WRC teams have mixed feelings over the request for a waiver from the homologation regulations to allow Volkswagen to homologate their 2017 World Rally Car design, without the requisite registration by their team for the championship itself.
Marcus Gronholm tests teh 2017 VW late last year.FIA policy is that this form of waiver is not automatic and will only be granted if all the registered manufacturer teams agree. Reactions here were more mixed.
Citroen: “We are favourable to the participation of additional cars in WRC championship, but it is important that all manufacturers have to respect some constraints and be fair for all the teams. Thus the FIA has to stand to guarantee this situation.”
At M-Sport, the team would not issue an opinion and team chief, Malcolm Wilson, was not available for comment.
On behalf of Hyundai, Michel Nandan has expressed that the team’s position is against the waiver.
“Manufacturers have to commit to the entire Championship in order to compete and if they, VW, enters only in a few events the driver will take away points from the others, even if they don’t score points for Manufacturers’. Last year we had a similar situation with Citroen, and VW was against it and now they are asking the same.”
Over at Gazoo Racing, however, Tommi Makinen has told the FIA and other teams that they themselves are in favour of VW getting their car homologated.
- Martin Holmes