Volkswagen announces its withdrawal from the World Rally Championship at the end of 2016

You really have to be out of touch to believe that Volkswagen, the rally king with four world championship titles, is about to bow out. Guys, after dominating the rally scene like a big cat on a fluffy cushion, here comes the manufacturer announcing its withdrawal from the World Rally Championship. You can just picture the scene: a Friday night, around a pint, a VW executive stands up and says, "Hey, why not pack everything up and go camping?" Response: "Because we have a Polo to evolve, you clown!"

A reign interrupted in a grotesque manner

The news tastes as bitter as a glass of lukewarm beer. Indeed, the German manufacturer, adorned with its impressive track record, has decided to announce that its special operation, cleverly dubbed "realignment around new technologies," would lead it to say goodbye to motorsport and its loyal drivers. The party with Sébastien Ogier and his crew is over. The dream of conquering the tracks again after a fifth consecutive title is gone. Drivers left jobless are a bit like a concert without music; it makes noise but goes nowhere!

The broken pots of "dieselgate"

A few years ago, VW was the hero of the rally world, all lights blazing. But after the disaster of "dieselgate," where they took to their heels by cheating on engines to pass anti-pollution standards, their reputation took a serious hit, like a car skidding in a too-sharp turn. Instead of building flashy models like their Polo-R from 2017, they find themselves announcing a withdrawal, leaving the machinery in "fire drill" mode. Folks, consumers won’t buy rigged engines, even if you sell them like candy.

A championship in mutation

VW's departure is not just a gunshot in the competition; it's an earthquake. Gone are the epic battles on the dirt with Ogier, as now only Citroën, Toyota, and Hyundai remain to entertain competition fans. It's like the Champions League in football went from 32 teams to 3; it remains interesting, but doesn't hold weight.

As Audi, another flagship brand of the VAG group, also recently pulled its chips from endurance, one can't help but wonder: who will want to sit at the winners' table when the large VW banker, well settled in, has chosen to end the ball? The landscape of the rally world has become a hesitant waltz.

The decline of an empire…

With a group riddled with scandals and disasters in succession, the rise of engines and construction ambitions seems now a distant memory. VW's exit makes one ponder: can you remove a cornerstone without shaking the whole chessboard? About as likely as London closing its subway while hoping pedestrians continue to ride their bikes — unlikely, right?

So, this message to the management of Volkswagen: if they truly believe that a withdrawal from rallying will help restore their image, we pray they find more inspiring electric models. Perhaps they think that the silence of engines will calm the critics. Spoiler: it won't work like a Verdun, my friends!

Source: www.europe1.fr

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