Berlin, May 26 (IANS): The Audi Formula E Team suspended Daniel Abt for cheating in a charity esports event. Abt was disqualified from the online race and fined 10,000 Euros after it was found that he had used a professional gamer to race under his name.

"Daniel Abt did not drive his car in qualifying and the race at the fifth event of the Race at Home Challenge on May 23 himself, but let a professional sim-racer do so," Audi said in a statement. "He directly apologised for this on the following day and accepted the disqualification.

"Integrity, transparency and consistent compliance with applicable rules are top priorities for Audi -- this applies to all activities the brand is involved in without exception. For this reason, Audi Sport has decided to suspend Daniel Abt with immediate effect."

Abt issued an apology later. "I did not take it as seriously as I should have," he said. Pro gamer Lorenz Hoerzing, who raced in his place has been disqualified from all future rounds of the separate Challenge Grid competition.

The official Formula E season is suspended since March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Race at Home Challenge is a esports version of the series that Formula E is organising in place of the regular season.