Four-time winners of the constructors’ crown Volkswagen are to quit the World Rally Championship at the end of the year in a big blow to the sport, a report said on Tuesday.
The decision also throws the immediate future of VW’s four-time world champion Sebastien Ogier up in the air.
The British magazine Autosport said on its website that Volkswagen would quit following the season-ender in Australia, having made the decision at a board meeting at its Wolfsburg headquarters.
The reasons for the pull-out were unclear and Volkswagen did not immediately comment on the report, as the auto behemoth labours under the consequences of its “Dieselgate” pollution scandal.
Sister firm Audi separately said last week that is was quitting the World Endurance Championship — and with it the Le Mans 24-Hour Race — to concentrate on Formula E. – Agence France-Presse
