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The WRC regulations meant the two Volkswagen drivers were faced with a luxurious problem on the opening day of the rally. As first, second and fourth in the World Championship, they had the dubious honour of opening the route. In few other rallies is this such a major disadvantage as in Mexico. More and more of the layer of loose gravel is swept out of the way with every World Rally Car that passes. The disadvantage is calculated at about 0.1 seconds per kilometre and per competitor. However, theVolkswagen pairings of Ogier/Ingrassia and Latvala/Anttila produced an energetic display to negate this hindrance. Eight of eleven stage wins went to Wolfsburg on day one alone.

Bonus points on the Power Stage, World Championship lead extended in all three classifications
With victory in Mexico, Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia moved into the lead in the overall standings of the World Rally Championship – just ahead of their Volkswagen team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila. Ogier and Ingrassia lead both the Driver and Co-Driver classifications with 63 points, followed by Latvala and Anttila with 60 points. Between them, the two cars increased the lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship significantly. Volkswagen now has 115 points to its name – 55 more than its closest rival Citroën. Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula are fourth overall with 24 points.

XXL team performance – Polo R WRC #9 perfectly restored to working order
The day’s rallying twice ended ahead of schedule for Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN). On Friday, the Volkswagen duo hit a stone when exiting a corner on the “El Chocolate” special stage and damaged the rear-right suspension, bringing their day to a premature end having previously been running second. On Saturday, a mistake in the pace notes resulted in Mikkelsen/Markkula rolling their car when they cut too much off a corner and were flipped over by a hole in the road. Thanks to the outstanding job done by their mechanics, the number nine Polo R WRC was back as good as new by the time it took to the road for Sunday’s special stages. They managed to get the World Rally Car back into top condition within the three-hour time limit specified in the regulations. Mikkelsen/Markkula used the Sunday to gain as much experience as possible at rally pace, setting four top-three times in the process.

High altitude, heat, homework – Polo R WRC, the cleverest World Rally Car
Absolutely reliable and equipped with an intelligent engine control unit, the Volkswagen Polo R WRC set the technological benchmark at the Rally Mexico. The special stages took the teams from about 1,800 metres to 2,800 metres above sea level. The higher you get, the lower the air pressure, oxygen content in the air and cooling efficiency of the engine sink. At temperatures around the 30-degree mark, the objective was to minimise the loss of performance. The Volkswagen engineers took care of the software intelligence of the World Rally Car from Wolfsburg well in advance of the rally in Central America. The engine control unit is used without modification from Monte Carlo right through to the final round in Great Britain.

Physical and mental strength the key to success
Like their World Rally Cars, the Volkswagen drivers and co-drivers arrived at the Rally Mexico as well prepared as physically possible. Fitness was a key to success, particularly on the seven special stages at over 30 kilometres in length, which were tackled at high altitude and in scorching heat. Here too, Volkswagen left nothing to chance: the staff at the sports clinic in Bad Nauheim were tasked with looking after the physical condition of the team. Fitness and diet plans, regular performance tests throughout the season and comprehensive on-site care are part of the everyday rally routine atVolkswagen.

Facts, facts, facts – Volkswagen up there with the best
Volkswagen secured a place in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) record lists with victory number seven in a row. The wins in Australia, France, Spain and Great Britain last year were followed by triumphs in Monte Carlo, Sweden and Mexico this season to produce the second-longest winning run in WRC history. Sébastien Ogier claimed his 18th overall win in the World Rally Championship, with eleven of these successes coming inVolkswagen colours.

Quotes after day three of the Rally Mexico
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“Mexico really is a fantastic country for us! I like the rally, and it seems to like me. I picked up my first win as a junior here back in 2008 and took overall victory with Volkswagen last year – and now here I am, back on the top step of the podium. It is a fantastic feeling. Our entire team did a sensational job all weekend, and the Polo R WRC was once again super reliable and super quick in extreme conditions. I was hungry for this win after my mistake in Sweden! That is why Julien and I refrained from taking any risks on the final day. We really wanted to get this win under our belts. And it goes without saying that I also wanted to get my hands on the Power Stage points. Although we will now have to act as street sweepers for the opposition at the next round in Portugal, the World Championship points are more important than anything else.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“I am really very happy with second place. Having been first onto the route on day one, which meant we were quite a long way off the lead, we set our sights on a place on the podium. The Rally Mexico was hard work and also very demanding on the cars. The Polo coped admirably with the stresses and strains of the high altitude and soaring temperatures, and our team also did a perfect job. Thanks for that. That was the best Rally Mexico so far for Miikka and me. We came through without any mistakes and finished runner-up for the first time. We are still almost level with our team-mates, without having to start first again in Portugal.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“A tough rally for us. Retiring twice is not exactly what we had in mind. I just made too many mistakes. Thanks to the great job done by my mechanics, I was still able to gain a few kilometres of experience at the Rally Mexico on Sunday, which will allow us to push hard again next year. All in all, we learned an awful lot here – unfortunately we did it the hard way. I will analyse it in detail over the coming days, and will prepare as well as possible for the coming rally in Portugal. We will come back stronger, and hopefully return to the podium there.”

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“A one-two in these difficult conditions and given the new regulations regarding the starting order is more than we had expected coming into the Rally Mexico. I take my hat off to Sébastien Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala and our engineers, who made this success possible. The performance of the two drivers was undoubtedly outstanding. However, the one-two is also a team success. Whether the chassis department or the engine department, the Polo R WRC was perfectly prepared for the difficult conditions. The champagne tastes particularly good today, as success in Mexico is always a bit special. It is the first gravel event of the year, and virtually a home event for Volkswagen. After all, our models are part of the scenery here. Everything came together here in Mexico, and we are very proud of what we have achieved.”

And then there was …
… Volkswagen Mexico. From the roadshow in Mexico City to the guest services in León and out on the special stages, our Mexican colleagues ensured everything was perfectly organised. Thank you! Volkswagen Mexico also celebrated its 50th anniversary in León.

And then there was also …
… the chef in the Volkswagen team. Daniel Zillgen spent the past few days meticulously ensuring that only American or Argentinean meat was served. In the case of Mexican meat, there is a risk that the drug Clenbuterol was used during breeding. This particular drug is also a banned doping substance.

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Quotes after day two of the Rally Mexico
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“A fantastic day for us! The Polo is running absolutely perfectly and is as reliable as clockwork. Julien and I now have a comfortable lead, which will allow us to keep a check on the opposition. However, we will definitely not be relaxing. The Rally Mexico is one of the toughest on the calendar, and a lot can happen on the coarse gravel between now and the finish – especially given the fact that we still have to tackle the longest stage, ‘Guanajuatito’, tomorrow. 55.92 kilometres across country at full throttle, with temperatures in the cockpit reaching up to 40 degrees. You have to call on all your strength and remain fully focussed in order to come through it well. But one thing is certain: we want sombreros and cowboy boots as trophies on the podium again. And unless we suddenly come across a closed gate tomorrow, it is looking good for us.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“I am very happy with second place today. Even this morning, Sébastien Ogier had opened such a big lead that we would not have been able to catch him under normal circumstances anyway. At the same time, the Rally Mexico once again showed how tough it is: many teams had major problems and had to give in. Our Polo was flawless, even on the very rough sections. It was pretty tiring work in the cockpit in that heat, and the ‘Otates’ stage was one of the longest I have ever driven. Given our expectations – after all, we had to open the route yesterday, which was a definite disadvantage – and with an eye on the championship, second place would definitely be a great result.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“Retiring early two days in a row obviously doesn’t make a great impression. It might look as though I took too many risks today, but that is precisely what I was trying to avoid. I was actually downright cautious. However, we hit a hole when cutting the corner in a left-hander, which flipped and rolled us. That was obviously it for today. The plan coming into the rally was to get as many kilometres under our belt as possible in preparation for next year. To learn anything of use, however, you still have to go at a decent speed. That will also be the approach tomorrow, when we return again under Rally2 regulations for the final stages.”

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“It is hard to keep your concentration in the cockpit on the Rally Mexico’s long special stages, which take place at high altitude and in high temperatures. Both Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia and Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila were outstanding today. They dominated the long special stages and took as much care as possible of their equipment. The slightest moment of carelessness can lead to retirement – you can soon hit a rock on the narrow roads and damage a suspension. Unfortunately Andreas Mikkelsen found that out the hard way again today. But these things happen, and are part of rallying. We will have to keep that in the back of our minds on Sunday if we want to remain in the top two positions after the final four stages. We have done really well, but have not won anything yet.”

And then there was …
… the rally-driving lucky charm. After World Champion Sébastien Ogier had taken part in a training session with football club León ahead of last year’s Rally Mexico, the team promptly went on to win the Mexican football championship. In 2014, the tight schedule did not allow Ogier to pay ‘his’ club a visit – much to the disappointment and regret of “Club León”, who play their home matches in a stadium next to the Service Park for the Rally Mexico. On Friday evening, the team lost 0:1 at home to bottom-of-the-table Veracruz and are now a lowly fifth in the table.

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The route on the opening day of the rally took the competitors from about 1

,800 to 2,800 metres above sea level. With temperatures around the 30-degree mark, the organisers threw in the first real toughie of the rally in the form of the 44.03-kilometre “El Chocolate” special stage, which the drivers had to tackle twice. After eleven of 22 stages, Volkswagen has 17 top-three times, an impressive eight of which produced stage wins.

The Mexican debut of Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN) in the third Polo R WRC came to a premature end on day one of the rally. Lying second overall, the duo skidded off the road on the third special stage, damaging the suspension on their World Rally Car in the process. Mikkelsen/Markkula will return to action on Saturday under Rally2 regulations.

Quotes after day one of the Rally Mexico
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“The day went much better than expected. I thought it would be much more difficult due to our early, and thus unfavourable, starting position. The gravel is extremely slippery, plus it is very hot in the cockpit – it is very easy to make mistakes. First place is more than we could possibly have expected, and puts us in a great position to win here again. However, I think we will have an exciting battle with Mads Østberg and my team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala from now on. Compliments to the guys in our engine department: we were at almost 2,800 metres above sea level today, and the turbo engine in the Polo R WRC is in a class of its own – just as it was last year.”
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“To be honest, third place is a pleasant surprise. Opening the stages today was anything but a stroll in the park. In particular, the 44-kilometre ‘El Chocolate’ special stage was extremely soft and slippery, so there was a real risk of making a mistake with far-reaching consequences. We tried to drive in a fast and focussed manner, in order to stay in with a good chance for the rest of the rally. That paid dividends. We will have a much better starting position tomorrow. Then it will be someone else’s turn to sweep the streets, just as we had to today. However, there is still a long way to go to get on that podium. I will definitely also be trying to put some pressure on the guys ahead of me.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“I was actually feeling good and had a good rhythm. Everything was going well. But then came a left-hander that got a little tighter than I expected. I made the mistake two days ago during the Recce. My pace notes for this point were probably a bit too optimistic. I skidded, found myself sideways on and hit a stone with the rear-right of the car. That was enough to take the wheel clean off, and that was that for today. Crashes like that make you realise that there is no substitute for experience. We found that out the hard way on our Mexico debut. It is a shame, but we will be back in business tomorrow under Rally2 regulations. We now want to gain as much experience as possible, in order to be able to push hard again here next year.”

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“Today, I would like to pay several huge compliments. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia were in a league of their own, although they were faced with the disadvantage of being one of the first out onto the route. The same compliment goes to Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila, who also made the most of their situation. First and third is a superb result. And we also have our engine department to thank for the success. They did a fantastic job of adjusting the Polo R WRC to cope with the high altitude and came up with an intelligent engine control unit. I take my hat off to them.”

And then there was …
… the air pressure of 742.1 millibars. The Polo R WRC recorded this figure on the “roof of the WRC”. Friday’s “El Chocolate” special stage took the drivers to 2,781 metres above sea level. This anomaly threw up a technological challenge for the engine engineers. The higher you get, the lower the air pressure sinks – in the case of “El Chocolate”, as low as 70% of the normal pressure. Taking into consideration the low oxygen continent of the air, high temperatures and low cooling efficiency, the key was to use the options remaining to perfectly calibrate the engine control unit to cope with the conditions and thus guarantee maximum performance. For comparison: while the Polo R WRC generates 315 hp at the rally in Sweden, only 220 of these remain at 2,781 metres.

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