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VW says wildcard winners like Meeke or Loeb 'devalue' WRC

Volkswagen team principal Jost Capito has warned results like Kris Meeke's Rally of Portugal win could devalue the World Rally Championship

Capito said the WRC was in danger of confusing the general public if drivers not contesting the whole series started winning regularly - with Meeke benefitting from a favourable road position over the first two days in Portugal to establish a lead over VW's world champion Sebastien Ogier.

Capito told Autosport: "If somebody of the calibre of Kris Meeke or Sebastien Loeb comes for three rallies, it's clear they win and this devalues the whole championship, because the public doesn't know why the guy who leads the championship [Ogier] has no chance to win.

"They think: 'Ah, he's not the real world champion because the other guy wins; this guy who has come three times, he should be the world champion'."

Capito will hope to kill two birds with one stone at Tuesday's WRC Commission meeting when he tables a suggestion that drivers not contesting the full series run at the front of the field.

He added: "Everybody arrives here [Portugal] and we know Kris will win, if he doesn't do a mistake there is no chance for anybody else.

"This is the third rally in a row where Seb knows he cannot win.

"And now he goes to Sardinia, knowing he can't win no matter how well he drives. This is not the right thing.

"If the guys come in for one-by-one rallies, they have to open the road [running first].

"This is a better and fairer solution: let the guys who fight for the championship have the chance to win over those who come here and there."

Citroen team principal Yves Matton admitted he was baffled by Capito's comments.

"I don't follow them this weekend," he told Autosport. "Where is the problem?

"Kris is not fighting against a guy in the championship.

"If Sebastien is second [to Meeke in a rally] he is still taking more points than anybody else in the championship.

"Look to the points in the championship, they don't have to complain."

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