Sven Smeets Takes Over from Capito as VW Motorsport Director

As of September 1, 2016, Sven Smeets will take over as director of Volkswagen Motorsport. He replaces the departing Jost Capito.

Capito, who led Volkswagen Motorsport through its recent dominance of WRC, is leaving to lead Mclaren’s struggling Formula 1 team.

Smeets has been with Volkswagen Motorsport since 2012, when he joined as WRC Team Manager. It’s been a busy year for the Belgian, who became the Sporting Director earlier in 2016.

Now, as director, Smeets will be in charge of all the brand’s motorsport activities, including rally, rallycross, touring car racing, and more.

“We are delighted to be able to introduce a man with a vast wealth of management experience at the top of Volkswagen Motorsport, in the form of Sven Smeets,” says Dr Frank Welsch, Volkswagen brand board member. “We are confident that we will be able to continue our success story in the World Rally Championship and the strategic development of our motorsport projects with Sven and the rest of the management team at the helm.

Smeets’s title change is only one of many announced today. Volkswagen Motorsport’s Managing Director, Kristen Zimmerman, is moving to Volkswagen AG and her role is being taken over by Lukasz Urban. Francois-Xavier Demaison—Technical Director—and Dr Donatus Wichelhaus—Director of Engine Development—meanwhile, are moving up into the management board of Volkswagen Motorsport.

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