We cannot enter INRC and beat our customers, says Volkswagen's Gobmeier

While the competitors in India are there, there is very little interest among manufacturers to enter the sports as a factory team. That point was made amply clear by Volkswagen Group Motorsport Director Bernhard Gobmeier.

Gobmeier said that unless there was a manufacturer entry in the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC), Volkswagen would not enter as a factory team.

“I don’t think we will enter till the rally championship is a customer or privateer sport,” he told Motorsport.com.

“We are not going to go out there and beat our own customers. Theoretically, it could be possible but it should not be done.

“The maximum that we can do is to support some rally teams so that they are successful in competing against other teams.

“We would never compete against privateers who are spending their last bit of money to compete. That is not what it is supposed to be. But we will support a Volkswagen customer to make him better.

“It would be a different story if there are R5 cars and all other manufacturers enter as manufacturers,” he added.

However, on a different note, Gobmeier feels that there is potential for motorsport in India.

“There is potential but the media should also help to bring out the message that motorsport is a show and it can be entertaining and fun,” he said.

“On the track, there are vehicles that you can buy street versions of. These vehicles are not just transportation.

“Obviously, in India, motorsport is something really very small and it needs to grow. I think we need to see people wanting to compete with these cars and not just drive them on the roads.

“This thinking in India has to change,” he added.

Gobmeier felt that the Indian motorsport scene has good series like the MRF F1600 and Ameo Cup, but there have to be upgrades in technology.

“The MRF F1600 series looks nice. But the touring car championship need to improve. However, I see that for the beginners, it is a reasonable way to start and move up,” he felt.