Volkswagen's WRC domination would have continued, says Capito
Volkswagen's domination of the World Rally Championship would have continued unabated this season had it not quit the series, former boss Jost Capito and driver Andreas Mikkelsen believe
The German manufacturer dominated the WRC between 2013 and '16, winning both titles each year with Sebastien Ogier and 43 of a possible 52 rallies.
While Volkswagen's Motorsport director, Capito laid the foundations for the ultimately-unused 2017 Polo R WRC built to the new technical platform.
Capito also implemented what was felt a brave - and decidedly unpopular with the drivers - plan to focus last year's testing budget on the new car, which he believes would be paying off now.
"Volkswagen would have had a big advantage at the start of this season; Volkswagen started working earlier than anybody else on the '17 regulations," Capito told Autosport.
"For the last year we hardly ever tested the 2016 car, it was always the new one.
"The guys went to the rally with no testing in the '16 and development on that one had stopped at the end of the 2015.
"From then on, we were flat out working on 2017."
Capito, who left Volkswagen in 2016 for a spell with the McLaren Formula 1 team, is adamant it had everything in place.
"When you see the guys who left Volkswagen driving other cars and complaining about these vehicles - and you know they did all the tests for the '17 Polo - then you know that Volkswagen would have had the better package," he said.
"It's obvious from the time Volkswagen spent on the car.
"As a manufacturer you have to do the very best you can.
"We were paid to win, but having said that, I think it would have been a lot closer this year than it had been in the recent seasons - that's what happens when you have major technical regulation change.
"It is, though, extremely frustrating to have put our heart into the project and to be in such a good position and then not to be able to harvest the seeds we had sown.
"Everybody was looking forward to seeing how the car would run."
Team-mates Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala found 2017 rides with M-Sport and Toyota respectively, but Mikkelsen started the new season in WRC2.
Having made three second-class starts with Skoda, Mikkelsen will compete in one of this year's new WRC cars for the first time with Citroen on Rally Italy in June.
He agreed with his former boss Capito's assessment.
"The '17 Polo was a very, very impressive car," Mikkelsen said.
"And look at the world championship standings at the moment: Ogier is leading and Latvala is there and I think we would have been as well.
"So, yeah, I can see what Jost is saying - it's just a shame the dream didn't become the reality."
Citroen doesn't want Andreas Mikkelsen for 'one shot' in WRC
Two-time WRC champion Sainz wants to drive car to help Citroen
The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends
The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends
Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies
Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies
What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic
What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic
Starting numbers for the 2023 Isle of Man TT Superbike races revealed
Starting numbers for the 2023 Isle of Man TT Superbike races revealed Starting numbers for the 2023 Isle of Man TT Superbike races revealed
Harvick: NASCAR drivers’ code is “not what it used to be”
Harvick: NASCAR drivers’ code is “not what it used to be” Harvick: NASCAR drivers’ code is “not what it used to be”
KTM MotoGP bike ‘less physical’ than Ducati was, says Miller
KTM MotoGP bike ‘less physical’ than Ducati was, says Miller KTM MotoGP bike ‘less physical’ than Ducati was, says Miller
How Fallows has fostered an "Aston Martin way" to boost F1 team
How Fallows has fostered an "Aston Martin way" to boost F1 team How Fallows has fostered an "Aston Martin way" to boost F1 team
The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos
The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos
How the WRC title fight ignited in Sweden's winter wonderland
How the WRC title fight ignited in Sweden's winter wonderland How the WRC title fight ignited in Sweden's winter wonderland
Why Monte Carlo success could spark another past master’s WRC revival
Why Monte Carlo success could spark another past master’s WRC revival Why Monte Carlo success could spark another past master’s WRC revival
How fired-up Ogier became the WRC's ultimate Monte master
How fired-up Ogier became the WRC's ultimate Monte master How fired-up Ogier became the WRC's ultimate Monte master
How Lancia pulled off its famous Monte Carlo giantkilling
How Lancia pulled off its famous Monte Carlo giantkilling How Lancia pulled off its famous Monte Carlo giantkilling
Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion
Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion
The contenders seeking to take Rovanpera's WRC crown
The contenders seeking to take Rovanpera's WRC crown The contenders seeking to take Rovanpera's WRC crown
Why Rovanpera is anticipating a fight to defend his WRC title
Why Rovanpera is anticipating a fight to defend his WRC title Why Rovanpera is anticipating a fight to defend his WRC title
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.