VAG to pull out of Motorsport post 2016

[Andre Oliveira]

A) M-Sport
B) Latvala

[Simmi]

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?

[dimviii]

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

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

[Simmi]

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

Same VW team guys in different uniforms?

[dimviii]

Same VW team guys in different uniforms?

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

[the sniper]

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

The motorsport cull was a PR exercise.

[dimviii]

The motorsport cull was a PR exercise.

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

[Simmi]

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

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.

[the sniper]

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

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.

[Mirek]

The motorsport cull was a PR exercise.

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.