Incumbent DTM champion Rene Rast is primed to replace the vacant Audi Formula E seat left by documented bad-boy Daniel Abt, with the German set for a test with the squad in the coming weeks.
A test for the 33-year-old is reportedly scheduled to take place at Audi’s Neuberg base venue as the season four champions accelerate their process to find a replacement for the remainder of the current Formula season which is now likely to conclude in August.
Rast does have commitments with the German manufacturer’s DTM outfit which will see its curtailed 2020 season kick off at Spa-Francorchamps on the first weekend of August.
However, Formula E have reportedly eyed August 7-8 as a likely date to resume their season, opening a window for Rast to fulfil his commitments to both series.
Audi have announced it will exit DTM post the 2020 campaign, leaving Rast as potential long-term signing for the factory Formula E team.
Prior to Abt’s virtual scandal, the 27-year-old was out of contract at the end of the 2019/20 season with Audi admitting his future within the team was not certain concerning his recent lacklustre run of form.
Defending Super Formula Champion Nick Cassidy has been linked to the spare Audi drive, as has Dragon Test Driver Nico Muller. Though Rast has emerged as Audi’s primary choice dependent on any DTM and FE clashes.
Abt will be replaced by factory Audi GT ace Kelvin Van der Linde in tomorrow morning’s Formula E Race at Home Eseries finale.
Van der Linde did partake in a recent rookies test with Audi earlier in the year, but sources are suggesting he will likely remain in his testing role for the remainder of the season.