Volkswagen plans long-term involvement in WRC.

The Board of Directors of German automobile major Volkswagen has decided on a long-term involvement in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). The board has given its affirmation for continuing with its commitment to the WRC series up to and including 2019.

Volkswagen made its first appearance in the WRC rallying with the Polo R WRC in 2013 and immediately won all three titles – Driver, Co-Driver and Manufacturer – at the first attempt. The winning streak continues for the company as this season, the works team is still unbeaten and leads the World Championship with its pairings of Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and  Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN). Andreas Mikkelsen (N), with co-driver Ola Fløene (N) is fourth.

Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neußer, Volkswagen Board Member for Technical Development and responsible for the brand’s Motorsport program, said that the FIA World Rally Championship is a very good platform for Volkswagen to demonstrate the efficiency, dynamics and reliability of its cars to a global public.  “The series is more closely oriented towards the technology used in the latest production vehicles than any other world championship, and based on the kind of real conditions that our customers all over the world experience on a daily basis,” he added.

The involvement in WRC was originally planned for three years, from 2013 to 2015. Commenting on the latest VW Board decision, Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito said that “This faith is a huge motivation for our entire team”.

Formula One and the World Rally Championship races are the most iconic automobile racing series in the world. It has been held as the top-ranking championship in rallying since 1973 and consists of 13 rallies held on four continents. The races are held on asphalt, gravel, snow and ice. The World Rally Cars in action are based on production vehicles, with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo engine, generating about 315 HP, and four-wheel drive.

After three back-to-back successes at the Rally Dakar with the diesel-powered Race Touareg between 2009 and 2011, Volkswagen took up a new challenge and entered the FIA World Rally Championship with the Polo R WRC in 2013. With ten wins in 13 rallies, the works team won the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championship at the first attempt. This season, the Volkswagen Polo R WRC has so far won six rallies out of six.

Picture of a VW race car at the World Rally Championship/ courtesy VW.