Volkswagen has shelved plans to offer its 2017-specification Polo to private teams after the FIA blocked its attempts to have the car homologated for the 2017 WRC season.
Volkswagen claimed four successive WRC titles with Sébastien Ogier between 2013 and 2016 but withdrew from the sport at the end of last year.
The company had hoped to offer its Polo, which had been developed to the new regulations throughout the course of last year, to customer teams, but it needed to find a way to complete the FIA's homologation process.
Despite lenghty talks with the FIA, Volkswagen has not been able to undertake the necessary procedures, meaning the Polo will not appear this season.
“Following customer enquiries, Volkswagen Motorsport asked the FIA for a waiver of the homologation of the 2017 Volkswagen Polo World Rally Car, with the purpose being to rent it out to private drivers and teams," said Volkswagen motorsport director Sven Smeets.
"It now turns out that this is not possible under the current WRC regulations.
“We fully accept the result, but at the same time regret it in the interests of our customers.
“We would like to thank the FIA for the very constructive discussions.”
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