This is the Statt Mann Baby. Time to Scatt a little bit.

More evidence that motor racing can’t escape larger world headlines.

2016 Porsche LeMans

Porsche this week said it’s leaving the World Endurance Championship at the end of this year. Reports said Porsche was spending more than $200 million annually on its highly successful Prototype program. That includes wins in the last three 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Fellow German carmaker Audi left the WEC after years of domination to run in the Formula E championship.  In fact, Audi driver Lucas di Grassi is the 2017 Formula E champion after a win Saturday and a seventh on Sunday in Montreal.  It’s thought Formula E is where Porsche will end up after showroom competitors Audi, BMW and Mercedes made that transition earlier.

But you can’t ignore another headline brewing in Europe where all of the above including VW are drowning in a controversy surrounding charges of collusion in all their diesel car programs.

We know VW is fighting in America to overcome charges of cheating US smog tests with its diesel car software.

The stories in Germany accuse German carmakers of being a cartel amid allegations that far exceed those facing VW here in America.

Billions in fines could be on the horizon. That might find little left for motor racing, financially or emotionally.

Peace.