Editing Volkswagen (section)

==Motorsport==
{{main|Volkswagen Motorsport}}

===Formula racing===

* In 1963, [[Formula Vee]] circuit racing, with cars built from easily available [[Volkswagen Beetle#Power|Beetle]] parts, started in the United States. It quickly spread to Europe and other parts of the world. It proved very popular as a low-cost route into [[formula racing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.formulaveesa.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=62 |title=South African Formula Vee History |publisher=Formulaveesa.org.za |date=17 May 2009 |access-date=27 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051222041929/http://www.geeky.net/geeky.css |archive-date= 22 December 2005 }}</ref>
* In 1971, Volkswagen of America started the more powerful [[Formula Super Vee]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Lola Super Vee |last1 = Walton |first1 = Jeremy |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/january-1977/50/lola-supervee |website=MotorSport Magazine |publisher=MotorSport Archive |access-date=24 January 2019 |date = January 1977| location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416153136/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/january-1977/50/lola-supervee |archive-date=16 April 2015 |quote=SuperVee, which amounted to building a much more recognisable racing car, without the inclusion of so many standard VW parts, had its first Championship year in 1971, both America and Europe organising lucrative series with VW backing.}}</ref> which became famous for housing new talent.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}} In the 11 years it ran, until 1982, it produced a stable of world-famous [[Formula One]] drivers—names like [[Niki Lauda]], [[Jochen Mass]], [[Nelson Piquet]], [[Jochen Rindt]] and [[Keke Rosberg]]. Volkswagen also notched up several victories, and the championship in [[Formula Three]].
* In July 2011 [[Wolfgang Dürheimer]] told German magazine ''[[Auto, Motor und Sport]]'' that "if [the VW group] is at the forefront of the auto industry, I can imagine us competing in Formula 1 in 2018. We have enough brands to pull it off."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Brett |title=Volkswagen in Formula 1 by 2018? |url=https://www.drive.com.au/news/volkswagen-in-formula-1-by-2018/ |website=Drive |access-date=20 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620230833/https://www.drive.com.au/news/volkswagen-in-formula-1-by-2018/ |archive-date=20 June 2022 |location=Australia |date=1 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gitlin |first1=Jonathan M. |title=Porsche and Audi are both going to enter Formula 1 in 2026 |url=https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/05/volkswagen-group-ceo-confirms-porsche-and-audi-are-going-to-f1/ |website=Ars Technica |publisher=Advance Publications |access-date=20 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502170931/https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/05/volkswagen-group-ceo-confirms-porsche-and-audi-are-going-to-f1/ |archive-date=2 May 2022 |date=2 May 2022 |quote="VW Group to F1" rumors have circulated for years, but now it's true.}}</ref> They did not compete in F1 in 2018.
* In August 2022, Volkswagen Audi Group confirmed entry into Formula 1 due to start in the 2026 season.  Initially partnered with Sauber F1 team but have now decided to take full control of the Sauber team at will use the Audi name.

===World Rally Championship===
* In 1981, now based in [[Hanover]], VW took a new direction into rallying with the launch of the first-generation Golf, Sweden's [[Per Eklund]], Frenchman [[Jean-Luc Thérier]], and the Finn [[Pentti Airikkala]]. The final chapters in Volkswagen Racing UK's rallying story were the 'one-make' [[Castrol]] Polo Challenge, and the Polo GTI 'Super 1600' in 2001.
* Volkswagen Motorsport won the [[World Rally Championship]] with [[Sébastien Ogier]] and co-driver [[Julien Ingrassia]] four consecutive tears (2013 to 2016) in the [[Volkswagen Polo R WRC]].

===Dakar Rally===
* In 1980, Volkswagen competed with the Audi-developed [[Volkswagen Iltis|Iltis]], placing 1st, 2nd, 4th and 9th overall.
* In 2003, the Hanover-based team entered with a 2WD buggy named Tarek, finishing 6th overall and 1st in the 2WD and Diesel class. 
* In 2005, an updated Race-Touareg with slightly more power entered, with driver [[Bruno Saby]] finishing 3rd overall and 1st in the Diesel class. 
* In 2006, the revised Race-Touareg entered, with driver [[Giniel de Villiers]] finishing 2nd overall and 1st in the Diesel class. 
* Volkswagen won the [[2009 Dakar Rally|2009]], [[2010 Dakar Rally|2010]] and [[2011 Dakar Rally]], held in South America.

===Volkswagen motorsport worldwide===
* Europe: In 1998, the company founded the ADAC Volkswagen Lupo Cup (renamed Polo Cup in 2003 and [[Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup]] from 2010 to 2014), and started the ADAC [[Volkswagen New Beetle|New Beetle]] Cup in 2000. In 2004, [[Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles]] entered the [[European Truck Racing]] series with the Volkswagen Titan truck&nbsp;– it became a back-to-back champion for the 2004 and 2005 series.
* United States: In 1976, Volkswagen entered the under-2000-cc [[Trans-Am Series]] with the Scirocco, and they won their class outright.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/europlus/77sciroccotransam.jpg |title=Scirocco Trans Am Article/Advert |access-date=27 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304031436/http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/europlus/77sciroccotransam.jpg |archive-date=4 March 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Beginning in 2008, Volkswagen introduced the Jetta TDI Cup. The Jetta TDI Cup is an SCCA-sanctioned race series that features 25 drivers between the ages of 16 and 26 driving slightly modified 2009 Jetta TDIs. The series features 10 events at 8 different road courses across North America. There is $50,000 prize money at stake over the course of the series in addition to the $100,000 prize awarded to the champion of the series at the conclusion of the last race.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vw.com/vwbuzz/browse/en/us/detail/Twenty_two_drivers_qualify_for_2010_Volkswagen_Jetta_TDI_Cup_final_driver_selection_event/339 |title=Twenty two drivers qualify for 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup final driver selection event |website=VW.com |access-date=22 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826224542/http://www.vw.com/vwbuzz/browse/en/us/detail/Twenty_two_drivers_qualify_for_2010_Volkswagen_Jetta_TDI_Cup_final_driver_selection_event/339 |archive-date=26 August 2010 }}</ref>
* Argentina: Many Volkswagen models have competed in [[TC 2000]], including the 1980 to 1983 champion [[Hillman Avenger#Argentina|Volkswagen 1500]] and the 1994 champion [[Volkswagen Gol]].
* In 1999 and 2000, VW won the F2 Australian Rally Championship with the Golf GTI.
* Finland: In 2002, VW won the [[Finnish Rally Championship]] in a7/(F2) with a Golf Mk4 KitCar, with [[Mikko Hirvonen]]. In 1999 and 2000, VW won the Finnish Rally Championship in a7/(F2) with a Golf Mk3 KitCar. In 2000, 2001 and 2002, VW won the Finnish Racing Championship in Sport 2000 with a Golf Mk4.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sport 2000 Tour 2000 standings |url=https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/finnish-touring-car-championship/2000/ |website=Driver Database |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sport 2000 Tour 2001 standings |url=https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/finnish-touring-car-championship/2001/ |website=Driver Database |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sport 2000 Tour 2002 standings |url=https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/finnish-touring-car-championship/2002/ |website=Driver Database |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>
* Austria: From 1967 until 1974, the Austrian sole distributor [[Porsche Salzburg]] entered the [[VW Beetle]] (1500, 1302S and 1303S) in Europe-wide rallies. Victories were achieved in 1972 and 1973 in the overall Austrian championship, on Elba, in the Acropolis rally (first in class). Top drivers were [[Tony Fall]] (GB), [[Achim Warmbold]] (D), Günter Janger (A), [[Harry Källström]] (S).