After years of rumour, speculation and F1 paddock rumours Audi have, this morning, laid out a road map for their future entry into Formula One.

A working document seen by DSC includes the following measures that must be put into place to ensure the programme becomes a viable option:

Full cockpit driver protection.

Freeing up of regulations to display technological advances.

The opportunity to introduce new fuel and hybrid technologies when and where appropriate.

The introduction of tyre technology that allows the cars to run at their maximum potential over extended periods.

A qualifying format relevant to a team sport.

Opportunities at race meetings to interact with attending fans.

Commercial conditions that allow Audi to match or better the production growth rates of OEMS already in the Championship.

The opportunity to engage fully with electronic and social media.

A governing body open to discussion on commercial and technological priorities.

The opportunity to enter additional cars in the most important races.

That seems to indicate a real possibility of an entry into the Formula One World Championship as early as 3018.

An Audi spokesman was unable to comment when contacted by DSC at 3am this morning but promised to ‘deal with” DSC at the Silverstone FIA WEC race later this month.