Earlier this week, we reported there was a chance Volkswagen would pull out of rally racing. This morning, Volkswagen confirmed that rumor.

The #WRC commitment is coming to an end after 4 successful years. From 2017, #Volkswagen will focus on new technologies and customer sport.
? VolkswagenMotorsport (@VolkswagenRally) November 2, 2016

After four incredibly successful years for the Polo WRC car and driver Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen is done.
In a release, the automaker said this is part of a plan to “realign” its motorsports efforts. According to Frank Welsch, a member of the board of management responsible for technical development, the automaker needs to focus on electric vehicles:
“The Volkswagen brand is facing enormous challenges. With the upcoming expansion in electrification of our vehicle range we must focus all our efforts on important future technologies. We far exceeded our sporting goals in the WRC, now we are realigning Volkswagen Motorsport and moving the vehicle technology of the future more starkly into focus.” No doubt, the “enormous challenges” Welsch references are related to the incredible cost of settling the diesel-emissions scandal. The total cost there could reach $20 billion, forcing Volkswagen Group to make significant spending cuts. Just last week, Audi announced it would pull out of endurance racing, where its long-dominant TDI-powered racers are now a PR liability.

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