WRC: Jost Capito to Leave Volkswagen Motorsport in 2016

The man responsible for Volkswagen Motorsport’s complete domination of the World Rally Championship and three consecutive WRC titles has decided to leave the organization for a “new professional challenge” during the 2016 season. With nearly 30 years of motorsport experience, Capito became Volkswagen’s Motorsport Director in May of 2012 after spending 11 years at Ford. Shortly after this morning’s announcement, McLaren Racing named Capito as Chief Executive Officer, marking his return to Formula 1 after a 15 year absence.

Check out the full press release below.

Board Member for Development Welsch thanks outgoing Motorsport Director for successful work

Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito (57) is to leave the company by mutual agreement during the course of this year to take on a new professional challenge. Capito has been responsible for the Volkswagen brand’s engagement in motorsport since mid-2012 and led the works team to three FIA World Rally Championship titles in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

“We would like to thank Jost Capito for his exceptionally dedicated and successful work for Volkswagen in motorsport. The three World Rally Championship titles with the Polo R WRC represent the greatest sporting achievements in the history of the Volkswagen brand and underscore the technical competence of our company. With his transparent and far-sighted leadership, Jost Capito has been instrumental in this success”, said Frank Welsch, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand with responsibility for ‘Development’.

Jost Capito will continue to perform the duties of Motorsport Director until such time as his successor at Volkswagen Motorsport GmbH has been appointed. The engineering graduate began working for the Volkswagen Group in 1989, joining Porsche’s racing department. Following an executive post with the Sauber Formula 1 team (from 1996), Capito moved to Ford in 2001, where among other things he held responsibility for motorsport activities and the performance vehicle business. Capito took over as Motorsport Director at Volkswagen in May 2012.

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