VAG to pull out of Motorsport post 2016

A) M-Sport
B) Latvala

Really quite interesting to see this play out. Toying with the emotions of rally fans.

When the news broke everyone wanted Ogier to go to M-Sport. I wonder now whether I would prefer that scenario or two private Polos for Seb and Nasser?

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Originally Posted by Simmi

. I wonder now whether I would prefer that scenario or two private Polos for Seb and Nasser?

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what about the evolution of the car? who is going to do it?

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Originally Posted by dimviii

what about the evolution of the car? who is going to do it?

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Same VW team guys in different uniforms?

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Originally Posted by Simmi

Same VW team guys in different uniforms?

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so not cost cutting.Why to do it and not remain as they were?

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Originally Posted by dimviii

so not cost cutting.Why to do it and not remain as they were?

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The motorsport cull was a PR exercise.

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Originally Posted by the sniper

The motorsport cull was a PR exercise.

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for whatever PR exercise ,you cant just change the name and continue to do as last year after some days.

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Originally Posted by dimviii

for whatever PR exercise ,you cant just change the name and continue to do as last year after some days.

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I would be inclined to agree with you but nothing would surprise me anymore. Like sniper says it's just PR smoke and mirrors. Once the headlines go out that they have cut their WRC programme the work is almost done. The decision to retain all staff tells you everything you need to know. They have more than enough money to continue rallying.

But we don't even know if the Qatar story is real so no need to debate too much right now.

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Originally Posted by dimviii

for whatever PR exercise ,you cant just change the name and continue to do as last year after some days.

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Not exactly the same, but not entirely different, look at Honda F1 to Brawn GP or Ford WRT to Msport. Yes VW is in house, but the main obstacle has already been overcome with them being up for running customers with that team. Surely the only barrier to running 2017 cars is the amount of money required as it'll require a greater, longer term investment that very few (realistically only Red Bull or Qatar) can provide.

I'm not saying it's going to happen, but I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility at all.

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Originally Posted by the sniper

The motorsport cull was a PR exercise.

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That's not true. It was a pressure from labor union to cut cost due to management intention to fire 30 thousand people. The PR factor is only a part of the story even though important.

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Originally Posted by Simmi

I would be inclined to agree with you but nothing would surprise me anymore. Like sniper says it's just PR smoke and mirrors. Once the headlines go out that they have cut their WRC programme the work is almost done. The decision to retain all staff tells you everything you need to know. They have more than enough money to continue rallying.

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I don’t believe that a third party team run by VW Motorsport would be on VW’s board members minds when they’ve decided to pull out. It seems more a fallback solution, most likely put toghether by top VW M staff and some sensible VW managers in order to resolve VW M immediate future.

VW M personnel cost could be the only expense for VW on this possible WRC venture, with Qatar and Red Bull paying testing and running costs. VW could also save some money on their driver’s contract deals, if they manage to keep one of them on this new team.

At the end VW would still be in WRC, for a fraction of what they’ve been spending and without the need to get their name officially involved, saving them from political or labor protests. It really seems the perfect fallback solution!

Maybe the VW private entry issue it’s better on this topic.

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Originally Posted by cali

I'm not against VW participating, quite the contrary but if I was a team manager, I would not see a point to let them in unless they commit the same way as the rest of the teams.

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VW plan B to get the ’17 Polo in WRC it’s an exceptional move and it deserves exceptional treatment, not a brainless administrative response.
For sure WRC officials can stick to the rules and say goodbye to VW, but they also can get smart and figure a way for VW Motorpsort to run the car and keep a certain WRC involvement.
Dieselgate can still roll some heads on VW top management. Who knows, maybe those that vote in favour of the WRC pull out will be the next ones...

Rebadge the Polo to Fabia WRC, Skoda runs it, Volkswagen Audi Gruppe homologates.

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Originally Posted by Sulland

Rebadge the Polo to Fabia WRC, Skoda runs it, Volkswagen Audi Gruppe homologates.

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You can't be serious, are you?!?! It's not as easy as putting the Fabia exterior on a Polo chassis... :rolleyes:

Actually it shouldn't be that difficult. Both Polo and Fabia share the same PQ26 platform. Most of the new work would be likely on the aerodynamic design. On the other hand I am quite sure it won't happen.

Even IF it was so easy (it isn't), you'd need at least a new rollcage and new aero. These things would take time...

The technical difficulty is not even the issue here, regardless of which brand "runs" it, the issue is they won't allocate budget so even if you could convert the Polo to a Fabia just by snapping your fingers it wouldn't help at all. Someone else (not in VW group) needs to fork up the cash.