Dieselgate Has Killed Off VW’s WRC Programme

Following the 'dieselgate' emissions scandal, the Volkswagen Group looks set to kill off another of its motorsport programmes by ditching its involvement in the World Rally Championship
Dieselgate Has Killed Off VW’s WRC Programme

Volkswagen will leave the World Rally Championship at the 2016 season, according to a report by Autosport, following four dominant years at the top of the series.

It follows the hugely damaging worldwide Dieselgate emissions scandal that hit VW last year, which has clearly been a factor in the group cutting back its motorsport involvement.

Last month the World Endurance Championship took a hard knock when it was announced that Audi will bow out at the end of the year, leaving a large gap in the LMP1 category.

Image source: Red Bull Content Pool
Image source: Red Bull Content Pool

The sun setting on VW’s WRC programme will have a similarly enormous impact, following the factory team’s four-year streak of championship success with the unstoppable force that is Sebastien Ogier.

The Australian round later this month will be VW’s last WRC event, as it looks to add another win to its current tally of 41.

According to Autosport’s sources, the decision was made at a board meeting on Tuesday morning at VW’s base in Wolfsburg. No official comment has been made but there are reports it will be made public on Wednesday.

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VW had been testing and developing its 2017-spec Polo R WRC, a mad-sounding and aggressive-looking rally machine fitting the new regulations coming into force next year.

Sadly, we won’t see the 2017 Polo R WRC properly in action on a rally stage, as the VW Group has opted to scrap another of its motorsport programmes.

Image source: Red Bull Content Pool
Image source: Red Bull Content Pool

It also leaves four-time champion Ogier and rally winners Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen on the sidelines looking for drives next year.

The VW exit will hit the WRC hard, but thankfully we do have Toyota making a return with its mean-sounding Yaris WRC and Citroen coming back full-time with the C3 WRC.

What do you make of this news? Let us know in the comments below.

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Comments

Kyle Ashdown

You could say they got…smoked.

11/01/2016 - 17:00 |
72 | 6
Anonymous

I ReALLY liked the team.

11/01/2016 - 17:00 |
58 | 4
Dieselgate Has Killed Off VW’s WRC Programme
DCV 1

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

With the exception of Ogier. I hate that bloke.

11/01/2016 - 18:12 |
26 | 2
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

What you did there? I see it

11/01/2016 - 22:03 |
2 | 0
Rally Maniac (ThePeugeotGuy)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I really don’t

11/12/2016 - 14:46 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Been saving this forever.

11/01/2016 - 17:04 |
4 | 14
Dat Z Guy

NOOOOOOOOOOOO dangit

11/01/2016 - 17:07 |
2 | 2

Yeah was so sad when i saw it

11/01/2016 - 17:14 |
0 | 0
Valanti Demetriades

But our new electric rally car program is still going strong

11/01/2016 - 17:12 |
200 | 2
André 🇳🇴 (rÃ¥nersquad) (subaru) (gf4) (

In reply to by Valanti Demetriades

D chassis master race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11/01/2016 - 20:39 |
2 | 0
DaytonaDP

It seems like VW were planning to save millions of dollars with cheating, but they ended up paying billions of dollars for penalties, and they’re losing there most successful racing teams. 10 points VW.

11/01/2016 - 17:13 |
46 | 0

Just so you know the article is a bit innacurate, the polo will remain in WRC but they’ll develop it as a customer car. So it’s likely we will see the new reg polo WRC next year or the year after.

11/02/2016 - 15:00 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

What was the reason? Money? It could only have been… They were so successful.

11/01/2016 - 17:14 |
6 | 0
Muaz Yusof

I hope Fiat replace VW place after this. the new Abarth 124 Spider Rally seems like a good candidate.

11/01/2016 - 17:17 |
22 | 0

It wouldn’t be competitive in the wrc

11/01/2016 - 18:05 |
12 | 2

Just wouldnt happen with current regs

11/01/2016 - 19:54 |
2 | 0

I’d go with either Bravo/Stilo Chasis, they look cool, would be a nice rally car

11/02/2016 - 03:53 |
2 | 0

I was hoping Subaru would replace VW’s dominance lol.

Cuz WRC rules say the engine has to be transverse mounted and due to the nature of the boxer engine, you can’t transversely mount a boxer engine, but I heard WRC might change the rules within the next couple of years allowing Subaru to come back to rally :)

11/02/2016 - 08:46 |
4 | 0
MikeEM

Škoda Motorsport can now finally to WRC class! I hope this would happen!

11/01/2016 - 17:17 |
12 | 0
Jack Leslie

In reply to by MikeEM

Some staff will probably move over to their other WRC involvements

11/01/2016 - 17:20 |
4 | 0