Audi Sport Boss, Technical Director Exit Stage Left

When Audi announced it was shutting down its endurance racing program, it promised it would find employment for all 300+ employees of its competition department. Some will find continued employment in other racing programs, some in the company’s road-car operations. But the two men at the top will be leaving the company altogether.

The most notable departure will be that of Wolfgang Ullrich, who has served as head of Audi Sport since 1993. At 66 years old, Ullrich is scheduled to retire next year, handing the reins over to the company’s DTM chief Dieter Gass.

According to Autosport, Ullrich will spend his final year at Audi helping Gass take the reins and ensuring a smooth transition before the elder racing chief enjoys his well-earned retirement.

He won’t be the only one leaving Ingolstadt, though. So too will Jorg Zander, who joined last year as Audi Sport’s technical director. Autosport reports that, with a wealth of experience in F1, Zander will be crossing the border into Switzerland to serve in the same capacity at Sauber – the same team where he acted as chief designer when it was under BMW’s patronage.

Zander has also served in various capacities for the Toyota, Honda, Williams, and Brawn teams. He left F1 in 2009 and considered returning with HRT in 2011, but set up his own consultancy instead before signing with Audi.