INDIA in F1

Category: Non-F1

  • Ghorpade to test Formula F3 car at Ferrari Academy

    Bangalore, 2 May 2013: Young Indian racer Parth Ghorpade will test a Formula F3 car at the Ferrari Driver Academy in the second week of May as part of his prize for winning the Formula Pilota Asian Championship last year. The Academy is an initiative aimed at helping develop young talent taken from motorsport arenas worldwide with the aim of training them for a future in F1.

    According to a Press Release from Adrenna Communications here, the programme is under the guidance of Luca Baldisserri, the race engineer to Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger, Eddie Irvine and most importantly 7 time World Champion Michael Schumacher.

    Parth was excited at the prospect of heading to the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA). He commented, “I am really looking forward to testing the F3 car at the Ferrari Driver Academy. Ferrari is a name that goes hand in hand with Motorsport and it is an honour for me to be present at the Academy. The FDA not only helps in training the drivers, but looks at the physical and mental preparation as well. It will also give me a better understanding of how a big team works and what is required to be successful in racing. I met Mr. Luca Baldisserri in Vallelunga and had told him we had trouble fitting in the time for the test and he immediately fixed it for May so a big thank you to him and the entire FDA team and also BVM Racing who introduced me to him.”

    Parth, who is currently participating in the Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS Championship, will have a tight month ahead of him as he continues to test and race with BVM Racing. Parth will head to Italy for a two day test in the Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS car before heading to Fiorano to the Ferrari Driver Academy. The second round of the ALPS Championship will be held at Imola, Italy on May 12.

    Parth added, “The two day test will be very important to get a better understanding of the car and prepare us for the race in Imola. Imola is a circuit with so much history and one which looks very challenging to drive on. We should be in better shape for Imola so looking forward to racing there.”

    The Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS, is one of the most competitive feeder series for the Formula Renault 3.5 championship. The Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS, powered by the Clio III Renault Sport engine, has a paddle-operated 7-speed sequential gearbox, with 210 bhp and push rod suspension.

    19 year-old Ghorpade is the 2012 Formula Pilota Asian Champion, a five-time National Karting Champion, and runner-up in the inaugural 2010 Volkswagen Polo Cup India. Ends

  • VW’s Latvala-Anttila finish first in qualification

    Jari Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) finished qualifying for the Rally Argentina in first place in their Volkswagen Polo R WRC. The Finnish duo secured the best time by a whisker, coming in just three hundredths of a second faster than the record-breaking world champion Loeb and their team-mates Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F). Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN) completed the team’s strong performance at the start of the fifth event in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) by taking ninth place.

    Jari-Matti Latvala chose to start Wednesday and Thursday’s special stages last, meaning that he will be twelfth to tackle the course. Sébastien Ogier – who won the rallies in Sweden, Mexico and Portugal in his Polo R WRC – will be tenth off the starting line. Andreas Mikkelsen will be the fifth driver to complete the first five special stages.

    Quotes following qualifying for the Rally Argentina
    Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #7
    “Of course I’m delighted to have recorded my first qualifying best time for Volkswagen, giving me first choice when it comes to starting positions. Generally speaking, there is an advantage in starting gravel stages as far as possible towards the back of the grid. It might be better to tackle the course first in heavy rain, but there’s not much chance of rain tomorrow, which is why we picked the last starting position. Inspecting the stages has shown that the roads are tougher than they have been in recent years and will demand a lot of our Polo R WRC. I’ve managed to keep up with the speed pretty well here in Argentina in the past but have never achieved a really good result, so I’ll be aiming for a place on the podium again.”

    Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #8
    “Qualifying went well for us. Third place was good enough to be able to choose a good starting position for the first five special stages. Our goal is to get as much as possible out of Rally Argentina. The focus is on winning as many points as possible for the WRC, of course, but I’m a racer through and through so I always want to win too. At the very least, we want to achieve a place on the podium.”

    Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
    “The second rally for Volkswagen is a bit more like business as usual for me. Argentina offers me another opportunity to improve bit by bit. In Portugal, I was about one second per kilometre slower than my colleagues, so my goal is to close the gap. With that in mind, I’ve already changed some aspects of the system I use for pace notes and it will be interesting for me to see what difference that makes. Qualifying was the first step. I’m satisfied with my time because I was a bit cautious in one or two places, especially on one of the jumps. I’m ready for the rally now.”

    Jost Capito, Director of Volkswagen Motorsport
    “This is a great team result. I’m particularly pleased that Jari-Matti Latvala was able to record the fastest time in spite of very stiff competition. And Sébastien Ogier put in a strong performance as usual to come in third. The first three are incredibly close, which emphasises how well matched the World Rally Championship teams are. One too many skids, and you’d finish qualifying two positions lower. I think we can expect the Rally Argentina to be an exciting event – the smallest things will make a big difference over the next three days. We are well prepared and think we have chosen the right starting positions in the light of the weather forecast.”

    And then there was …
    … the crucial difference. Volkswagen driver Jari-Matti Latvala completed the 4,590-metre qualifier 0.035 seconds faster than Sébastien Loeb in his Citroën – which is equivalent to a gap of just 106 centimetres. To put that in context, the Polo R WRC could comfortably fit this distance between its wheels with its track width of 1.61 metres. It is less than the height of the car, however, which stands 1,356 millimetres tall.

    Rally Argentina 2013ends

  • Volkswagen upbeat ahead of Rally Argentina

    After three triumphant victories for Volkswagen at the Rally Dakar, the Volkswagen Motorsport team is now looking to build on its success in South America and is highly motivated ahead of the fifth round of the FIA World Rally Championship (01–04 May) – the Rally Argentina. Looking back: the works team from Wolfsburg won the Rally Dakar in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and is unbeaten in Argentina so far. However, looking ahead is equally pleasing: the team arrives at this year’s rally leading the Manufacturers’ Championship, with its driver Sébastien Ogier at the top of the Drivers’ Championship and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia leading the co-driver competition. The Rally Argentina forms the third gravel rally of Volkswagen’s debut season in the WRC and thus represents the next big challenge. The event consists of seven special stages, each of which is tackled twice. A number of these are true WRC classics, making the Rally Argentina a real test for man and machine.

    “The season has been perfect so far for Volkswagen,” saidVolkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “The reliability of the whole package was outstanding at the first four events. Whether the Polo R WRC, our drivers, or the team – together, we got the absolute maximum out of the package. We now face another new challenge, in the form of the Rally Argentina. You must not forget that the Polo R WRC is a brand-new car, which is once again making a debut here. Despite the success of the opening rallies, we travel to South America with a cool head.”

    Typical Argentina: great demands and huge enthusiasm

    A gravel surface, set against the backdrop of craggy rocks, and a rapturous welcome: the Rally Argentina is one of the highlights of the WRC calendar. Special stages like “El Condor” and “Mina Clavero/Giulio Cesare” are true classics and famous around the world. “El Condor”, for example, is defined by its diverse range of challenges: tight hairpins are followed by fast, wide corners. The “Mina Clavero/Giulio Cesare” is a completely different beast: while this special stage makes up the first part of the route up to the summit at 2,100 metres above sea level, “El Condor” heads downhill into the valley. When it comes to the characteristic of the two stages, the main difference is the weather – the sun is often still shining on the “Mina Clavero/Giulio Cesare” special stage, while “El Condor” is still shrouded in thick fog.

    Undefeated in South America: Volkswagen back at the scene of its greatest success
    Like a home race: when Volkswagen lines up at the Rally Argentina, it will mark the return of the works team from Wolfsburg to the continent, on which it enjoyed its greatest sporting success to date. In March 2005, the Volkswagen Race Touareg won the Rally por las Pampas through Argentina to claim its maiden triumph in marathon rallying. The first of three milestones in the works commitment to desert rallies followed in 2009, with victory at the Rally Dakar: this was the first win for a diesel-powered vehicle at the toughest endurance rally in the world, and was also the first time the route had taken competitors through Argentina and Chile.Volkswagen repeated its success in 2010 and 2011 – claiming all three podium places on both occasions. In 2012, Volkswagenlined up in the Super-2000 category of the World Rally Championship with its Group brand Škoda. Not only did it triumph in the Super-2000 class at the fifth round of the season – the Rally Argentina – but also finished an excellent seventh overall with Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (F/F).

    Market leader in Argentina: Volkswagen the dominant force on the streets
    Two production plants, 89 branches, and a market share of almost 25 per cent in the automobile sector: the Volkswagen Group increased his market leadership in Argentina last year. In 2012, the group sold 170,763 vehicles to customers. The overriding image on the streets is that of Volkswagen, making the Rally Argentina something of a home race for the WRC team from Wolfsburg. As well as the plant in Pacheco, Volkswagen also runs the plant in Córdoba, which was opened in 2001 and is located not far from the route of the World Rally Championship event.

    Quotes ahead of the Rally Argentina
    Jari-Matti Latvala, Polo R WRC #7
    “Third place in Portugal was a big moment for me, as it was a tough start to the season. The first three rallies simply did not go well. The podium finish in Portugal relieved the pressure I had put on myself. There was absolutely no pressure from the team – it was purely about the expectations I have of myself. As such, the podium in Portugal was very important to me. I am looking forward to Argentina. The special stages on the Saturday look as though you are driving on the moon, the boulders to the left and right are so huge. Some of the gravel roads are also very narrow, so there is little room to drift when exiting the corners. The roads are even narrower than in Portugal in places. However, there are also special stages, on which the route is wider and you can go a bit quicker. You have to steer really precisely, particularly on the Saturday. That is why I like these stages, especially ‘El Condor’.”

    Sébastien Ogier, Polo R WRC #8
    “After the three victories, we obviously want to continue where we left off and, ideally, defend our lead in the championship until the end of the season. For now, however, we would be happy with another podium in Argentina. I am looking forward to the duel with Sébastien Loeb. We had a great battle in Sweden, and it will be anything but easy again here. However, my main focus is on my rivals in the World Championship. The Rally Argentina may at first glance be just another gravel rally, but that first impression can be deceptive, as the ground is really soft and sandy. This means that the roads have often been cut up quite badly by the second run in the afternoon, and this puts the material under even greater strain. I really like the Rally Argentina, especially because of the fantastic atmosphere. At very few other places do so many fans flock to the special stages and service park.”

    Andreas Mikkelsen, Polo R WRC #9
    “Looking back, I am generally very happy with the result of my first rally for Volkswagen in Portugal. It is now time to look ahead, as there are still some areas in which we can improve. As such, I can hardly wait for the start of the Rally Argentina. I am not concerned about my results. They will come sooner or later. It is all about gaining as much experience as possible. I am approaching the Rally Argentina full of confidence, as I lined up there last year in the Škoda Fabia S2000. I was involved in a nice duel with Sébastien Ogier before I had to retire shortly before the end of the rally. Despite this, I have fond memories of Argentina, and my co-driver Mikko Markkula also has experience of the Rally Argentina. I am already really looking forward to my second start in theVolkswagen Polo R WRC.”

    Volkswagen in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)

    In entering the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC),Volkswagen is adding another chapter to its motorsport success story. Volkswagen claimed overall victory at the Rally Dakar with the Race Touareg in 2009, 2010 and 2011 – celebrating a hat-trick of titles at the toughest marathon rally in the world. The Polo R WRC is the first World Rally Car produced by the Wolfsburg-based company, which now lines up with its own works team in the pinnacle of rallying. The series offers Volkswagen the opportunity to prove itself on a global platform in direct sporting competition. No model is more suited to the challenge than the Polo – one ofVolkswagen’s most heavily produced and distributed models in the world.

    ends

  • FIA chief visits Africa to promote Road Safety

    Gabon, 25 April 2013: Jean Todt, the President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, this month focused his attention on road safety in Africa, one of the continents most affected by unsafe roads.

    Africa holds the highest road traffic mortality rate in the world and almost one quarter of a million people die annually on the roads of sub-Saharan Africa. Todt used visits to Senegal, Gabon and Benin to discuss these terrible statistics with FIA member clubs and heads of state and highlight measures that must be taken to reduce the casualties. The number of road deaths in sub-Saharan Africa has already increased by over 40% over the past 15 years and if nothing is done, this figure is expected to rise again by at least 80% by 2020.

    “Since I was elected as president of the FIA three and half years ago, I have made road safety a priority of our Federation,” said Todt. “The FIA must become a major protagonist in this struggle at the global level, having not only the legitimacy but also the will to do so. And in this struggle, our primary partners, and our primary strength, are our clubs.”

    Young Africans are the main victims of the lack of road safety, with road accidents already the fourth cause of death for the 15-44 age group, and the second after Aids for young men. Todt believes that motor sport can be used to educate drivers and get the safety message across to young people, but that governments must also take action.

    “Road safety must be given the place it deserves on the international agenda: that of an absolute priority,” he said. “And if we want to achieve that, we must join forces. Road safety is a shared responsibility. And each person must shoulder his or her part, for it is together – and only together – that we shall win this battle. The first responsibility lies with national governments. Without them, without their commitment, nothing is possible.”

    In Senegal, Todt and Michelle Yeoh discussed ways in which road safety could be tackled at both national and region levels during meetings with the Senegalese Motor Sport Federation (FSAM) and Senegal President Macky Sall. They also visited the Dakar Baobab circuit and hosted a press conference with FSAM’s President, Dialo Kane ‘Zator’.

    From there Todt travelled to Benin, where he visited the Automobile Club of Benin (ACB), which is headed by former driver Patrick Lecompte and was affiliated to the FIA last year. The Club is involved in road safety activities via campaigns in schools and universities, and during a meeting at the club’s headquarters, young people were invited to share their feeling about road safety in the country. Benin has a National Centre for Road Safety, which is a key element to success, but a national strategy, including the obligation to wear a safety belt, would help to reduce fatalities.

    Lastly, the President travelled to Gabon for the inauguration of the new Automobile Club of Gabon (ACG), which was founded last year and is headed by Frédéric Bongo Ondimba. The occasion was used to launch a new hard-hitting road safety campaign which was praised by Todt, who said it would remind drivers of their responsibility.

    While there he had a long discussion with Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose commitment he highlighted after a new ‘100 Footbridges for the Future’ campaign was launched to try and protect pedestrians crossing dangerous roads. It is an important initiative, as pedestrian fatalities account for 38% of road deaths in sub-Saharan Africa.

    ends

  • Sarath eager to begin campaign in Catalunya

    Bangalore, 27 April 2013: Sarath Kumar, the first MotoGP rider from India, will take a giant step in his efforts to come back into the big league, by competing in the double-header on Sunday in the 2013 Moto3 CEV Repsol Spanish Championship with reigning champions Monlau Competicion at the Circuit de Catalunya, near Barcelona. Supported by SK-Sarath69 Sports, the Chennai-bassed 22 year old rider will take part in the qualifying sessions on Saturday before the twin races on Sunday.

    Sarath who made his MotoGP 125cc class debut in 2011 and went on to win a podium at the 2012 Italian championship at Monza, will become the first Indian to participate in the Moto3 Spanish Championship this weekend. The first round this week-end received a stunning 56 entries, who will race in two groups `A and B’ after 12 riders are eliminated in the qualifiers later tonight.

    For the 2013 season, he will be seen riding the Suter-Honda Moto3, a 250cc 4-stroke prototype race bike developed for the Spanish Moto3 world championship. This championship has nurtured many champions like reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner and also upcoming star Marc Marquez. Sarath is eager to use this opportunity to realise his dreams of being on the MotoGP grid once again.

    Mohan Nagarajan, CMD, Sidvin Coretech, said: “SIDVIN has always been in the forefront of promoting motorsports, be it 4-wheelers or 2-wheelers. Our involvement with Sarath Kumar as a support sponsor is only an extension of our commitment to developing and promoting world class riders from India.”

    “After his golden ride in the MotoGP, he had to drive a taxi to make a living and we wanted to do our bit to give him a chance to ride again in a competitive international racing event, always a dream for Sarath. Let’s hope Sarath will try his best for the Indian Tri-colour to fly high on Spanish soil,’’ added Nagarajan,

    Sarath has been preparing for this season intensively in Barcelona, Spain with his team both physically and mentally and is very confident of his upcoming performance in the debut race.

    Riding a Suter Honda Moto3 from Monlau Competicíon, Sarath is supported by SK-Sarath69 Sports Pvt Ltd an initiative by Actor/Politician R. Sarath Kumar. He will be India’s first representation in the prestigious and toughest Championship.

    For the first time a few Indian sponsors have signed up with Sarath to support him in the Spanish Championship.  Hello FM, Sidvin & British Nutritions are the key sponsors for this season.

    Sarath69: “ I would like to thank Mr R Sarath Kumar for making this day possible as this is a great step for me to learn and progress in my career. My team Monlau Competicíon has been working with me through the off-season and their efforts are showing results in the form of competitive lap times.’’

    Team Manager, Jose Carrion said: “We are very happy with Sarath’s progress over the last two months. He has been a fast learner and has improved step-by-step to provide competitive and consistent lap times during the testing. Now it is important to see his performance during the race and we are confident Sarath will gain enough experience and grow steadily.”

    R Sarath Kumar: “I am very proud that Sarath will become the first Indian to participate in the CEV Spanish Championship. It’s a very prestigious and tough race and I am confident that Sarath will learn and progress to bring laurels to our country. I am hoping that this initiative of mine will create many such opportunities for young sportspersons like Sarath from India and give them a opportunity to live their dream.”

    ends

  • Ogier, Ingrassia of VW claim 3rd straight WRC win

    14 April 2013: Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia claimed an impressive third consecutive victory for Volkswagen Motorsport in the FIA World Rally Championship when they won Rally de Portugal on Sunday afternoon. Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila were on course for second but a transmission problem dropped them back to third behind Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen.

    In the FIA World Rally Championship, Ogier extends his advantage and holds a commanding lead in the Drivers’ Championship. Hirvonen moves into second, ahead of team-mate Sébastien Loeb. In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Volkswagen Motorsport heads the Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, the rivals split by 14 points.
    The final day of competition took in two identical loops of two stages but included the 52.30 kilometre Almodovar stage, which also ran as the closing Power Stage in which additional points are awarded to the fastest three drivers through this single stage. Here, Ogier claimed three extra points while Mads Østberg and Latvala picked up an additional two and one point respectively.
    The day kicked off with drama for the Volkswagen crews, Ogier suffering with a slipping clutch and Latvala with a broken front diff. While Ogier fared better, Latvala lost over a minute and dropped behind a chasing Hirvonen. Further woes continued in the following long stage, where Latvala lost another three minutes as he limped through the stage in two-wheel drive. After repairs in service however, both crews powered back up to speed and claimed Volkswagen’s first double podium. Citroën’s Mikko Hirvonen claimed second, taking valuable points for the team after Sordo’s accident yesterday. Evgeny Novikov finished fourth with a comfortable cushion to Nasser Al-Attiyah. Andreas Mikkelsen ran well in his first competitive outing in the Polo R WRC and finished sixth. Mads Østberg won three of the day’s stages and eventually climbed to eighth after his day one roll.
    The fifth round of the FIA World Rally Championship takes the contenders to South America for Rally Argentina (1-4 May).
    Rally de Portugal – Final Unofficial Classification (subject to scrutineering)
    1.   Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia
    2.   Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen
    3.   Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila
    4.   Evgeny Novikov/Ilka Minor
    5.   Nasser Al-Attiyah/Giovanni Bernacchini
    6.   Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula
    7.   Martin Prokop/Michal Ernst
    8.   Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson
    9.   Khalid Al Qassimi/Scott Martin
    10. Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm
    Volkswagen Polo R WRC
    Citroën DS3 WRC
    Volkswagen Polo R WRC
    Ford Fiesta RS WRC
    Ford Fiesta RS WRC
    Volkswagen Polo R WRC
    Ford Fiesta RS WRC
    Ford Fiesta RS WRC
    Citroën DS3 WRC
    Skoda Fabia S2000
    4 hr 07 min 38.7sec
    4 hr 08 min 36.9sec
    4 hr 11 min 43.2sec
    4 hr 13 min 06.4sec
    4 hr 15 min 22.2sec
    4 hr 17 min 18.5sec
    4 hr 22 min 42.9sec
    4 hr 23 min 22.3sec
    4 hr 23 min 35.6sec
    4 hr 23 min 59.7sec

    FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers (after 4 of 13 rounds)

    Sébastien Ogier (FRA)
    Mikko Hirvonen (FIN)
    Sébastien Loeb (FRA)
    Mads Østberg (NOR)
    Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN)
    Dani Sordo (ESP)
    Thierry Neuville (BEL)
    Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)
    Martin Prokop (CZE)
    Evgeny Novikov (RUS)
    Bryan Bouffier (FRA)
    Juho Hanninen (FIN)
    Chris Atkinson (AUS)
    Andreas Mikkelsen (NOR)
    Ken Block (USA)
    Sepp Weigand (DEU)
    Henning Solberg (NOR)
    Benito Guerra (MEX)
    Olivier Burri (CHE)
    Khalid Al Qassimi (ARE)
    Michal Kosciuszko (POL)
    Yazeed Al Rajhi (SAU)
    Esapekka Lappi (FIN)
    102 points
    48 points
    43 points
    32 points
    31 points
    27 points
    25 points
    20 points
    20 points
    15 points
    10 points
    8 points
    8 points
    8 points
    6 points
    4 points
    4 points
    4 points
    2 points
    2 points
    1 point
    1 point
    1 point

    FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers (after 4 of 13 rounds)

    Volkswagen Motorsport
    Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
    Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team
    Qatar World Rally Team
    Abu Dhabi Citroën Total World Rally Team
    Jipocar Czech National Team
    Lotos WRC Team
    Volkswagen Motorsport II
    121 points
    107 points
    55 points
    36 points
    27 points
    22 points
    12 points
    10 points

  • Ogier takes lead in VW Polo R WRC

    The fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship got underway today and Championship leader Sébastien Ogier has claimed the early advantage. Dani Sordo is however hot on his heels in second position, having found a welcome return to form, and Jari-Matti Latvala holds the final provisional podium position.
    Rally de Portugal kicked off last night with a ceremonial start in the coastal resort of Vilamoura but today the 70 competing crews took to the surrounding hills for two loops of two identical stages before heading to Lisbon for a spectacular asphalt super special stage in the heart of the city. In total the route covered five stages and 80.55 competitive kilometres.
    This morning the talk was all about tyre choice and Ogier was the only driver to select a full complement of soft compound tyres, gaining him an advantage in the first stage. It ultimately proved not to be the optimum choice for the two loops of stages and the Frenchman failed to win any of the other stages but maintained pace to be able to overnight with 4.4 seconds in hand to Sordo. The Spaniard is enjoying a much better run in the Citroën DS3 in Portugal and he won stages three and four to close the gap. Latvala has run without problems but the Finn lacked confidence in the first loop and continues to work on honing the suspension settings to his liking. Mads Østberg was one of the early front-runners, the Ford Fiesta driver winning stage two to take the lead of the event. However, on the following stage the Norwegian went off the road, rolled, and was forced into a disappointing retirement. Mikko Hirvonen – winner of the super special stage – is fourth for Citroën with a reasonable cushion to fifth-place Thierry Neuville. Evgeny Novikov rounds off the top six.
    Former Formula One driver Robert Kubica – making his debut in the FIA World Rally Championship -slid wide in the second stage and branches pierced the radiator resulting in overheating problems. Having carried out his own repairs on the following road section, Kubica climbed to 13th overall and second in the FIA WRC 2 Championship category. However, en route to the final super special of the day, the Pole was forced into retirement with a puncture and no available spare.
    Volkswagen Motorsport Release adds:

    80 kilometres against the clock, just 119 metres advantage: Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (F/F) hold a slender lead at the Rally Portugal in their Volkswagen Polo R WRC. Also among the front-runners are their team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), who ended day one in Portugal just 11.4 seconds behind Ogier and Ingrassia in third place.

    Tyre selection for the first five of the rally’s 15 special stages added to the excitement at the fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Only 24 tyres can be used per rally, with Michelin providing two different compounds. Only the next two days of rallying will ultimately reveal who played their cards right. Ogier and Ingrassia were the only duo to opt for more softs than hard tyres on surfaces that were at times damp, at times dry, putting their faith in Ogier’s outstanding ability to look after his tyres. It was a decision that paid off – for now at least. Their team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila were also successful on the harder compound.

    Andreas Mikkelsen and Mikko Markkula (N/FIN), at the wheel of the third Polo R WRC, which was making its first competitive outing, lost a lot of time due to a leak in the power steering’s hydraulic loop. However, their Polo R WRC will be back to full strength when it lines up on Saturday morning.

    Quotes, Day One of the Rally Portugal

    Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #7
    “We made a cautious start to the morning and opted for a mixture of hard and soft tyres to start with. We switched to all hard tyres from the second stage on. I felt happier the second time we took on the morning’s two stages. We are happy with third place and our goal is to defend our position in the top three. The competition and the stages will both be even more testing from tomorrow onwards. However, I have a few ideas as to how we can improve the car’s chassis set-up for tomorrow.”

    Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #8
    “It was a good day for us, even though our tyre selection was not absolutely spot on. The soft tyres were only of benefit on this morning’s opening stage, when it was slippery. The rest of the stages, particularly the second stage, were brutal for the car. Physically, I still don’t feel one hundred per cent fit. Out on the stages I can, as far as possible, block it out. Now at the end of the day, however, I am noticing that I am not my usual self physically”

    Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
    “It is simply fantastic to drive this car. The Polo R WRC has a lot more power than the rally cars I have driven recently. The most important thing at this rally is to get used to that. For me, the key is to gain as much experience as possible. I think we have been on a steep learning curve, even just today, but have already improved dramatically when it comes to our speed. Unfortunately we did not have any power steering from one kilometre into the fourth special stage. We found a leak and managed to fix it in time for the final stage. Tomorrow we will be the first car out on the route, which will definitely not make things any easier. However, we are here to learn – and that goes with the territory.”

    Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
    “The Rally Portugal is set to be really exciting over the coming days. With regard the results, both hard and soft tyres were the right choice. Only on Sunday will we know whether our decisions have paid off. With that in mind, I must once again compliment our drivers. With his economic driving style, Sébastien Ogier was able to open up a slender lead on primarily soft tyres. However, the hard tyres were by no means a poor choice – as shown by the times and position of Jari-Matti Latvala. Andreas Mikkelsen lost time today due to a leak in the power steering loop. However, it is still possible for him to gain as much competitive experience as possible: by tomorrow we will once again be able to provide him with a superbly prepared Polo R WRC.”

    And then there was …

    … Carlos Sainz, who celebrates his 51st birthday today.

    And then there was also …

    … another important appointment for “El Matador”. Along with his former co-driver Luis Moya, the two-time World Rally Champion and “Dakar” winner with Volkswagen – now supporting the Wolfsburg-based WRC team in an advisory role – was eagerly awaiting the draw for the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Sainz, who was born in Madrid and is an active member of Real Madrid, had one eye on his team, while Luis Moya was looking out for their big rivals. The 52-year-old, who is looking after Volkswagen guests during WRC events, is an avid fan of Barcelona – and is also a football commentator for Spanish radio station Cadena CER. Real Madrid will play Borussia Dortmund in the last four, with Barcelona taking on Bayern Munich. The first games are scheduled for 23 and 24 April, with the return matches taking place on 30 April and 01 May – at the same time as the Rally Argentina.

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  • Mercedes-Benz, Schumy: Facing the future together

    Stuttgart, 11 April 2013: Mercedes-Benz and Michael Schumacher today announced a long-term partnership which will extend far beyond motorsport and Formula 1. Michael Schumacher will mainly be involved with topics relating to the future, in particular the further development of the Mercedes-Benz safety and comfort systems “Intelligent Drive”, and represent them as an ambassador. For many years now the seven-times Formula 1 World Champion has been working on road safety; as a partner he will from now on be supporting Mercedes-Benz’s involvement in this field, said a Press Release from Mercedes Benz. 

    As a racing driver Schumacher’s motto was “If you don’t go forwards, you go backwards”. Again and again he motivated himself and his team throughout his incomparable career to achieve new developments and top performances. Now he is actively placing his expertise at the service of road users by searching for the best solutions for safety on the roads together with Mercedes-Benz.
     
    “The future interests me much more than the present and past. During my Formula 1 time I always believed that you must not allow yourself to rest on your laurels, but that you must continuously try to improve. In so doing I was very often able to rely on the help of all the technologies available to me in the car and use them to my advantage. That is why I am a declared supporter of driving assistance systems both in the racing car and in the road-going car”, said Schumacher of the new partnership.
     
    Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Mercedes-Benz Cars, Sales and Marketing, added “We are proud that Michael Schumacher, the most successful and best-known racing driver in the world, is again joining us as our partner. Right from the time when he was a Mercedes-Benz junior and of course in the last three years as a driver in our Formula 1 team, Michael Schumacher has always been committed to our company’s projects. This is why it is only logical for both sides to pool their expertise and know-how and to use them, for instance, for enhancing driver assistance systems and thus improve safety on the roads within a partnership.”
     
    Michael Schumacher will be making his first appearance as a partner of Mercedes-Benz together with Dr. Dieter Zetsche on 1 May 2013 at ‘Handelsblatt PATHFINDER – The future starts today.’. “I wanted to have a clearly defined remit within the new partnership and I find it very exciting to be able to contribute towards further developments and the optimisation of safety together with the inventor of the car”, said the record Formula 1 World Champion of this future working relationship.

    Michael Schumacher and Mercedes Benz enter a long-term partnership. A Mercedes photo.

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  • Indisposed Ogier withdraws from “Fafe Rally Sprint”

    Volkswagen rally driver Sébastien Ogier (F) has been forced to withdraw from the legendary “Fafe Rally Sprint” on Saturday on medical grounds. The Frenchman had intended participating in the show event held near Porto with co-driver Julien Ingrassia (F) in preparation for Portugal’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship (11 – 14 April).

    “Unfortunately I have been laid low by an influenza infection, leading my doctor to insist that I withdraw,” regrets Ogier. “I would really have liked to participate in this unique event, but my World Rally Championship commitments must take precedence. I hope the fans understand that.”

    However, one Volkswagen Polo R WRC will take the start in Fafe, driven by Andreas Mikkelsen (N) and his co-driver Mikko Markkula (FIN). The Nordic duo will give it their all in front of the 100 000 spectators who are expected to pack the 6,34 kilometre course on
    06 April, as the crew targets not only victory, but also the world record on one of the most spectacular jumps in rallying. Currently the record stands at 73,5 metres, set by Armin Schwarz in a Škoda Octavia WRC in 2000.

    After the event the Volkswagen team heads for the Rally Portugal, which starts with qualifying on 11 April and ends with a podium ceremony in the Algarve Stadium near Faro on 14 April.

    A file photo of Sebastian Ogier. Courtesy Volkswagen Motorsport Communications.

  • Karun Chandhok returns to Le Mans 24-hours

    Nogaro (France), 3 April 2013: Indian racing driver Karun Chandhok confirmed his return to the historic Le Mans 24 hours with LMP2 Team Murphy Prototypes. Last year Chandhok became the first Indian to compete in the Le Mans 24 hours and will join Brendon Hartley and Mark Patterson to race for the Irish team at the marquee event in June this year. Both Chandhok and Hartley have previously worked together as they were test drivers at the Red Bull Racing F1 Team. Chandhok, who is supported by JK Tyre and Tag Heuer, will continue to drive in the FIA GT Series as well for the 2013 season.

    Chandhok could not hide his delight at being back at the Le Mans 24 hours and commented, “I am really excited to return to the Le Mans 24 Hours as racing there last year was one of the highlights of my career. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and had a great race to finish second in the privateers class and sixth overall. I’m really glad to be back in a prototype for the biggest endurance race in the world. While I’ve enjoyed my first steps into GT World, racing high downforce cars are what I know and love.”

    Murphy Prototypes was leading the Le Mans 24 hours last year before mechanical problems hit the team’s chances. Team owner Greg Murphy said: “We’re looking to win every race that we compete in this year and, having lead Le Mans for five hours last year, we very much feel that’s unfinished business for us. With these three, our line-up is good enough to win. Karun brings an awful lot to the table. He’s a very professional driver with Formula One experience and very quick. So we have a very good blend between the three of them. Brendon is electrically fast over one lap and he’s learned a lot about sportscar racing. He knows when to push and when to hold back and it was important for us to have him as our anchorman.”

    Both Chandhok (Team Lotus and HRT) and Hartley (Red Bull Racing, Mercedes F1) have a track record in Formula One and Le Mans, while Patterson has experience racing in endurance around the world.

    Chandhok added, “Greg and I were very keen to work together and I’m glad it’s worked out. He is a straight-talking Irishman and seems very motivated to reach the top step of the podium. I know Brendon from our time together on the Red Bull Junior Team. He’s obviously very quick but also a great guy which will make the weekend a lot of fun. The team had a strong run until some reliability issues last year and they’ll give me a great chance to try and become the first Indian to get on the podium at Le Mans. I would once again like to thank JK Tyre and Tag Heuer for their continued support.”

    File picture of Karun Chandhok courtesy Adrenna Communications.

    ends