Volkswagen ceases all motorsport operations; to focus on electric mobility
Marking the end of five decades of racing history, Volkswagen Motorsport has announced that it is terminating all motorsport initiatives to focus on electric mobility. Its workforce will be absorbed within Volkswagen AG's Wolfsburg headquarters. According to the company, the ID.R electric race program will be crucial for the development of the future ID. family.
'Learnings from ID.R project will help make efficient electric vehicles'
"The deep technical expertize of the motorsport employees and the know-how gained from the ID.R project will remain with the company and will help us put further efficient models from the ID. family on the road," said Dr. Frank Welsch, Member, Board of Management.
Production of Polo GTI R5 to cease by 2020-end
Volkswagen has confirmed that it will continue to supply spare parts for the race-focused Polo GTI R5 and Golf GTI TCR models. However, production of the commercial-specific Polo GTI R5 will be stopped by 2020-end. To recall, the company had announced last year that it will stop factory support for programs using an internal combustion engine and would focus on full-electric racing cars.
Audi AG to return to endurance racing in 2023
Volkswagen's announcement comes a day after its subsidiary company, Audi, said it would enter the Dakar Rally in 2022 and return to endurance racing in 2023, while exiting from Formula E at the end of next season. However, Volkswagen has clarified that its decision to cease all motorsport operations was not influenced by Audi's future motorsport plans.
A look at Volkswagen Motorsport's achievements over the years
Volkswagen Motorsport's story began in the 1960s with wins in Formula V and Formula 3. The Polo won four constructors' World Rally Championship titles with Sebastien Ogier between 2013-16, and three Dakar Rally wins with the Touareg between 2009-11. The company's fully-electric ID.R prototype, launched in 2018, continues to hold the record for the Goodwood and Pikes Peak hill climbs.
