WRC: VW to make 'early' decision on entry

[Plex]

Volkswagen motorsport director Kris Nissen says any decision by the German manufacturer to contest the World Rally Championship, will be made soon to avoid allowing other manufacturers to steal the march under the new rules.

A decision on whether VW will come to the WRC is anticipated later this year, with Nissen saying the latest the announcement would be made is after next year's Dakar in January.

The German manufacturer is still completing its evaluation of the benefit of the sport. Nissen was full of praise for the new WRC regulations, however.

He said: "They [the new rules] are very good and the people in the sport have done a fantastic job. Looking into being able to be competitive and part of the game, we need to make a decision as soon as possible because we need two years to be there and we don't want to give the other [manufacturers] too much possibility to learn too much about the new car."

Nissen added that rule stability did mean coming to the sport later would still be possible.

"Even if we take the decision later it still would be the right thing to do, but it would be a little bit more difficult to be the top team and fighting for the win," he added.

Autosport