Volkswagen Motorsport boss Jost Capito has brushed off speculation linking Sebastien Ogier with other manufacturer teams in 2015, insisting that rumours about next year’s driver line-ups were a necessary part of the WRC.
Capito has already confirmed that Volkswagen will field three Polos next season, with two in the main Volkswagen Motorsport squad and a third running under the Motorsport II banner, but he is yet to announce who will drive them.
Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen are expected to stay put for 2015, but stories linking defending champion Ogier with rivals Citroen and Hyundai have been circulating since August’s Rallye Deutschland.
Capito however told wrc.com that he was in no hurry to reveal his line-up, or to put an end to the rumours.
“If we announce everything it would be boring,” he said. “We enjoy that things are going around, it gives people something to write about!
“We need stories about the WRC, and that includes stories about drivers being linked to other teams – so we can’t kill these. There is room for speculation and this is good. If we can do this and stay relaxed it’s fine.”
“We’ll announce [our drivers] when it is the right time to do so. We’ll announce everything in one go. I think it will be pretty soon.”
Meanwhile, drivers too are getting involved in the speculation, with Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville saying he would welcome Ogier if he took the seat in the second i20 next year.
“In a team-mate I’d like somebody who was strong and could help the team, like I do, to develop as quickly as possible. I would like to get someone for the full season - a challenger so we could push each other, and the car, to the limit.
“Ogier has still not signed with Volkswagen, so he is free. It would be a strange choice, but why not? I wouldn’t say no,” he added.