Volkswagen Motorsport has confirmed a shift in its focus, from single-seater and production-based racing to directing its efforts onto its TCR and R5 rally programmes in the future.

Volkswagen first got involved in TCR mid-way through 2015 when it entered the Golf GTi into selected races in the TCR International Series.

Since then the German marque has been one of the dominant forces in TCR, with Stefano Comini lifting the 2016 TCR International Series title and Jean-Karl Vernay repeating the feat in 2017.

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VW has long been involved in single-seater racing in F3 as an engine supplier, but the latest news will see that commitment cease at the end of the 2018 season.

“In the future, we will place even greater emphasis on Volkswagen products,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Sven Smeets. “The Golf GTI TCR is already an important ambassador for the brand in many racing series around the world, and we are pursuing the same goal with the new Polo GTI R5.

“Both cars are not only attractive propositions for professional customer teams, but also represent top-class cars for talented youngsters. This way, we are also able to continue our long-term philosophy of offering youth opportunities.

“The many national, regional and international series, in which the Golf GTI TCR and Polo GTI R5 are in action, allow the young drivers to develop step by step at the wheel of a Volkswagen.

“In Formula 3, Volkswagen can look back on a remarkable record. For more than three decades, Volkswagen teams and drivers have enjoyed great success against teams from other manufacturers – we are sincerely grateful to them for this.

“We will continue to provide our customers with consistent support, in order to bring the 2018 season to a successful close in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and at the FIA Formula 3 World Cup in Macau.”

The Volkswagen Group has three brands directly involved in TCR, with SEAT and Audi also joining their sister marque with TCR cars.