Simulator driver for development of Audi’s Formula 1 power unit signed
Simulator driver for development of Audi’s Formula 1 power unit signed
- Swiss Neel Jani becomes simulator driver for powertrain development
- Focus on concept work and energy management
- Simulator at Neuburg site as development tool for hybrid powertrain
Neuburg a. d. Donau, June 22, 2023 – Audi is taking the next step in the development of the power unit for the Formula 1 project by signing a simulator driver. Swiss racing pro Neel Jani (39) is going to support the development of the Audi power unit with his versatile experience from various motorsport programs. An update of the dynamic driving simulator for the work on the Formula 1 hybrid powertrain is being run at the Neuburg site in parallel. In 2026, the brand with the four rings is going to enter the top category of motorsport.
“Just like in production development, simulation plays a major role in our Formula 1 project. Our simulator is an important tool for the power unit development. It requires a development driver who in addition to a grasp of technology brings versatile experience to the project, especially in terms of energy management in racing conditions,” says Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development of AUDI AG.
As a former test and reserve driver at Red Bull Racing, Jani spent many hours in a Formula 1 simulator. As a race driver in endurance racing, he gathered valuable experience in a hybrid race car. As a member of the Porsche factory team, he won the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2016 as well as the famous 24-hour race at Le Mans. “I am delighted to accompany Audi on their way into Formula 1. It is both an honor and a great responsibility to be involved in a project of this magnitude at an early stage. I am sure that with my experience from Formula 1 and LMP projects I can forge good links between theory and practice,” says the Swiss.
Since the end of 2022 testing of a one-cylinder engine has been delivering valuable results for the development of the power unit. The continuing concept phase is laying the performance-related groundwork of the power unit for 2026 when the new regulations provide for increasing electrification. The electric motor (MGU-K) will then deliver nearly the same output as the internal combustion engine. The highly efficient 1.6-liter turbo engines are powered by sustainable synthetic fuel.
“At the moment, we are mainly focused on fundamental concept questions with high relevance to performance. However, in evaluating various technical solutions we rely not only on digital methods. Know-how, experience and practically relevant development are indispensable elements of drawing the right conclusions from the simulation. With that combination, we can assess various operating strategies at an early stage and pave the way for efficient energy management of the power unit,” says Adam Baker, CEO of Audi Formula Racing GmbH.
The first hybrid power unit consisting of the internal combustion engine, electric motor, battery and control electronics is planned to be run on the dyno before the year is out and provide the basis for the future vehicle concept. Thanks to open competition, Formula 1 serves as a technology driver for both electromobility and sustainable e-fuels.
As a former test and reserve driver at Red Bull Racing, Jani spent many hours in a Formula 1 simulator. As a race driver in endurance racing, he gathered valuable experience in a hybrid race car. As a member of the Porsche factory team, he won the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2016 as well as the famous 24-hour race at Le Mans. “I am delighted to accompany Audi on their way into Formula 1. It is both an honor and a great responsibility to be involved in a project of this magnitude at an early stage. I am sure that with my experience from Formula 1 and LMP projects I can forge good links between theory and practice,” says the Swiss.
Since the end of 2022 testing of a one-cylinder engine has been delivering valuable results for the development of the power unit. The continuing concept phase is laying the performance-related groundwork of the power unit for 2026 when the new regulations provide for increasing electrification. The electric motor (MGU-K) will then deliver nearly the same output as the internal combustion engine. The highly efficient 1.6-liter turbo engines are powered by sustainable synthetic fuel.
“At the moment, we are mainly focused on fundamental concept questions with high relevance to performance. However, in evaluating various technical solutions we rely not only on digital methods. Know-how, experience and practically relevant development are indispensable elements of drawing the right conclusions from the simulation. With that combination, we can assess various operating strategies at an early stage and pave the way for efficient energy management of the power unit,” says Adam Baker, CEO of Audi Formula Racing GmbH.
The first hybrid power unit consisting of the internal combustion engine, electric motor, battery and control electronics is planned to be run on the dyno before the year is out and provide the basis for the future vehicle concept. Thanks to open competition, Formula 1 serves as a technology driver for both electromobility and sustainable e-fuels.
Neel Jani - Biography
Date of birth: 8 December 1983
Place of birth: Rorschach (CH)
Place of residence: Bellmund (CH)
Status: married, one child
Place of birth: Rorschach (CH)
Place of residence: Bellmund (CH)
Status: married, one child
Career:
1996–2000 Karting
2000 1st Formula Lista Junior Switzerland
2001 Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup, Formula Renault Italy
2002 2nd Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup
2003 2nd Formula Renault V6 Eurocup
2004 Formula Renault V6 Eurocup, Formula 1 test driver (Sauber F1)
2005 GP2 Series
2006 Formula 1 test and reserve driver (Scuderia Toro Rosso)
2007 1st A1GP Series, Champ Car World Series
2008 1st A1GP Series, Formula 1 tests (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula 1 tests (Red Bull Racing)
2010 3rd Le Mans Series (LMP1), Le Mans 24 Hours,
Formula 1 tests and show runs (Red Bull Racing)
2011 1st Le Mans Series (LMP1), 6th Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula 1 tests and show runs (Red Bull Racing)
2012 4th FIA World Endurance Championship WEC, 4th Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula 1 tests and show runs
2013 1st Petit Le Mans, 3rd Sebring 12 Hours, 2nd Laguna Seca, 2nd Long Beach (both American Le Mans Series), LMP1 test program for Porsche
2014 3rd FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (LMP1, Porsche)
2015 3rd FIA World Endurance Championship WEC, 5th Le Mans 24 Hours (LMP1, Porsche)
2016 1st FIA World Endurance Championship WEC, 1st Le Mans 24 Hours (LMP1, Porsche)
2017 4th FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (LMP1, Porsche), FIA Formula E 2017/18 (two races, Dragon Racing)
2018 5th in FIA World Endurance Championship WEC 2018/19, 4th in Le Mans 24 Hours (LMP1, Rebellion Racing)
2019 4th Le Mans 24 Hours (Rebellion Racing)
2020 2nd Sebring 12 Hours (GTLM), FIA Formula E 2019/2020
2021 2nd FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (GTE Pro)
2022 1st Sebring 12 Hours (DPi)
2023 Asian Le Mans Series, 3rd Le Mans 24 Hours (LMP2, Duqueine)
Simulator driver Audi Formula 1 project
2000 1st Formula Lista Junior Switzerland
2001 Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup, Formula Renault Italy
2002 2nd Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup
2003 2nd Formula Renault V6 Eurocup
2004 Formula Renault V6 Eurocup, Formula 1 test driver (Sauber F1)
2005 GP2 Series
2006 Formula 1 test and reserve driver (Scuderia Toro Rosso)
2007 1st A1GP Series, Champ Car World Series
2008 1st A1GP Series, Formula 1 tests (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula 1 tests (Red Bull Racing)
2010 3rd Le Mans Series (LMP1), Le Mans 24 Hours,
Formula 1 tests and show runs (Red Bull Racing)
2011 1st Le Mans Series (LMP1), 6th Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula 1 tests and show runs (Red Bull Racing)
2012 4th FIA World Endurance Championship WEC, 4th Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula 1 tests and show runs
2013 1st Petit Le Mans, 3rd Sebring 12 Hours, 2nd Laguna Seca, 2nd Long Beach (both American Le Mans Series), LMP1 test program for Porsche
2014 3rd FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (LMP1, Porsche)
2015 3rd FIA World Endurance Championship WEC, 5th Le Mans 24 Hours (LMP1, Porsche)
2016 1st FIA World Endurance Championship WEC, 1st Le Mans 24 Hours (LMP1, Porsche)
2017 4th FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (LMP1, Porsche), FIA Formula E 2017/18 (two races, Dragon Racing)
2018 5th in FIA World Endurance Championship WEC 2018/19, 4th in Le Mans 24 Hours (LMP1, Rebellion Racing)
2019 4th Le Mans 24 Hours (Rebellion Racing)
2020 2nd Sebring 12 Hours (GTLM), FIA Formula E 2019/2020
2021 2nd FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (GTE Pro)
2022 1st Sebring 12 Hours (DPi)
2023 Asian Le Mans Series, 3rd Le Mans 24 Hours (LMP2, Duqueine)
Simulator driver Audi Formula 1 project