Alexandre Premat has accepted his dismissal by Audi this week, and thanked the manufacturer for the opportunities it gave him since 2007.
The Frenchman was dismissed with one race remaining on the 2010 DTM schedule after what Audi Sport boss Wolfgang Ullrich described as differing opinions recently.
Premat, who has come under fire from inside the team at times during his four years there, said that he regretted having to leave Audi.
"2010 has generally been a tough year for me and I deeply regret splitting from Audi," he said. "But we had quite some differences of opinion most recently. Nevertheless I am thankful for the great working relationship with Audi since 2007 in the DTM and in prototypes. I was able to gain lots of valuable experience which can only be an advantage for me in the future.
"I want to thank Wolfgang Ullrich and Audi for their support throughout these years. I wish them all the best for the future."
Premat was twice the best-placed driver of an older-spec Audi in the DTM in 2007-'08, and in his first year he gave up a victory at Zandvoort to help Martin Tomczyk's title hopes. He also won the Le Mans Series title with Mike Rockenfeller in 2008, but he was given a final warning by Audi earlier this year after causing a first lap accident at Lausitz which affected all four of Audi¹s latest-spec cars in some way.
World Touring Car Championship independents front runner Daryl O'Young will replace Premat for the DTM finale on the streets of Shanghai.