Volkswagen to cease all motorsport operations
Volkswagen has announced it will end all of its motorsport programmes.

The German manufacturer decided last year to cease factory support of all programmes using an internal combustion engine, instead putting a "clear emphasis on fully electric racing cars".
However, a day after Audi went public with its decision to quit Formula E as a works entry at the end of the 2020/21 season, VW has now canned all of its motorsport projects.
According to a statement, this move comes as "part of the company's realignment". The 169 employers of the VW Motorsport GmbH division will be integrated into the wider Volkswagen AG network.
Read Also:
Chief development officer of the VW brand Frank Welsch said: "The Volkswagen brand is on its way to becoming the leading supplier in sustainable electric mobility.
"To this end, we are joining forces and have decided to discontinue our own motorsport activities for the Volkswagen brand. The motorsport workforce will subsequently be integrated into Volkswagen AG.
"The deep technical expertise of the employees as well as the gained know-how from the ID.R [all-electric prototype] project will thus remain in the company and will help us to bring further efficient models of the ID family onto the road."
Meanwhile, the spare parts supply for the Polo GTI R5 rally car and the Golf GTI TCR touring car have been "ensured in the long term", while the production of the Polo R5 itself will cease at the end of 2020.
Wilfried von Rath, chief human resources officer at VW, added: "The team of Volkswagen Motorsport GmbH has achieved significant sporting successes for the brand over decades.
"For the many victories, titles and records around the globe and their personal commitment, I sincerely thank all employees.
"We are pleased that we will receive employment at this challenging time and will make a takeover offer to all employees."
In its five-decade history in racing, VW has notably backed the Formula Vee category and enjoyed success at Formula 3 level.
Its Polo won four constructors' World Rally Championship titles with Sebastien Ogier between 2013 and '16, in addition to three Dakar Rally wins for the Touareg.
The ID.R prototype also hold the outright Goodwood and Pikes Peak hillclimb records in addition to the electric lap record for the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
An Audi spokesperson told Motorsport.com that its decision to quit FE and the VW Motorsport plan had been made separately and were not part of an overarching VW Group strategy.

Previous article
Leading circuits in the UK receive government funding
Next article
Motorsport Network sweeps Supercars Awards

Volkswagen to cease all motorsport operations
Trending
LEGO Ferrari 488 GTE
French Motorsport: the Stuff of Legend
Racing Files Season 2 Trailer
The real-life racing rogues stranger than fiction
The forthcoming Netflix film linking the world of underworld crime and motorsport plays on a theme that isn't exactly new. Over the years, several shady figures have attempted to make it in racing before their dubious dealings caught up with them.
The cherished curios kept by motorsport's professionals at home
Keeping trophies and momentos of key triumphs is par for the course for motorsport professionals, but what are the most cherished souvenirs picked up by the drivers and engineers who have seen and done it all?
Why motorsport should consider a mid-week future
International motorsport has been the preserve of weekends, but the pandemic forced Formula E to get creative with its Berlin season finale as four races were held mid-week. Should FE and other series break with tradition and repeat the experiment?
How pragmatic principles made Ron Tauranac a design legend
Jack Brabham's 1966 world championship campaign in his eponymous car was also a defining moment in the career of designer Ron Tauranac, who would apply the same ethos to his ultra-successful production racing car business, Ralt.
The ingrained failure motorsport must fix to avoid 'turf wars'
OPINION: The FIA has warned that the major motorsport championships must not get engaged in 'turf wars' when it comes to the urgent need to re-organising the 2020 calendars, but there are tedious past problems that must be addressed to satisfy all.
The tech changes that could seal a Nordschleife record
Volkswagen's I.D. R smashed the Pikes Peak record and now its attention has been turned to Nurburgring Nordschleife. The ultimate benchmark there may appear far out of reach, but technical changes to the car have made a new electric record possible
The story of motorsport's single biggest safety advance
Today, the HANS device is commonplace in motorsport, but it wasn't initially greeted with open arms. This is the story of a major safety breakthrough and the man whose invention has saved countless lives.
Motorsport's greatest imposters
There are many tightly enforced rules in motorsport – some complex, some simple, but there have been a few extraordinary instances of teams and drivers bending the rules and getting away with it