WRC: Volkswagen could drop program

Volkswagen is rumored to be on the verge of pulling its World Rally Championship program in similar fashion to sister-marque Audi's World Endurance Championship withdrawal last week.

While the German manufacturer celebrated a fourth successive WRC title in Wales on Sunday, its future will be discussed at a group board meeting in Wolfsburg today.

Audi's 18-year topline prototype effort was dropped last week, with VW insisting it was switching its focus to Formula E, while also acknowledging the decision had to be understood "in the context of the current burdens of the brand" following the diesel emissions scandal.

Volkswagen team principal Sven Smeets has declined to comment on speculation surrounding the team's future in the WRC.

Smeets told Autosport: "The news of Audi, of course I haven't been involved. I also got the news like everybody else – I don't know what is happening in Audi. But then the rumors [about Volkswagen] started straight away in Germany.

"This is one, not really motorsport person, who asked the question, but put in his story that Wolfsburg is in question. I don't want to talk about these rumors or this speculation."

There is talk Volkswagen could be given another single-season extension to its program, similar to the one it is understood to have received 12 months ago in the wake of the emissions scandal.

Originally on Autosport.com