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Ever since 2006, when Peugeot, Skoda and Mitsubishi pulled their factory works teams out of the World Rally Championship, the WRC has been desperate to attract another major automaker back to reinvigorate the series. Emerging reports suggest that Volkswagen has been inquiring about joining the championship after the company's motorsport chief Kris Nissen visited the Finnish rally to meet with series officials and team leaders.
Despite being one of the largest automakers in the world, the Volkswagen Group's racing division is proportionately very small. Audi's programs in Le Mans-class prototype racing and German touring cars (DTM) stand out as the biggest exceptions, while SEAT campaigns Leons in both the British and World Touring Car Championships and Skoda in the production-car-based Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Nothing in Formula One, NASCAR or the WRC. The Volkswagen division itself only dabbles in racing periodically, with the Touareg in Dakar and the Scirocco at the Nurburgring 24-hour enduro, in addition to its low-level Formula 3 program. However, the top-tier World Rally Championship would give Volkswagen a chance to claim honors against Ford, Subaru, Citroen and newcomers Suzuki, as well as the privateer teams. Fiat and Renault have also been touted as potential additions to the WRC roster. However, only time will tell which automakers will take the big step up.p.
Kris Nissen of VW was in Finland at the rally and had a meeting with ISC CEO Simon Long as well as the manufacturer team leaders, according to rallye-magazin.de.
Nissen asked the team bosses about the future marketing prospects and new technical regulations. Nissen’s presence was taken as indication that VW are seriously considering the WRC.
Mark Deans of Ford stated that a possible four new manufacturers could join the WRC with Fiat, Renault, Skoda and now VW expressing interest, though added that Skoda and Renault have only stated would build S2000 cars and he is unsure if they would step up to S2000+. SWRT’s Dave Richards said he was optimistic at the minute but wasn’t sure if Renault would make the step up to the WRC.
VW GTI-WRC
