Volkswagen considers joining World Rally Championship
Click above for high-res gallery of the VW Scirocco GT24
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.
Gallery: Volkswagen Scirocco GT24
[Source: Rallye-Magazin via Stage Times]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
why not the LS2LS7? 7:11PM (8/06/2008)
A company with Carlos Sainz on their board considering this? Surprising!
I'd love to see VW there, but with the FIA not really knowing how to run WRC properly, I think they'd be rather dumb get in right now.
Oh for what could have been.
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Alec 7:58PM (8/06/2008)
Not really.
azzo45 9:25PM (8/06/2008)
Is VW recycling? This looks a helluva lot like their Nurburgring 24 Hour entry from a few months back. Now its a WRC concept??
I would like them to test the ALMS/ ACO GT2 class if engine spec is competitive. That could build a buzz for the car to be sold in the US market & create a performance arm for all VWs.
WhyNotTheC63? 2:42AM (8/07/2008)
It is the same one. I think. Why else would there be decals and stitching of The Ring in the interior. Anyone have reference shots of the interior of the 24-hour entry?
P.S. I love the stock blinker a switch. It keeps the whole thing grounded.
Mike Lee 7:13PM (8/06/2008)
I have a better idea VW . . . why don't you join the U.S. market by importing the stock Scirocco for those of us who want one?
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Richard 7:13PM (8/06/2008)
Certainly is the right color!
Now all they have to do is paint the constellation Pleiades on the side and you'll have what the 2009 WRC winner could have looked like - had it been designed as a 2-door (OK, 3-door).
It'll never go like a Subaru, though.
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iBruce 8:11PM (8/07/2008)
Like Subaru is doing well in the WRC lately.
Richard 9:43PM (8/07/2008)
iBruce,
Notice that I said 2000 and NINE, not 2008.
The new car just got a podium in its third outing.
2000 and NINE could be a return to top performance for Subaru - especially as D. Richards won't have to worry about ProSport fielding and F1 team.
Serge K. 7:14PM (8/06/2008)
Oh how I wish that Speed channel would pull their heads out of their asses and broadcasted WRC and/or DTM (in any amount), instead of the stupid Pinks-shminks crap. That way maybe I could comment on WRC.
Other than that, go VW! and pics 4 and 5 are HOT SHIZNIT!
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Richard 7:16PM (8/06/2008)
+1 on the WRC and DTM coverage!
mark deadrick 7:55PM (8/06/2008)
I thought the same thing about Speed coverage of WRC. For one year, I think 2004 or 2005 they would have 3 separate days of coverage, then just made into 1 the last season. Now I just DL the files from eMule, usually the same day as coverage in the UK, and assemble them in iDVD (mac) and burn 2 hours of commercial free coverage, watch at home, watch at work, send to my dad. Far better than anything Speed would ever do. They'd just add their own lame commentators like Greg (s)Creamer or Ralph Shaheen and lose any sort of intelligence between the words and the visuals.
why not the LS2LS7? 10:04PM (8/06/2008)
Speed shows DTM, at least 3 months delayed though. Look for it in the off season, alongside V8 Supercars (most of that about 1 month delayed).
I don't find DTM to be at all exciting though.
As mark says below, Speed went down to 1 hour of coverage per race and it wasn't worth watching at that point anyway. Although unlike what mark said, Speed added Nicky Grist, who was a good addition.
Mark Deadrick 11:49PM (8/06/2008)
Ooops, forgot about Nicky Grist. Sorry about that. That was good, I think the year before was Ralph Shaheen when they did have the 3 day coverage. Whatever the case, the UK feed is the best. I sort of got the impression that Nicky Grist was swapping mic logos and shirt logos, between different channels, but maybe that was just me. It seems like Peter Windsor would be doing the same thing at Speed too. Need proof, however.
why not the LS2LS7? 12:00AM (8/07/2008)
I think you're very right about Nicky Grist and Peter Windsor swapping logos for different channels.
Not that I minded.
Shaheen was the guy before that, although I think Grist was on the last two seasons. Either way, you didn't see enough actual racing in the 1-hour format to know what happened anyway. I'll check out the UK feeds you speak of.
wagonphile 1:56PM (8/07/2008)
Completely agree on WRC coverage. Speed Channel is nothing but stupid reality shows and NASCAR these days. Not worth watching most of the time. I still like Dream Car Garage, but I seriously miss watching WRC.
bilbo baggins 9:52AM (8/07/2008)
THANK YOU !! Speed is prehistoric man ! They should close that channel. What losers !
Doug 11:23AM (8/07/2008)
All the WRC you could ask for:
http://www.rallytorrents.com/
Sting 7:39PM (8/06/2008)
Okay, Autoblog. We see how thin the oil in your veins really is. I thought you guys were enthusiasts for all motorsports...even amateur motorsports that most of your readers could possibly even participate in. Then you go and mess it up........ Sonovab.......
Volkswagen has partnered with the largest motorsports organization in the country..... OK, so we're an amateur motorsports organization, but there's more of us than anyone else.
That's right.. Sports Car Club of America. You know, the guys whose local regional clubs hold Autocrosses, Club Races, and Rallies every weekend across the whole country. The kind of events NORMAL people can enter, and have one helluva lotta fun.
Volkswagen has partnered with SCCA, to promote their new tech, have some fun, AND get some publicity. Autoblog thinks that's not classy enough????
Trust me guys, I've been reading you for a few years... You're ok.... but the Jetta TDI cup owns you.
Here's the actual press release text:
Making it's North America debut in 2008, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series is an innovative approach to motorsports. Thirty young, undiscovered drivers will be selected to compete against each other in identical, factory-prepared and maintained Jetta TDIs.
The Jetta TDI Cup car is powered by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder TDI clean diesel engine. The car is only slightly modified from stock with race suspension and brakes, plus a six-speed, double-clutch, automatic DSG transmission. Volkswagen is working with Carbonfund.org to certify the entire series as carbon free.
The Jetta TDI Cup series, sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, will serve as a training ground for up-and-coming talent by providing driving, fitness and media coaching throughout the season. The series Champion will win $100,000, with an additional $250,000 bonus for being signed by a professional motorsports team within six months. Interested drivers between the ages of 16 to 26 can apply online at the Volkswagen website. A qualifying event is held in April to select the 30 driver that will compete in the debut season.
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tankd0g 9:04PM (8/06/2008)
Knowing two "amature" drivers who were "selected" for a chance at a ride in that series until they got 2 weeks notice that they had to come up with $30,000 just to "test", I say "Meh".
christian.edstrom 9:19PM (8/06/2008)
SCCA certainly does not put on rallies every weekend. Never did -- they used to sanction rallies, but they got out of that game a few years ago. Now if they'd just stop sending me that crappy rag every month, too...
And VW in WRC? Come on, Autobloggers, we know better than that. They've been in before with SEAT and most recently Skoda. No way will they sully the big brand on dirty roads. Kenneth Eriksson's '86 Gr.A win will remain the final WRC championship for VW.