VW says Porsche or Audi could enter F1
Motorsport director admits German maker is studying F1 closelyVolkswagen motorsport director Kris Nissen has confirmed recent speculation that the German car maker is seriously considering entering Formula One -- but he said the company could go racing under the Audi or Porsche brands.
Speaking at the Nurburgring 24 Hour, Nissen, himself a former race driver, told the Carsales Network the Volkswagen Group is closely following the development of the new Formula One rules, with a view to entering the series once the new regulations are in place.
"First we need from the FIA exactly the new regulations from 2013 and 2014. And we also need F1 in total to recover," Nissen said. "F1 has been in crisis with manufacturers pulling out, it's very expensive. And there has been a lot of politics.
"Personally I think it is a shame. F1 is number one in motorsport, F1 is very attractive for everybody and I personally believe that every big, successful manufacturer should do a good motorsport program.
"They should always consider if F1 is possible because this is where you have the biggest and the highest awareness worldwide. But it's also of course the most expensive, and also the place if you are not successful you also can create a bad image. You take a risk being there."
Nissen said executives from Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche have had a number of meetings with the FIA.
"We have been involved in quite a lot of meetings around the new engine regulations with the FIA and other organisations," he said. "When I say we, I mean the Volkswagen Group; Audi and Volkswagen and even Porsche have been involved."
When asked which brand the Volkswagen Group would race under, he said: "It's a good question to ask, but I am not the right person to ask that. I am in charge of motorsport at Volkswagen and I'm not in charge of the strategy of the group and who is doing what.
"I think in the group, for sure it could be Audi, it could be Porsche. It could also be Volkswagen. It may not suit so well Seat or Skoda or Bentley."
Both Audi and Porsche can point to a motor sport heritage -- and Audi has even competed in Grands Prix in the past (pictured), but that was a long time ago.
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