Audi Sport managing director Rolf Michl set to be transferred to China

Rolf Michl, the managing director of Audi Sport GmbH, is set to be transferred to China this year, according to information from Motorsport-Total.com. Michl took over the role on September 1, 2022, succeeding Julius Seebach. Following the end of the Dakar programme at the beginning of 2024—the VW subsidiary's last remaining factory motorsport project—the position of motorsport boss was quietly abolished and left unfilled, leaving Michl serving strictly as managing director.

During Michl's tenure, Audi gradually scaled back its motorsport operations. Key steps included ending the customer racing programme, discontinuing mid-engined car production, dissolving the driver roster at the end of 2023, and ending the Dakar project following its victory in early 2024. These cutbacks aimed to direct focus toward the complex Formula 1 entry in the 2026 season. The Formula 1 project was outsourced to Audi Formula Racing GmbH, managed by Mattia Binotto, who reports directly to Audi boss Gernot Döllner.

Since the departure of Sebastian Grams at the end of 2023, Michl has been the sole managing director of the Neckarsulm-based performance division. Beyond building performance models, Audi Sport GmbH currently handles basic customer racing support and the Racing Legends project established in 2025. While Audi definitely requires a new managing director for Audi Sport GmbH, there are currently no indications that a new motorsport chief will be appointed anytime soon.