VW Motorsport in talks with...NASCAR?

It has come to my attention that the good 'ole boys have been in talks with the one and only Hans-Joachim Stuck, who is apparently the head of VW Motorsport. That fact alone (that Hans is the head of VW Motorsport) is news to me, but the fact that they are in talks with NASCAR of all things and people, is doubly so.



First let me say that I'm absolutely ecstatic to have, the one, the only, Hans-Joachim Stuck at the helm of VW Motorsport. He is quite literally my favorite race driver of all time (along with the incomparable Allan McNish ) and it pleases me to have someone as accomplished and respected in that position.

HOWEVER. What the hell are they thinking? NASCAR? In the article, it states that VW is more inclined to move to a series that highlights technology over anything else...presumably to show the benefits of direct-injection gas and diesel engines. While I know that the Sprint Cup has probably some of the most valuable exposure in dollars spent versus market exposure, but the millions upon millions that VW would spend there to back-date themselves to old-school V8 race cars which are fast but far from technologically advanced or fuel efficient makes no sense.



What does make sense is to perhaps consider a series that DOES feature technology over equality of architecture. That would naturally be the American Le Mans Series. Let's see... Diesel allowed? Check. Alternative fuels? Check. Multiple classes, tight racing, world-wide respect and fan base? Check. Consider the fact that the small-ish ROC France team ran a VW turbo 4-cylinder back in the LMP 675 class (aka P2, etc) with good results, winning their class more than once in the world's most prestigious and well-known 24 hour event. Why not do something similar? Maybe they can leave the TDI technology to be run by Audi if they so choose, but the massive number of vehicles powered by the ubiquitous 2.0t FSI / TSi engine could certainly make a race motor based on that block fairly easy to work up, toss it into a capable Lola chassis for running in the P2 class, develop, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.



I know I'm in no position to make calls on worldwide or even country wide marketing plans involving more money than I shall ever make in my life, but I feel like I do know the USA market. No-one who watches NASCAR is suddenly going to buy a Passat because there is a completely unrelated silhouette car raced in the Daytona 500. On the other hand I feel like people who may be more of an Acura or Mazda person might be swayed by seeing a VW Prototype out on the track. Lets all hope when the time comes, Stuck, and the rest of the VW Motorsport get their heads straight and make the right decision.

_WRS