Former WRC-3 drivers’ champion and Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah is reportedly in talks with Volkswagen to purchase the 2017 Polo R WRC.

Before abruptly exiting World Rally Championship competition at the end of the 2016 season, Volkswagen was working on its 2017 car. Last week, VW executives revealed that the rally car was close enough to completion that it made sense to homologate it with a view to selling it to a private team.

Nasser Al-Attiyah, who won Paris-Dakar in 2011 racing a Volkswagen Race Touareg, could be the buyer that VW was looking for.

"I met the officials here in Qatar and we are trying to make that possible,” Al-Attiyah told motorsport.com. “If it’s possible, then why not? If we get the confirmation, then I’ll do the full WRC season next year."

If a deal goes through, it could give reigning drivers’ champ Sebastien Ogier another option, too. The Frenchman has yet to secure a seat in another car, despite his teammate, Jari-Matti LAtvala  announcing today that he  would be racing with Toyota.

With Volkswagens back on the grid, Ogier could stick with the brand that got him his four drivers’ titles.

[source: motorsport.com ]