VOLKSWAGEN OU ITS W OR L DR X
Champions’ future in doubt as german firm withdraws its backing from contest
Petter Solberg’s World Rallycross Championship-winning PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team won’t defend its titles in 2019 as he and VW have decided not to take part in the category.
VW joins Audi and Peugeot in quitting the series, while the privatelyrun Olsbergsmse team, which ran Ford Fiestas in the class, will also be on the sidelines in 2019.
PSRX had planned to continue in the series next year, but in a statement issued at the end of last week, it cited a lack of competition -following the departure of the other works or works-assisted teams from World RX.
The announcement means that, as it stands, there will be no manufacturerbacked teams in World RX in 2019, for the first time since the championship gained FIA World status (when Peugeot backed Kenneth Hansen’s team and Olsbergsmse received support from Ford) in 2014. PSRX won both drivers’ and teams’ titles for the last two years, running a brace of Wrc-derived Volkswagen Motorsport-prepared Polos. “We can all see the potential here, but it’s just not sensible to continue for PSRX Volkswagen Sweden in 2019,” said double WRX champion Solberg.
The top non-works driver in the 2018 drivers’ championship was GRX driver Niclas Gronholm in seventh, 195 points behind champion Johan Kristoffersson.
Solberg said: “The important thing to understand here is that this is a pause – a pause and not an end. I still believe in World RX. I still believe this championship can deliver the most sustainable, relevant, entertaining and competitive racing anywhere in the world.”
The Norwegian has stated that he will compete in a Volkswagen in 2019, but has given no further information.
While Solberg’s team has competed in every World RX event since the series began, Volkswagen Motorsport’s involvement since 2017 has been with an eye on the future, and the electrification of World RX. However, that switch has been postponed until 2021. The marque says it’s still interested in the electric switch.
“We certainly didn’t take the decision lightly, but we came to a mutual agreement not to continue in WRX in 2019 as there is huge uncertainty regarding the entries and the competition for next season,” said Volkswagen motorsport director Sven Smeets. “Naturally, Volkswagen Motorsport will keep a close eye on any developments towards the electrification of the sport of rallycross.”
World Rallycross promotor IMG says it is in discussion with several privateer teams about entries for 2019. “It’s disappointing that Petter and Volkswagen are pausing their involvement,” said World RX managing director Paul Bellamy. “But while one door closes another door opens. Volkswagen has been incredibly dominant over the last two years and it does make it a very open championship now as we go into 2019. Talking to a number of private teams, they see an opportunity now to be a world champion. There’s probably five or six of those looking at that as teams. Car count, I think it could be anywhere between 14 to 19 with the conversations I’m currently having.”