VW to assess electric future for World RX
Volkswagen could have a presence in the World Rallycross Championship in 2020, if the sport’s electric switch for 2021 gets the green light at the end of March.
Petter Solberg’s Volkswagen-backed PSRX team withdrew from the 2019 World RX season due to a lack of competition last month, but Volkswagen Motorsport is continuing to evaluate World RX’S proposed electric transition.
Volkswagen Motorsport director Sven Smeets told MN: “We have been supporters of this [EWRX] idea from the beginning and, as stated before, we are continuing to be interested. But it’s not only up to us – we need more manufacturers which want to bring electric rallycross forward and to make a decision ourselves possible.”
Asked if Volkswagen could run in World RX next year, if the electric switch gets commitment for the March 29 deadline, Smeets said: “Of course we would seriously think about that but we will look at that when needed.”
Despite a lack of manufacturerbacked teams for the 2019 World RX season, Smeets believes privateer entries provide close competition. “Of course with the exit of Ford at the end of 2017 and the absence of Audi, Peugeot and PSRX Volkswagen in 2019, the situation of the championship has changed dramatically,” he said. “But to be honest, with a strong field of privateers on a par, World RX still can deliver great sport.”
VW will continue to develop the electric drivetrain used in its Pikes Peak record-breaking I.D. R that could be used in an electric rallycross Supercar.