René Rast will drive for Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler in Season 7 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, partnering Lucas di Grassi at the German marque.
The two-time DTM champion – who will compete for a third title in the series this weekend – previously made his Formula E debut in Season 2 in which he contested the Berlin E-Prix as a stand-in for Antonio Felix da Costa.
The 34-year-old subsequently returned to the fully-electric championship earlier this year for Formula E’s six-race Tempelhof showdown in which he replaced Daniel Abt.
In this spell of races, Rast notched 29 points and one podium finish to rank 15th in the Drivers’ Championship and as such, has been retained by Audi for Season 7.
“The races in Berlin have definitely whetted my appetite for more, so I’m now looking forward to my first full season in Formula E,” he said.
“Starting in this world championship for Audi is the next exciting chapter in my career and I am really looking forward to it.”
Rast will be partnered Lucas di Grassi for the 2020/21 campaign, with the Brazilian driver and one-time champion remaining with Audi for a seventh successive season.
“I have experienced everything in these six years: great successes, defeats, insane emotions. And the best is yet to come, because the start-up from back then is now turning into an FIA World Championship,” commented di Grassi.
“Together with Audi and René, I will give everything in 2021 to have a say in the fight for the world championship title.”
Head of Audi Motorsport, Dieter Gass, explained that the recruitment of Rast and the retention of di Grassi was a logical decision for Audi’s Formula E branch, with both eyeing success in the future:
“With his impressive performances in Berlin, René proved that he feels comfortable in Formula E and at the same time is also fast and successful,” he added. “He has absolutely earned his place in our Formula E team.
“For me, it was extremely important to have two drivers who push each other to peak performance.
“With Lucas and René, we have succeeded in doing this brilliantly. Lucas is the most successful driver in the field and extremely hungry to win his second title.
“René has already left an impressive mark in Berlin. We are enjoying his determination year after year in the DTM. I am already looking forward to experiencing it in Formula E.”
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