Audi has appointed Allan McNish to the role of Racing Director in Formula 1, a month after the exit of Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley.

Wheatley arrived at Audi—under its prior Sauber guise—last April, but quit the team in March this year amid speculation connecting him with a senior role at Aston Martin.

Audi has now slotted McNish into the role of Racing Director, working under Mattia Binotto, who will stay as Team Principal alongside his CEO position.

“It is a privilege to take on the role of Racing Director for Audi: this is a marque that means a lot to me and it is an honor to be able to represent Audi and our partners on the most prestigious stage in motorsports,” McNish said.

“This is an exciting challenge at a pivotal moment in the history of Audi and Formula 1, and I am looking forward to contributing even more directly to our trackside performance.

“The project we are building is ambitious, and my focus will be on ensuring that all aspects of our race operations are delivering at their most competitive level and continuously improving. Together with our Driver Development Programme, to which I remain fully committed, my focus will be on implementing the building blocks for our success, under the direction of Mattia and the Board of Directors.”

McNish has had a long-term association with Audi across several championships, both as a driver and in management roles.

The 56-year-old first raced for Audi in sports cars in 2000, and returned in 2004, having spent a year racing in Formula 1 for Toyota before a spell as Renault’s test driver.

McNish claimed three American Le Mans Series titles with Audi, along with two victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours, and the 2013 World Endurance Championship crown.

McNish became the Team Principal of Audi’s Formula E effort and for several years has been connected with Audi’s fledgling Formula 1 efforts, keeping a low profile behind-the-scenes.

In January he was formally named as the Director of Audi’s new Driver Development Programme.