Volkswagen’s impending WRC bid is a bit like Lady Gaga’s male genitalia. It’s been rumored for so long, confirmation would surely be an anti-climax. The Gaga-as-hermaphrodite talk’s been quelled, but this week, pipeline chatter on VW is getting a boost. The UK’s Autosport magazine reports rally champ Carlos Sainz may make an appearance at Rally Deutschland, driving a zero-numbered Scirocco ahead of the competing field.
The Spanish driver, who’s been busy winning Dakar in Volkswagen’s race Touareg, hasn’t joined the WRC field since two outings with the factory Citroen team in 2005. (He came in third at the rally in 2004.) Sainz’s appearance has yet to be confirmed, but the sight of a Scirocco in full lock along a rally stage could do what the once ominous bulge between Gaga’s gams did — spark new interest in the long-suffering story. That’s in no small measure helped by another Autosport report that there may be a new push within VW toward entering the FIA’s main road-rally series in 2012. The story emerged in 2007 as VW was reportedly considering leaving Dakar. In the years following, Sainz had been mentioned as a possible team principal of the VW Motorsport WRC team, with current Citroen factory driver Dani Sordo also linked to a drive with the team. Thus, the significance of Sainz’s appearance will in no small measure be scrutinized. Stay tuned. [via Autosport]
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