As Volkswagen pulls out of the World Rally Championship, look back on its history in the world’s top rally category

The original – The ‘Pierburg Golf’ Mk1 of Per Eklund, the first official works-backed rally entry.

The Mk2 – Matthias Feltz and Erwin Weber on the Acropolis in 1986.

The Golf G 60 was the last Golf VW took rallying.

Old meets new. The Golf GTi and the (bigger) Polo WRC.

A rigorous two years of testing was begun in 2011.

The works team returned in 2012, with a Fabia… Sébastian Ogier scored a fifth place in Sardinia, the best-ever result for an S2000 car.

Ogier wins the final round of 2013, Rally GB, his and VW’s first rally as champion

Second full season, second title for Ogier and VW. Seen here leaping on the way to victory in Australia.

The hat-trick year – eight wins, two seconds, and a rare 17th here in Argentina

Fourth and final, for now – Ogier and VW wrapped up their fourth title on the bounce. 

Read Andrew Frankel’s tale on VW’s departure