The life of a high-powered auto executive isn’t easy. Sure, getting access to cutting edge vehicles and swanky soirees sounds cool, but these guys are always on the clock, always putting out one fire or another. What’s more, “company men” don’t stay at their respective companies all that long anymore. Other companies are constantly seeking to snipe talent from other manufacturers…and Ford just got sniped.
It’s a big loss too. Car & Driver reports that Volkswagen has lured away the head of Ford’s SVT Performance division, Jost Capito, the man responsible for the badass 2013 Shelby GT500. He will be missed.
Capito entered the SVT division as a former Dakar Rally truck racing champion and Formula 1 engineer. Under his watch, SVT has delivered some of its best products to date, including of course the 2013 Shelby GT500, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, and Europe’s awesome Focus RS. Capito really helped turn the division around.
Volkswagen has snagged Capito to help them launch their fledging World Rally Championship team, another area of experience for the German-born Capito. He’ll be returning to his native Germany to turn Vdubs into mean performers, and while this day was bound to come, we hope the SVT division doesn’t lose its touch when it comes to serious sports cars.
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