Chevrolet and Volkswagen happy with STCC reunification

Chevrolet Motorsport Sweden Team Principal Nicklas Karlsson and Volkswagen Press Manager Markus Thomasfolk are glad the two series are getting back together in 2013, despite the difficulties this presents for their teams.

Chevrolet has competed with a pair of WTCC-specification Cruzes this year in Sweden, winning the manufacturers’ championship and narrowly missing out on defending their drivers’ title. The decision to merge and take on Solution-F cars for 2013 means they’ll have no further use for their Cruzes in Sweden, which are already for sale.

“I got to know about it (on Monday) as well and it is too soon to say what is going to happen now,” said Karlsson to Teknikensvarld. “But I think the decision is welcome. There was not room for two major championships.”

“The decision that has been taken is not ideal for us, but we are going to have to sit down with our partners to discuss.”

Volkswagen likewise will not be able to continue with their biogas powered Sciroccos in 2013, which took Johan Kristoffersson to his first drivers’ title in 2012 in his first full season in the Championship.

“We think that it is good that racing Sweden unites,” said Thomasfolk to Teknikensvarld. “It is going to create a greater interest from manufacturers, spectators and media. We are not going to be able to continue with our Scirocco next year, but we’ll see in the future.”

“There is a lot of talk of using more of your own technology in the TTA cars in the future, and then it could become interesting for Volkswagen,” he added.