Volkswagen Motorsport to put increased focus on customer programmes

Volkswagen Motorsport has announced a switch in focus to production car competition after electing to call time on its spell in Formula 3.

After more than a decade of success in single-seaters since returning to the scene in 2007, Volkswagen will bow out of F3 at the end of 2018 and will put greater emphasis onto production-based cars like the Golf GTI TCR, which has already proven to be a success on track.

Former WTCC winner Rob Huff and multiple race winner Mehdi Bennani are both set to race the latest incarnation of the Golf in the new World Touring Car Cup this season.

Volkwagen’s new Polo GTI R5 is also set to appear in competition for the first time later this year.

“In the future, we will place even greater emphasis on Volkswagen products,” VW Motorsport director Sven Smeets said. “The Golf GTI TCR is already an important ambassador for the brand in many racing series around the world, and we are pursuing the same goal with the new Polo GTI R5.

“Both cars are not only attractive propositions for professional customer teams, but also represent top-class cars for talented youngsters. This way, we are also able to continue our long-term philosophy of offering youth opportunities. The many national, regional and international series, in which the Golf GTI TCR and Polo GTI R5 are in action, allow the young drivers to develop step by step at the wheel of a Volkswagen.”