan driver Oliver Rowland to take the win.

Vandoorne raised his suspensions regarding Abt, given the German’s previous struggles in the earlier rounds of the virtual championship.

“Really not happy here because that was not Daniel driving the car himself, and he messed up everything. That was ridiculous.”

Organizers of the race were reportedly able to verify that Abt was not racing based on Hoerzing’s IP address.

Formula E issued a statement on Sunday, confirming Abt’s disqualification from the race due to “sporting misconduct”. He was also stripped of his points and has been handed a $NZ18,000 fine to a charity of his choice.

In the aforementioned video, Abt explained that he had viewed these races more as entertainment for the fans and less as serious competition. As a result, Abt says he thought it would be a “funny move if a sim racer” drove for him.

We wanted to document it and create a funny story for the fans with it.”

He even included footage and audio from a practice session where he proposed the idea to Hoerzing. “Honestly, do you want to drive the race instead of me, man?” he asks Hoerzing, who laughs in response. “No joke, no joke,” Abt says. “Let’s actually think about this. That would be super funny.”

Multiple Formula E drivers have subsequently come to the defense of Abt after his suspension. Vergne posted his criticism of the Audi ruling on social media, tweeting:

https://twitter.com/JeanEricVergne/status/1265262054212096000

Jaguar driver James Calado and Vergne’s teammate, current real-world FE points leader Antonio Felix da Costa, suggested they would no longer live broadcast their participation on Twitch.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

error:
No Result
View All Result
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.