(CNN)Formula E driver Daniel Abt has been banned from his Audi team for using a professional esports gamer to compete for him.
Abt had taken part in the “Race at Home Challenge” which raised funds for UNICEF’s Corona Relief Fund.
After it was discovered that he had not driven his car in qualifying and the fifth race of the series on Saturday, May 23, Abt apologized and was disqualified from the race and fined 10,000 euros ($10,956). proven.
Audi has now suspended the driver “with immediate effect”.
“Integrity, transparency and consistent compliance with applicable rules have top priority for Audi – this applies to all activities of the brand without exception,” says a statement.
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Suspicions about Abt’s driving were first raised after the 27-year-old German qualified second and finished third in the actual race after failing to score in the first four rounds of the series.
“Really not happy here because it wasn’t Daniel driving the car himself and he messed everything up. That was ridiculous,” said former F1 driver Stoffel Vandoornen on his Twitch stream. “I wonder if it really was Daniel in the car.”
“Please ask Daniel Abt if he uses his zoom next time he rides because like Stoffel said I’m pretty sure he wasn’t there,” said two-time FE champion Jean-Eric Vergne.
After an investigation into Formula E on Sunday, which included checking the IP address, it was concluded that Abt could not have been behind the wheel.
It is widely reported that the player who replaced Abt is 18-year-old Lorenz Hoerzing, who competes in the FE Challenge series, a parallel championship for e-sports drivers. CNN reached out to Hoerzing for comment through his allied esports team, but received no response at the time of publication.
Abt released an apology shortly thereafter, accepting his disqualification
“I would like to apologize to Formula E, all the fans, my team and my fellow drivers for calling in outside help during Saturday’s race,” said Abt, who has promised to provide another update on the story at a later date to deliver Tuesday.
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“I didn’t take it as seriously as I should have. I know there’s a bitter aftertaste to my offense but it was never meant in a bad way.”
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