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  • F1 legend Michael Schumacher back for Race of Champions (RoC) 2013

    • The world’s most successful racing driver Michael Schumacher will compete at the 2013 Race Of Champions in Bangkok on December 14-15
    • The German holds the all-time records for Formula 1 world championships, grand prix victories and pole positions
    • Schumacher will now look to add a ‘lucky’ seventh consecutive victory for Team Germany in the ROC Nations CupSeven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher is the first driver in the line-up for the 2013 Race Of Champions at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium on the weekend of December 14-15.The end-of-season contest, held every year since 1988, brings together the world’s greatest drivers from motor sport’s main disciplines – including Formula 1, world rally, touring cars, Le Mans, MotoGP, IndyCar and the X-Games – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.

      Schumacher has more titles (7), wins (91) and pole positions (68) than anyone else in the history of Formula 1. The German retired from full-time competition at the end of 2012 but he also has a mighty record at the Race Of Champions, having partnered reigning F1 world champion and compatriot Sebastian Vettel to ROC Nations Cup glory in each of the last six years. To rub it in, the pair won ten races out of ten en route to victory last December.

      Now Schumacher will aim to extend that run even further, sending out an ominous warning to any rivals standing between him and his ‘lucky number’ seven: “I am sorry to say but of course we want to win it again! The fact that it will be the seventh title this year makes it even more interesting, at least for me. So be prepared for a hot Team Germany in the ROC Nations Cup.

      “This year I am still spending a lot of time on four wheels, but obviously not in F1. I still do a lot of karting as this is my ‘old’ love, and I have been driving the Mercedes AMG SLS GT3 which was a really good experience. It is obviously different when you are racing every other weekend but I am still quite used to it.”

      Schumacher takes pride in the 2013 fortunes of his old team Mercedes, which is now a regular F1 front-runner, adding: “I am happy for the progression the team has quite clearly made. It means the work we did in the past years was not bad, as indeed we managed to set the basis we wanted to find to then increase the performance. It is cool to see that the step the team took is probably even bigger than expected from last year to this year, and I think I have good reasons to be happy about it.”

      The Race Of Champions brings together stars from all over the world – and the rest of this year’s line-up will be announced in the run-up to December’s event. Along with Schumacher and Vettel’s total of ten Formula 1 world championships, the 2012 field featured a haul of seven MotoGP championships courtesy of Jorge Lorenzo and Mick Doohan, plus greats from Le Mans (Tom Kristensen), touring cars (Andy Priaulx), IndyCar (Ryan Hunter-Reay), V8 Supercars (Jamie Whincup) and more.

      Race organiser Fredrik Johnsson added: “We are proud that Michael so enjoys the Race Of Champions he keeps coming back for more. He may have officially retired from F1 but we all know that hasn’t dimmed his competitive spirit. This will be a rare chance to see the world’s most successful racing driver take on the best of today’s talent in identical machinery. We hope fans from Thailand and around the world will grab this unique opportunity to see this driving legend in action once more.”

      Ticket details will be released shortly. For further information and access to high-resolution imagery please visit www.raceofchampions.com. Sign up for all the latest updates at www.raceofchampions.com, @raceofchampions on Twitter or Race Of Champions on Facebook.

      File photo of Shumacher from Race of Champions organisers
      File photo of Shumacher from Race of Champions organisers

  • Pirelli choses Hard and Medium tyres for Spa-Francorchamps

    Spa-circuit-view-of-the-track Pirelli pic 19Aug2013Milan, 19 August 2013: Before the mid-season break, the Formula One teams visited the slowest permanent track on the calendar: the Hungaroring. Now they head to one of the quickest of all: Spa-Francorchamps, in the foothills of the Ardennes. Pirelli is bringing the P Zero Orange hard and P Zero White medium tyres: the two hardest compounds in the range. These are perfectly suited to the high-energy demands of the circuit, with its rapid corners and fast compressions such as the legendary Eau Rouge. One of the key characteristics of Spa is its variable weather conditions, which means that the Cinturato Green intermediate tyres and Cinturato Blue full wet tyres are also likely to be called into play over the course of the weekend.

    Paul Hembery: “Spa is not only an epic circuit, but also one of the biggest challenges for our tyres all year. Mostly this is because of the very high-energy loads that go all the way through the tyres, both vertically – due to the big compressions such as Eau Rouge – and also laterally at fast corners like Blanchimont. Often, the tyres are subjected to forces acting in different directions at the same time, which increases the work still further. So looking after the tyres is very important, particularly as it’s such a long lap. This means that there are a very wide variety of possible strategies available at Spa as well, with plenty of time to be won and lost if the right tactics are chosen. However, any strategy has to be very flexible, because it’s the changing weather that often makes Spa such a fascinating race. The conditions can change extremely quickly, which then makes how the teams use the intermediate and wet tyres the key to success – as we have seen so often in the past. Both our wet-weather tyres have proved their performance over previous races; with the intermediate tyre in particular showing how well suited it is even to inconsistent and drying conditions. There are plenty of overtaking opportunities, and the blend of performance and durability offered by our nominated tyres should maximise those chances this weekend.”

    Jean Alesi: “Spa is a circuit that everyone talks about and over the years I’ve not heard anybody say anything apart from the fact that it is awesome. It’s so fast and so challenging, but one of the key characteristics is the fact that it’s very long. So it’s never monotonous, as you do very few laps compared to other tracks. Managing the tyres takes a special skill: there are lots of fast corners and the length of the track as well as the variable temperatures mean that your tyres can actually cool down after the first part of the circuit. But in qualifying, if you start off with your tyres too warm, then you won’t get the maximum performance from them throughout the entire length of the lap. There’s a huge amount of variation possible in terms of set-up as well: some teams add downforce to get more grip in the mid part of the lap, and that will also have an effect on how the tyres work. Probably the most important characteristic is the high possibility of rainfall. You can have a completely dry corner and then a fully wet track a few corners later. Underneath the water though, the surface is quite abrasive and offers good grip, so you can still drive. The bigger problem is the sudden rivers of water that run across the track in a zigzag shape: you’ve got to know where they are, so that the aquaplaning doesn’t catch you out. There’s also a lot of spray at Spa when it rains, which makes visibility very difficult in wet conditions.”

    The circuit from a tyre point of view:

    Spa is one of the circuits that has featured on the Formula One world championship since it got underway in 1950. While the track has altered radically over the years (the current layout dates from 1979) it maintains its fast and flowing nature, with an average lap speed in the region of 230kph.

    The circuit is just over seven kilometres in length, making this comfortably the longest lap of the year. Cars are on full throttle for around 80% of the lap, sometimes for more than 20 seconds at a time. The variation in the lap means that starting from pole is not as important as it can be on other circuits.

    At high speeds, aggressive camber angles can cause blistering as heat builds up around the edges of the tyres. However, teams are expected to comply with Pirelli’s maximum recommended camber angles, which should help prevent this phenomenon.

    Further information about Spa and the demands it places on tyres, as well as more information about how tyres are tested in the laboratory, can be found on a 3D animated video starring Pirelli’s Racing Manager Mario Isola. This is copyright-free for media use on Pirelli’s Formula One website: www.pirelli.com/f1pressarea

    Technical tyre notes:

    The big compression at Eau Rouge subjects the front tyres to the highest vertical load of the season: 1000 kilograms.

    The top two last year (Button and Vettel) used a one-stop strategy, while the third-placed finisher (Raikkonen) stopped twice. There was also plenty of variation in the start tyres selected: while most drivers started on the medium tyre, Hulkenberg started on the hard tyre and finished fourth with a two-stop strategy.

    The performance gap between the hard and medium tyre is likely to be more than a second per lap.

    The tyre choices so far:

    PZero Red PZero Yellow PZero White PZero Orange
    Australia Supersoft Medium
    Malaysia Medium Hard
    China Soft Medium
    Bahrain Medium Hard
    Spain Medium Hard
    Monaco Supersoft Soft
    Canada Supersoft Medium
    Great Britain Medium Hard
    Germany Soft Medium
    Hungary Soft Medium
    Belgium Medium Hard

    Meet the Pirelli F1 Team: Jaime Alguersuari and Lucas di Grassi, F1 test drivers

    Once more, Pirelli is able to rely on two high-calibre test drivers this year: Jaime Alguersuari and Lucas di Grassi, from Spain and Brazil respectively. Jaime has done the first two tests this season, while Lucas is scheduled to take over later this year.

    Their work consists of assessing the latest experimental compounds from Pirelli during private tests, driving a 2010 Renault that has been modified to replicate the latest regulations. Once they have driven on the prototype tyres, they give their feedback to Pirelli’s engineers about each compound’s characteristics and how the tyres could be improved for the future. The use of two test drivers ensures that the engineers get two different perspectives and opinions: essential when tyres are being developed for a grid of 22 drivers.

    Jaime became the youngest driver to start a Formula One race when he made his debut in 2009, then he completed two further full season with Toro Rosso before becoming a Pirelli test driver, with a best result of seventh in Italy and Korea in 2011. As well as a skilled racing driver, he is also a talented DJ, topping the charts in Spain.

    Lucas drove for the Virgin Formula One team during its debut season in 2010, taking the car to 14th in Malaysia. He joined Pirelli in 2011 and is also a factory Audi driver in endurance racing, finishing on the podium at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours.

    Other news from Pirelli:

    Pirelli recently announced its return to the World Rally Championship next year, making a comeback following its last spell in the WRC as single tyre supplier from 2008 to 2010. This time, three other tyre suppliers have also been appointed to supply the WRC.

    Pirelli’s last outing in Spa was at the Spa 24 Hours last month. This was one of Pirelli’s biggest-ever logistical operations, with 8552 tyres available on site, transported by a convoy of 19 trucks. The fitting service delivered a tyre every 26 seconds on average (over a 22-hour period).

    Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen tested a GP3 car on Pirelli tyres last week. The Finn tried out the car in Barcelona during an official development test. “The GP3/13 is a very good tool for young drivers, especially when you have to learn about tyre management like we have in F1,” he said.

  • Narain wins Race 1 at Nurburgring for Super Nova International

    Nurburgring, 17 Aug 2013: Narain Karthikeyan (Super Nova International) cruised to his third win of the 2013 Auto GP season in Race 1 at the Nürburgring on Saturday.

    The Indian former Formula 1 racer took-off from the pole and managed to end up in front of Kevin Giovesi (Ghinzani Motorsport) who threw a good challenge to the front. The Italian racer, who lined-up in third place, successfully passed Super Nova International’s Vittorio Ghirelli at the start and managed to finish in a highly-positive second position.

    Ghirelli paid the price of starting on the dirtier part of the track and missed the beat at takeoff, although he brought home a valuable podium position as well as the fastest lap of the race. The drivers received their awards on the podium from Emanuele Pirro. The former F.1 driver, who also starred in the Audi Le Mans squad for a decade, has recently covered the role of driver steward in Formula 1. 

    In fourth place Euronova Racing’s Kimiya Sato sailed to a solitary lead in standings after a tough on-track duel with his main rival Sergio Campana, driving for Ibiza Racing Team. The Modena-based man, who eventually rounded out the top-5, and his Japanese colleague even touched each other before their respective pit-stops, although none of them damaged their cars or infringed any rule. It’s been an exciting challenge for the DTM fans sitting at the Mercedes Arena. The top-6 was rounded out by Tamas Pal Kiss, making his debut with Ibiza Racing Team. He was followed by Robert Visoiu (Ghinzani Motorsport) but the real surprise came from rookie Roberto La Rocca (Comtec by Virtuosi) who ended up in 8th and secured the pole spot for Race 2. 

    Female racer Michela Cerruti, fielded by MLR71, also enjoyed a good debut race by topping Yoshitaka Kuroda (Euronova Racing) for 9th. On the other hand Daniel De Jong, driving for MP Motorsport, was forced to retire after a contact with Michele La Rosa (MLR71), who was penalized with a drive-through. A penalty was also assessed to De Jong’s team-mate Meindert Van Buuren for having cut the chicane and gained an advantage, while Andrea Roda (Virtuosi UK) lost valuable time in the opening part of the day due to a contact and a damaged front wing.

    Narain Karthikeyan said: “I’m very happy to have scored my third win this season, which is also the second straight one and a great boost to our championship chances. I had a good start from the pole, and then I managed to pass Giovesi at the end of the pit-stops. I’m proud to have provided my team with another well-deserved satisfaction”.

    Kevin Giovesi: “I made up one spot at the start by passing Ghirelli and then stayed in Karthikeyan’s slipstream. As I couldn’t edge him on-track, we tried with the strategy in the pits and we had almost made it. Unfortunately, due to the cold tires I overshot the braking for the first corner and had to surrender the lead”.

    Vittorio Ghirelli: “The fastest lap of the race shows how quick our car was today. Unfortunately, I was forced to start on the dirty side of the track and that cost me one position on Giovesi”.

    ends

  • F1 2013 mid-season review

    As the motorsport calendar reaches its mid-point, FIA.com takes a look at the championships in a mid-season review. Today it’s the turn of Formula One.

    The first half of the 2013 Formula One season was dominated by talk of tyres. But with teams now on top of the new Pirelli constructions, the run to the chequered flag in Interlagos promises to provide dramatic racing between the grid’s top talents.

    Despite Red Bull’s strong lead in the constructors’ standings, the 2013 season has not been an easy one for the team. During the Malaysian Grand Prix, in-house politics were brought dramatically to the fore when Sebastian Vettel ignored team orders and overtook teammate Mark Webber for the win. And the team’s usual strategy of taking advantage of Vettel’s qualifying pace to put the German on pole with a view to securing a lights-to-flag win has not paid off this season, thanks in no small part to Mercedes’ Saturday dominance.

    Lewis Hamilton was roundly criticised for his decision to move from McLaren to the Silver Arrows this season, but the Briton has secured four poles, one victory, and three podium finishes, while teammate Nico Rosberg has three poles and two wins to his name. Those seven combined pole positions have proved to be a thorn in Red Bull’s side, and now that the Mercedes appears to have overcome its severe degradation issues the Brackley racers are in a strong position to remain in the fight during the nine races to come.

    But Red Bull are not an easy team to beat; they have proved themselves capable of both impressive car development and consistency where it matters – on track. Their 69 point lead in the constructors’ standings is not unassailable, but it does give the team a strong advantage heading into the second half of the season.

    Lotus started 2013 on a high, with a win for Kimi Raikkonen in Melbourne. But that early strong form has not led to further victories for the Finn or for the team, with Raikkonen collecting five second-place finishes while teammate Romain Grosjean has two third-places to his name. While Lotus have been in the fight at every race, thanks partly to a car that has run well on the 2013 tyres whatever their specification, the E21 has not had the outright pace in qualifying to make Sundays easy for the team.

    It has proved to be a disappointing year for Ferrari, even though the team are third in the constructors’ standings, with Fernando Alonso third in the drivers’. The F138 proved itself to be an early-season race winner, with victories in China and Spain, but poor qualifying results have hampered the team’s efforts to challenge Red Bull and Mercedes for wins since the European season began in earnest. Alonso should never be discounted from a title challenge, but the Spanish racer’s growing frustration is causing public ructions within the team. On the other side of the garage, Felipe Massa’s season has been moving in a downward trajectory after a strong start that saw the Brazilian outqualify his teammate on a regular basis.

    One of the biggest surprisesof the season was McLaren’s dramatic slump in form, with the usual front-runners finding themselves struggling in the mid-field. Thanks to a mid-summer improvement, the Woking racers left Budapest only two points shy of technology customers Force India in the constructors’ standings. Based on recent performances, the second half of the season should see McLaren back in the fight nearer the front, with Jenson Button predicting a podium finish in Spa.

    Force India have had an impressive season, building a car that far outshines the team’s resources – humble, compared to many of their rivals. Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta have both delivered on track, regularly finishing in the points and establishing Force India as the strongest of the mid-field contenders. The similarly budgeted Sauber have had a far more challenging year, arriving in Melbourne with a car that struggled with rear-end stability and two drivers new to the team. Nico Hulkenberg has done his best with the equipment at his disposal, securing the team’s seven points, while teammate Esteban Gutierrez has acquitted himself well for a rookie.

    Toro Rosso are not  a team fighting for titles and wins, although the Firenza-based team has shown significant progress this season, thanks in no small part to strong qualifying performances from Daniel Ricciardo and impressive race drives from Jean-Eric Vergne. The Toro Rosso battle has been between two teammates fighting it out for the chance to replace the departing Webber at Red Bull, and while Ricciardo is the top pick from the junior team, Raikkonen is also on the radar.

    Further down the grid, it has been a disappointing season for Williams, who brought home their first point of the year from Budapest. The car lacks downforce and has proved challenging enough for both Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas to drive that the Grove racers undertook a mid-season overhaul of their technical team. It may be too late for a 2013 turnaround, however.

    Marussia and Caterham continue their battle for 10th, with Marussia overhauling their rivals in the standings for the first time since the two teams joined the fray in 2010. Both teams started the 2013 with new driver line-ups, and Marussia’s rookie pairing of Jules Bianchi and Charles Pic were treated to a more stable car to drive than rivals Giedo van der Garde and Charles Pic. By the Bahrain Grand Prix, Caterham’s struggles were such that the team drafted in ex-driver Heikki Kovalainen to advise on improvements.

    While the first half of the season was dominated by the tyres, the second half promises much in the way of close racing and a thrilling fight to the finish in Interlagos.

    ends

  • Podium finish for Raj Bharath at Korea

    Seoul, 10 Aug 2013: Indian racing driver Raj Bharath’s first outing here at the Inje Circuit for round four of the Formula Masters China series kicked off on a difficult note after he managed to overcome a disastrous qualifying session to win the second race of the day, only to be disqualified after being deemed to passing under yellow flags.

    The 4.2-kilometer circuit, which is located two hours outside of the capital city Seoul, is an extremely challenging layout for the drivers featuring 19 corners with a lot of cambered sections and elevation changes. Earlier in the week, Raj started the proceedings on a solid note as he seemed to adapt to the undulating surface well, topping the open test session on Friday, according to a Meco Motorsports press release.

    Raj Bharat finishes third in Race 1 at Korea. Photo by Meco Motorsports
    Raj Bharat finishes third in Race 1 at Korea. Photo by Meco Motorsports

    “It is a really demanding layout, it doesn’t really have too many long straights where you can take a break – you’re always busy and the cambered corners give a very different sensation of grip”, said Raj after his first impressions of the circuit.

    But as the track gripped up in the following sessions, the setup changes didn’t seem to bring in the expected gains and come qualifying, Raj fell short of a few tenths in lap time. With the Formula Masters grid being exceptionally tight, he qualified seventh on the grid for race one and fourth for the third race of the weekend.

    “We were still figuring out how to make up those final tenths and we managed to make a step forward from the first to the second qualifying session, so I was feeling positive for the race even though I was starting way back in seventh”, Raj clarified.

    As the lights went out for the rain-soaked race one, Raj immediately set out to climb his way up the grid, coming through the pack despite exceptionally low visibility as cars in front bunched up and threw up a blinding spray. After pulling off some brave passes, he eventually finished third while setting the fastest lap of the race. Raj’s best lap was a 1:45.545s was seven-tenths quicker than the second fastest lap of the race. The fastest lap under torrid conditions also earned Raj pole position for race two.

    “I was really happy with my pace in race two, and finishing on the podium after starting seventh was an added bonus”, remarked Raj.

    Unfortunately though, race two turned out to be a disappointment as it was started under safety car as torrential rain meant that conditions were deemed too unsafe for a normal start. The safety car was brought in after two laps and the drivers were allowed to race for two laps, but the safety car was deployed once again for the next five lap, and the race was ended prematurely after just eight laps.

    Somewhere amidst the chaos, Raj had been passed by Akash Nandy for the lead and the Indian driver managed to pass him back, but little did he know that he made his move under yellow flags.

    Post-race, Raj’s victory was taken away as he was awarded a 20-second post-race penalty, which meant he lost valuable points in a race he could have easily won.

    “I couldn’t believe when they told me, right after I had been on the podium and collected the winner’s trophy and everything, but that’s how it works sometimes”, he dejectedly said.

    “Luckily only half points were awarded as the race was ended prematurely – so we didn’t lose out as much as we could have”, he added.

    “Also, championship leader Afiq Yazid was also penalised for overtaking under yellows, so overall we didn’t suffer a huge hit in the championship standings. Once the final two races are done tomorrow, we’ll do the math and see where we stand”, he clarified.

    Raj will start race three from fourth place, with the fastest lap order determining the starting grid for the fourth and final race of the weekend.

    ABOUT RAJ BHARATH:

    Born November 20, 1994 in Bangalore, Raj took his first steps in motorsport with karting in 2008 – like all aspiring F1 drivers. Then aged 14, he immediately showed glimpses of his potential in his debut year, winning the trophy for the ‘Most promising rookie of the year’ in the National Karting championship.

    He eventually won the title in 2010 and progressed to Formula BMW Asia in 2011 followed by the Ferrari Academy supported Formula Pilota in 2012.

    For 2013, Raj aims to participate in the Formula Masters China and win the championship before moving to Europe in 2014, and getting closer to his aim of making it to Formula 1. He posted his first victory of the season at the Shanghai International Circuit in May.

    Career highlights:

    2008       Most promising rookie in the JK Rotax Karting championship.

    2009       Second runner-up in JK Rotax Max Karting championship.
    2010       Rotax Max Karting NATIONAL CHAMPION.
    2011       Debut in Formula BMW Asia Pacific – five top ten finishes.
    2012       Formula Pilota China – 10 podium finishes and three wins.

    Formula Masters China car specifications

    Chassis: Tatuus FA010, FIA F3 homologated
    Engine:     Volkswagen Formula EVO 2.0
    Gearbox: Six-speed sequential with LSD
    Power:     180 PS
    Torque:     200Nm
    Suspension: Double-wishbone with pushrod activation
    Brakes:     Four-pot Dixcel calipers
    Tyres:     Front – 180/550 R13
    Rear – 240/570 R13
    Weight:     540kg with driver

    Formula Masters China calendar

    Zhuhai (China)                  10-12 May

    Shanghai (China)             24-26 May
    Ordos (China)                        05-07 July
    Inje (Korea)                            9-11 August
    Sepang (Malaysia)              13-15 Sep
    Shanghai (China)                 25-27 Oct
    Macau Grand Prix                 8-10 Nov

     

    ends

  • A dream come true: Ogier at post-event Press Meet

    2013 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
    NESTE OIL RALLY FINLAND
    Post-event Press Conference
    Saturday 3 August 
    Present:
    1st – Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Motorsport
    1st – Julien Ingrassia, Volkswagen Motorsport 
    2nd – Thierry Neuville, Qatar World Rally Team
    2nd – Nicolas Gilsoul, Qatar World Rally Team
    3rd – Mads Østberg, Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team
    3rd – Jonas Andersson, Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team
    Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
    Q:
    Sébastien, you said before this event that you dreamt of winning Finland, the dream is now a reality, how do you feel?
    SO:
    Of course very well. That was a dream that came true. I am very happy with that. In 2010, I was in a good pace, but not able to fight for the win, but now it’s here. With my team Volkwagen in its first year, I want to congratulate them – it’s incredible. We are going to celebrate tonight…
    Q:
    Did you have a definite strategy for this event?
    SO:
    My stategy was to think about the Championship. My start to the race was a bit difficult, I couldn’t find the best pace – I wasn’t able to focus. Then on the second loop I could find more pace when I was sure with the notes. I was pushing and trying to be more safe – with the rain some parts of the stage were tricky and rough. We got through them and finished the rally with no problem.
    Q:
    On Thursday you said you had too much on your mind to concentrate on the win – what did you mean?
    SO:
    I knew my closest rival was out of the race for points and then I had a good opportunity to make good points. But, even if it looks really good at this moment you never know and it’s best to secure as many points as early as possible. I tried to stay on a good pace on the first loop and then push more and extend the lead in the second loop – this was the good strategy. Like always, I trusted my feeling: when I hesitate I like to keep it a bit back and wait for the next one.
    Q:
    You won both runs of Ouninpohja and broke the record – how was the stage?
    SO:
    I think I mentioned from the start of the rally that I was really looking forward to this stage and I would be trying to drive fast. This was my first time with the World Rally Car and it was impressive to see the speed that we carry the first time. Even if you have watched the video a little bit before and you trust the pace notes 100 per cent, the heart rhythm goes higher. When I was sure with the notes and we pushed, it was a lot of fun. In the end, it was hard with the tyres completely gone – it was too hot for the softs. It was fantastic to drive this stage and it’s also a small bonus to have this record.
    Q:
    Can you win the title on the next round?
    SO:
    To be honest, I didn’t do the calculation, but I know I have more than three victories for the advantage. Mathematically, it’s possible, but quite difficult. The most important thing is that it happens – I don’t care where, if it’s Australia, France or even later, I will be very happy for that. We have seen this weekend that competing is not easy, it looks easy, but in each rally it’s tough. Thierry and Mads have both made a very good job and Mikko as well before his mistake, he also made it look tough. It will be a big fight to the end of the season. l hope it [the title] happens as soon as possible to get my mind really clear – then I can push even more completely to the limit. This is another great step.
    Q:
    I can see Julien doing the maths in his head…
    JI:
    We did it on the computer, but I’m not sure it’s possible in Germany.
    SO:
    Yes,  because it’s more than three victories for Germany and if Jari-Matti and Mikko don’t score points then it’s possible.
    JI:
    It’s slender…
    SO:
    It’s what I say – I don’t think it’s going to happen.
    JOST CAPITO:
    I just wanted to say that Seb and Julien have been out this world – they were outstanding, especially with Julien coming back and doing all the preparation needed. I am not sure I have ever seen such a performance anywhere.
    SO:
    Thanks a lot Jost and thanks also to JulIen, without him this would not be possible.
    JI:
    Thanks for that, and I have a song for you… just 20 seconds. AC/DC again. It’s a long way to the top for rock and roll!
    Q:
    Julien, you came to this event carrying an injury, how has the shoulder handled the rally?
    JI:
    It has been really great. When I took the decision to come into the car it was not to make him stop in the stage or at the end of the day. Only on one stage I had a little bit of pain, otherwise it was great.
    Q:
    What’s it like to co-drive at those speeds?
    JI:
    Before the event, I was asked if it would be strange to get into the car without testing at this speed, but the body gets used to this after the years. You can feel it. Once you are in the stage and you know the driver will push like hell to make the best time in Ouninpohja then it takes another spirit. It was an experience you cannot forget for sure.
    Q:
    Were there any moments?
    JI:
    I must be honest, he did everything under control. I don’t think we had a moment this weekend. Yeah, one or two times the car lifted a little more than scheduled, but it was under control, congratulations to him he did a really great job.
    Q:
    Thierry, second position at Rally Finland – an incredible battle with a great result for you. Your season just keeps getting better!
    TN:
    I can only feel good. Nicolas and me did a really good job. I had good confidence from the last few results and we were able to fight and go and see where is the maximum. We found a good rhythm between just driving and pushing. Sometimes in the ruts, you had to be careful not to puncture – we got one but we got through. This is only my second time [in Finland] and everybody says you need lots of experience but we did good preparation and we made good notes which helped us to do a good result and have good pace.
    Q:
    When did you think a win was out of the question?
    TN:
    I was not thinking about the win. I knew Seb would be very strong and nearly impossible to beat. After the first day I could see he was not in such a good rhythm and it was going well for us… so I thought a podium was possible. But then Mads continued to push very quickly on Friday morning and he gave [took] 11 seconds and I knew then that we had to wake up. Once I was in the rhythm, then we were nearly always on the same stage time. I knew if I continue like this, I would stay out of trouble – but I had to push for the podium.
    Q:
    Going into the second running of Ouninpohja you were just 0.1 second behind Mads Ostberg, what was your thinking before going into the stage?
    TN:
    On the start line I was a little nervous. I could see Mads going into the stage in front of me and he was very fast into the first corner. I could see he was pushing and I had no choice. We did it and we are here. It’s a shame he had the stone [in Ouninpohja], I saw it as well. We had the same speed, but it went right for me.
    Q:
    Power Stage points as well – were you not nervous that you may make a mistake on the final stage?
    TN:
    I don’t know if Sébastien was on his maximum pace. I talk to Nicolas and said that we would go slowly, but then on the first braking it felt good and we went well around this corner. So I continue to the first split, the first split [we] were down and I thought: “okay, two points…” But then Sébastien was down to me and at the end I had a good drive – three points. Now I am equal with Jari-Matti and I just need a victory to get past him.
    Q:
    Is a victory possible?
    TN:
    It’s possible, but I think Sébastien needs to be in trouble. I am really looking forward to the first Tarmac event in Germany. I did it twice now, but I need to see how the Fiesta is working and if we can find good settings. If I do then it’s possible to fight with the Volkswagens and the Citroëns.
    Q:
    Nicolas, congratulations. How were your preparations for this event?
    NG:
    For each event, we do massive preparation. Here we have experience from last year and it’s important to watch the video to remember how the stages are and all the conditions we can find during the rally.
    Q:
    How are you feeling about the result?
    NG:
    It’s a very nice feeling and it’s nice to see in Sardinia on a completely different rally six weeks ago, we are second there and we are second here. The speed is there and it looks like an interesting step for us.
    Q:
    The next step’s a win – is it close?
    NG:
    I hope so, but we stay focused and continue to work – we have to stay clever for the second part of the season. We are very close to second in the Championship so we have to discuss the plan for the second part.
    Q:
    Third position overall and an incredible fight Mads, congratulations. That is certainly a good way to kick off the second half of the season!
    MO:
    This has turned it around, doing a rally with no problems is a big step. The car was really good this weekend. Okay we had some pucntures, but anyway almost everything has worked really well – it’s nice for the confidence that we have the speed and have been fastest on many stages. We have been able to fight for the top positions and I’m really looking forward to having my confidence back!
    Q:
    You led the rally and battled away, always at the front of the field. How happy were you with your pace this weekend?
    MO:
    I definitely think this was a good weekend after such a difficult first half of the season. My confidence was zero and it was difficult to know how to turn this around when so many different things were going on. If I wasn’t going flat-out all the time, I could turn it around, but it was difficult. With the break, I was able to understand what we needed to work on. I was really looking forward to Finland, even if the confidence was not very high. We saw early on the speed was quite good, then we slowly tried to get the confidence back, even if the speed didn’t change much. It feels better at the end of the rally and it will be easier to start a rally again after this weekend.
    Q:
    You were pretty psyched for the battle today…
    MO:
    For sure, but like I said, our confidence was not so high. We have been without splits all the time, I just wanted to focus on ourselves and only drive as fast as I can. I didn’t want to go to the maximum, I needed to be at the end of the rally. We decided to go maximum inside my comfortable level and more than that I wouldn’t do; if he was faster then he was faster and he was – I’m happy with third.
    Q:
    The second running of Ouninpohja is where the battle for second ended, what happened?
    MO:
    It’s a very fast section at the end of the stage – fast and narrow: slightly uphill braking to a third-gear right. I braked and turned and when I got back on the throttle I saw a massive rock on the line, actually it was further out than the line. I knew if I hit that then definitely it would end the rally, but if I go around it then something could also probably happen… I tried to go around it and for a moment I thought I would pass and continue. But I hit something on the exit and we spin for 180 degrees. I understand immediately that second is not possible and from then on it was all about hoping the car was okay and that we could get to the end.
    Q:
    Jonas, how important was this for your confidence?
    JA:
    Like Mads said, it was important. It’s nice to have a break and get ready for the rally – this worked very well. We could step up at the weekend and we are really happy with the result.
    Q:
    What’s it like for the co-drivers in the battle?
    JA:
    It’s the same as for the drivers. We are competing together and even if we are good friends we still want to beat them, it’s always great to have a battle and it’s been so close through the stages. I have enjoyed it.
    Q:
    Is there any fighting talk between the co-drivers?
    JA:
    No, not really.
    Q:
    Jost, to win in Finland is not only a driver’s dream but also a manufacturer’s dream! How do the team feel about this success?
    JC:
    It’s really fantastic. If you ask the team and driver, even ask the car – if it could speak – which event it would like to win everyone would say Finland. We really pushed hard. Our boss Dr. Hackenberg has moved to Audi and we are very thankful to him. He made this programme and result happen – this is a nice farewell present. This is the last rally he is in charge before Dr. Neußer is coming and this is a nice welcome present for him. I am very happy for these presents.
    Q:
    We expected a big attack from Jari-Matti, what were your thoughts on that?
    JC:
    We are very sorry for Jari-Matti, it was not at all his fault – it was his experience in the first season and the car should have been able to cope with hitting this rock and it did not. This is the second time he has had this and we are really sorry that we messed up his rally.
    Q:
    We heard Andreas’ co-driver Mikko Markkula had a problem with his back, what can you tell us?
    JC:
    He finished the rally and that was his decision, we told him that if he did not want to do the second loop then it was fine with us. They wanted the experience and they did it – when he came back he said it was the right decision. Now he has to get ready for Germany.
    Q:
    What do you think of Finland as a blueprint for WRC rounds?
    JC:
    Rally Finland is the role model for WRC events. The position of the service park is close to the hotels and the city is great and there are a lot of activities for the spectators. The infrastructure in service: water, electric, it’s all there and the stages are also reasonably close. And the stages are fantastic. This is why the whole area and people from outside love the rally here – this is why people love coming here and it’s why from tomorrow we all want to come back here.
    FIA WRC 2 CHAMPIONSHIP 
    Present:
    1st – Jari Ketomaa
    1st – Markko Sallinen
    Q:
    Jari, a win in Finland and the first win for the R5 in competiton. You led from the start and made it look easy!
    JK:
    Perfect. I have been so many times in Finland doing once good times in a World Rally Car. It’s my dream to win the whole rally, but step-by-step and maybe to the podium in WRC. Let’s see, but this was the perfect weekend.
    Q:
    How was the feeling with the R5 this weekend?
    JK:
    Like I have said many times from the first metres I did in the car, it felt very, very good and I knew I could push the car hard. It’s difficult to drive the car when you are not on the limit, but I felt the limit and I really found this car suited my style. I felt on the first run on the test in Latvia that I could push as hard as I could. Then I wanted to see how close the other cars are. This was a very good tactic, the other guys had no chance…
    Q:
    Tell us about the new DMACK tyre you were working with, how did they perform?
    JK:
    They were unbelievable! It was like coming from previous years, like 2011 to last year. In Ouninpohja, I had told DMACK they needed to improve the grip on the high-speed: when you are going 150 kph over a crest you need to know the tyre will be there and it was. Last autumn we did a huge development and now we can see the product of that work – it’s one year after. In Finland you have to have the high-performance tyre, if you don’t have this, if you have the s**t tyre then completely you can’t do it. This is the big proof from the tyre point and there is new development coming and new tyres coming. It’s been great for me to follow that development which has been happening.
    Q:
    Did you have any moments?
    JK:
    There was some huge rainfall in Himos, second time through and a lot of water on the uphill section where I almost spun. We got in the ditch there and then we had a huge slide on the final stage – it was with the full steering. But that was it for the whole weekend.
    Q:
    What about the rest of the season?
    JK:
    Tomorrow my daughter is in my grandmother’s place and we go to the summer house and have fun. I do the Chinese Championship after two weeks, but I am completely open if somebody comes to save me, please come!
    Q:
    But this result has to help?
    JK:
    It was a strong event. We did a local event in 2010 with Marko [Sallinen] as my co-driver for the first time. He did the perfect event then and I worked with him since. I called him three weeks ago, when Kaj [Lindstrom] couldn’t come and it was great to work with him. I hope something comes up, I am confident I can do a great job.
    Q:
    Not being rude, but your co-driver doesn’t speak English… did he have a good time?
    JK:
    Yes! Marko is happy, he is having a good time.
    FIA WRC 3 CHAMPIONSHIP
    Present:
    1st – Keith Cronin
    1st – Marshall Clarke
    Q:
    Keith your first win as part of the WRC 3 and Citroën Top Driver programme – and the win is here in Finland, a rally every driver wants to claim. How does it feel?
    KC:
    The feeling is absolutely brilliant. This was my first time in Finland and winning WRC 3 is great. We’ve shown the pace in the last three, but it’s gone away. We got the result this time. I didn’t expect it. You hear so much about Finland, I thought I might be at a disadvantage to the other drivers who have done it before, but I had a good feeling right away. There was a battle with Alastair [Fisher], but unfortunately he had his accident and after that we kept the gap the same.
    Q:
    You battled with Alastair Fisher until his off, how much pressure were you putting on each other?
    KC:
    I don’t think I was taking huge risks. I was a bit ragged, but I could have gone quicker if I tidied up. Alastair had it at the very beginning, but I was confident I could keep upping the pace. I didn’t feel I was taking massive risks. It’s hard in Finland, not knowing where the car would land.
    Q:
    Does this give your confidence a boost?
    KC:
    It’s huge for Germany. It’s back onto Tarmac and now I’m pretty confident that we can go well on Tarmac if we can bring this pace. Hopefully we can get a result there. There are three [events] to go and they’re all new to me, I need to keep doing good recces and I hope the results will come.
    Q:
    Remind us of the prize…
    KC:
    Winning Citroën Top Driver, you get a drive in a Citroën [DS3] R5 next year in the World Rally Championship – it’s a massive prize from Citroën and I have to thank them for it. I hope I’ll win it and be back here next year.
    Q:
    Were you tense in the car?
    KC:
    I was definitely very tense. After the stage when Alastair went off, the tension went up in the car and I didn’t drive it well at all – there’s so much at stake. I didn’t have a great Ouninpohja, but I got over that and found the rhythm. There were a lot of rocks in the next stage and I tried to avoid any holes in the road. I avoided the punctures and it worked out in the end.
    Q:
    Were there any big moments out there? Any dramas?
    MC:
    Sitting with Keith the faster he goes, the smoother he becomes. If he’s ragged then he’s nowhere near the limit. We didn’t have any moments, nothing to talk about.
    Q:
    Marshall, confidence needs to be high competing here – how did you rate your chances of a win before the event began?
    MC:
    No way. Having watched Finland all these years and hearing how specialised it is I didn’t think it was possible, it wasn’t a question of the speed, it was about the knowledge over the crests and all about lines. To be here on the podium after winning is fantastic.
    Q:
    How was the recce; did you make many changes to the notes?
    MC:
    Not many on the rally, maybe the odd plus to minus. Keith is very professional at making good notes and paying a lot of attention on the recce and that’s where the hard work is done – we took all the time we were allowed to take and it’s paid off in the end.
    Q:
    Were you a calming influence for Keith in the car?
    MC:
    Keith’s his own man and he tends not to get too excited about very much, as you can see. I didn’t need to slap his wrists at all. We were calm through Ouninpohja, but my maths must be getting bad, I have counted and counted to make sure I didn’t make a mistake – watching the trip and the clock.
    FIA JUNIOR WRC CHAMPIONSHIP
    Present:
    1st – Andreas Amberg
    1st – Mikko Lukka
    Q:
    Andreas, congratulations on your first win in the Junior WRC Championship. A win at home must be special?
    AA:
    I am very happy for that. It was not an easy event for us, but we won and I’m really happy for that.
    Q:
    Why not easy?
    AA:
    On the Friday afternoon, we had a little technical issue, but I have forgotten that already. The other guys had little bit problem too, so no problem.
    Q:
    What about your run through Ouninpohja
    AA:
    This was an amazing stage – we jumped too long and one stone came to the windscreen and that was broken, it’s not an easy stage to drive, but I enjoy it a lot.
    Q:
    What did it mean when you crossed the line?
    AA:
    It was a good feeling. I have been dreaming, when I was young, to be in Jyväskylä. I won and I am really happy.
    Q:
    Sébastien Ogier gave you some good advice before the rally, did it help?
    AA:
    Of course. He had a few good tips.
    Q:
    What about the rest of the season – are you strong enough to win more?
    AA:
    Yes, of course, but it won’t be easy on Tarmac. I haven’t driven one event on Tarmac, so I don’t know what will be my speed on Tarmac.
    Q:
    Mikko, talk us through the rally…
    ML:
    It’s a nice feeling to win the home rally. It’s nice.
    Q:
    Were there any big moments?
    ML:
    Not any big moments, a few huge slides, but not any big moments.
    Q:
    You must take confidence from here?
    ML:
    This was the first time being here and of course we are feeling comfortable and better and better when you win – especially on the fast roads. We like the Finnish roads!
    ends

    Sebastian Ogier after winning the Rally Finland. A Volkswagen photo
    Sebastian Ogier after winning the Rally Finland. A Volkswagen photo

  • Sébastien Ogier wins Finland rally; His 5th win for Volkswagen

    3 August 2013: Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) claimed their fifth win of the season with Volkswagen in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) – and took a big step towards the World Championship title in the process. 180 km/h through the Finnish forests, jumps of up to 60 metres in length, and all between the ubiquitous trees: the WRC put on a thrilling show for hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic fans in Finland, who saw the overall lead constantly change hands on the first two days of the rally, a Volkswagen Press Release said.

    A sixth triumph for the Polo R WRC in only its eighth rally outing saw Ogier and Ingrassia extend their lead in both the driver and co-driver standings to 90 points. Volkswagen also increased its advantage in the Manufacturers’ Championship. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) finished 17th in the Polo R WRC and contributed six points to the total. Their team-mates Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN) ended their home rally in tenth place, earning them one World Championship point.

    King at the rally of all rallies – Ogier fulfils his dream of winning in Finland

    The Rally Finland has been taking place since 1951, and Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia this year became only the fifth duo from outside of Scandinavia and Finland to win the rally. 2013 marked the eleventh time that a non-Nordic driver had won this iconic event in the World Rally Championship: in 1990 it was current Volkswagen Motorsport consultant Carlos Sainz (E) and his co-driver Luis Moya who broke the stranglehold of the Finn’s and Swedes for the first time.

    For Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, the fifth win of the 2013 season also marked a long-awaited first. The Rally Finland is a legend in itself: while the average speed at other rallies is around 80 kilometres per hour, it was exactly 120.91 km/h at the 2013 Rally Finland. The event, which every year attracts hundreds of thousands of fans to the forests and banks of the many lakes, is renowned for its ideal route conditions and quick sections lined by a thick wall of trees. Many blind crests and jumps of around 60 metres round off the unmistakable character of the rally.

    Polo R WRC Power – impressive record at the full-throttle bonanza

    Top-class results for the Polo R WRC at the Rally Finland: the World Rally Car from Wolfsburg claimed twelve stage wins and a total of 24 top-three times, making it the most successful car at “Formula One in the Forest”. Since its debut at the Rally Monte Carlo in January 2013, the Polo has now amassed an incredible 81 of a possible 143 stage wins. Furthermore, six of the eight World Championship rounds so far have gone to Volkswagen – an impressive record for a car making its debut in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

    Three bonus points on the Power Stage

    Another three bonus World Championship points went the way of Volkswagen at the Rally Finland: Volkswagen drivers Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala finished second and third on the Power Stage. This allowed Jari-Matti Latvala to defend his second place in the Drivers’ Championship: he is now level on points with Thierry Neuville, but holds the upper hand courtesy of his win at the Rally Greece and the resulting better individual result. Prior to the Rally Finland, Volkswagen had won every Power Stage held this season.

    The incredible “Ouninpohja” – Ogier shows his class on the rally classic

    Two stage wins were particularly special: winning the mother of all stages at the fastest rally in the world, “Ouninpohja” is seen as a real accolade. Even on the eve of the stage, the mere thought of the classic brought a broad grin onto the face of Sébastien Ogier. On the final day, the World Championship leader demonstrated his class on this extremely challenging stage, which features jumps approaching the 60-metre mark. Ogier clinched the first run with a 2.6 second lead, and then finished 4.6 seconds clear of the rest of the field on when they tackled it for the second time. The icing on the cake: with a time of 15 minutes and 8.9 seconds, Ogier now holds the stage record on “Ouninpohja”. His average speed as he tore through the forests: 130.75 kilometres per hour.

    Impressive fighting performance: Latvala bags points for the Manufacturers’ Championship

    Great personal disappointment on the one hand, but even greater team spirit on the other: at their home event, Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) secured valuable points for Volkswagen in the battle for the title in the Manufacturers’ Championship. The Finnish duo, who had come into its home rally on the back of four consecutive podiums as the most consistent pair in the World Rally Championship, hit a rock at the side of the road on the second special stage and consequently had to retire with a damaged suspension. When they rejoined the action on day two, under Rally2 regulations, Latvala/Anttila battled their way to nine top-three times for Volkswagen and six World Championship points. Volkswagen Motorsport was thus able to extend its lead over Citroën in the Manufacturers’ Championship by a further nine points to 55.

    A show of maturity: Mikkelsen impresses with consistent results

    On course for a top-five result, a technical problem prevented Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN) from picking up another impressive result. The duo consistently clocked top-ten times before they were stopped in their tracks by a damaged suspension that was none of their fault. After their return under Rally2 regulations on the final day, they confirmed their arrival in the field of established WRC drivers with yet more fine displays – including on the legendary “Ouninpohja” special stage. In the end, their efforts were rewarded: Mikkelsen worked his way back up to tenth place to finish in the points.

    Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia will go into Volkswagen’s home event at the Rally Germany (22–25 August) with a purely mathematical chance of winning both the driver and co-driver competitions: should they increase their lead over their rivals by 22 points to 112, they would be out of reach of the chasing pack and guaranteed the titles.

    Quotes after day three of the Rally Finland

    Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #7
    “Generally speaking I am not happy, as I had come into the event with high hopes. My rally started with a mistake, which cost me any chance of a podium finish. However, I was able to increase my pace by the time we reached the Power Stage at the end of the rally, and my co-driver Miikka Anttila and I still managed to score six points towards the Manufacturers’ Championship. We also used the rally to try out different set-ups, in order to prepare for the coming rallies. We now move on to Volkswagen’s home rally in Germany and I really hope to be back on the podium there.”

    Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #8
    “It is impossible to describe how I feel! This win here in Finland is a dream come true for me. And to win in Sweden as well this year – it is a great feeling to win these two rallies this year ahead of the Nordic guys like Mads Østberg, Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala. With a lead of over 30 from the first two days, I did not want to take too many risks today. Only on the ‘Ouninpohja’ special stage did I really push myself to the limit, as that stage is simply fantastic. For me, it was the first time in a World Rally Car and the speed with the Polo R WRC left me speechless. You pulse starts to race, you are full of adrenalin, and you enjoy every jump and every metre. My lead in the World Rally Championship has increased, but I am not concentrating on that today – I just want to enjoy the win with my team now. Without our well-oiled team, I would not be on the top step here.”

    Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
    “We learned a lot here at the Rally Finland. We gained more experience again today. The ‘Ouninpohja’ special stage was simply unbelievable. I remember what it was like driving that stage in the S2000 Škoda last year. But you have so much more grip in the Polo R WRC that you could take many passages in sixth gear and at the rev limit. The goal was to learn as much as possible on both runs, in order to be able to attack next year. On this stage, and today’s other stages, we concentrated fully on finding the right line and not taking any risks. Despite the suspension damage we suffered yesterday, which unfortunately dashed any hopes we had of a top-five finish, we are happy with what we achieved.”

    Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
    “The Rally Finland is a true legend, and winning it is very special. We have a great team which made all this possible. From the Engine and Transmission departments to team management, mechanics and designers – I am proud of everyone. This time, however, you have to highlight the driving performance of Sébastien Ogier. The Rally Finland showed that Ford, Citroën and Volkswagen are operating on a par with each other. Sébastien was the difference this time. This win sees him deservedly take a big step towards the World Championship title. Jari-Matti Latvala definitely did not have a happy weekend. We must learn as a team from his retirement on day one. Our engineers will analyse the incident in detail and further improve the Polo R WRC. Andreas Mikkelsen performed well throughout the entire rally and was on a par with the top drivers in the World Championship. That is impressive.”

    And then there was …
    … rally legend Markku Alén. The four-time World Rally Champion was in front of the camera as a present and expert for Finnish TV station MTV3. Volkswagen will soon be reunited with “Mr. Maximum Attack”: Alén lines up in the Legends competition when the Scirocco R-Cup heads to the Nürburgring (August) for its fourth race weekend.
    FIA World Rally Championship (WRC),
    Rally Finland – results
    Thursday,
    01 August 2013    		 km #7
    Latvala/
    Anttila    		 #8
    Ogier/
    Ingrassia    		 #9
    Mikkelsen/
    Markkula
    SS 01 Himos 1 04,45 P02
    (+ 1.2s)    		 P01 P07
    (+ 2.4s)
    SS 02 Torittu 1 08,30 P29
    (+ 39.2s)    		 P05
    (+ 3.1s)    		 P06
    (+ 4.4s)
    SS 03 Koukunmaa 1 13,68 P89
    (+3m02.3s    		 P01 P07
    (+ 6.7s)
    SS 04 Torittu 2 08,30 P87
    (+2m27.1s    		 P04
    (+ 2.7s)    		 P10
    (+ 9.8s)
    SS 05 Himos 2 08,72 P06
    (+ 4.0s)    		 P10
    (+ 5.8s)
    SS 06 Killeri 1 02,06 P05
    (+ 2.7s)    		 P04
    (+ 1.6s)
    Overall classification P88
    (+ 20m42.5s)    		 P02
    (+ 5.2s)    		 P08
    (+ 23.4s)
    Friday,
    02 August 2013    		 km #7
    Latvala/
    Anttila    		 #8
    Ogier/
    Ingrassia    		 #9
    Mikkelsen/
    Markkula
    SS 07 Jukojärvi 1 21,90 P03
    (+ 2.4s)    		 P04
    (+ 4.9s)    		 P08
    (+ 14.9s)
    SS 08 Palsankylä 1 13,92 P02
    (+ 0.0s)    		 P01 P08
    (+ 10.9s)
    SS 09 Mökkiperä 1 13,74 P03
    (+ 0.7s)    		 P04
    (+ 2.6s)    		 P09
    (+ 9.3s)
    SS 10 Lankamaa 1 23,66 P05
    (+ 4.5s)    		 P01 P07
    (+ 16.4s)
    SS 11 Jukojärvi 2 21,90 P05
    (+ 7.3s)    		 P01 P07
    (+ 12.2s)
    SS 12 Palsankylä 2 13,92 P03
    (+ 4.9s)    		 P01 P06
    (+ 7.0s)
    SS 13 Mökkiperä 2 13,74 P05
    (+ 3.7s)    		 P01 P06
    (+ 4.1s)
    SS 14 Lankamaa 2 23,66 P03
    (+ 4.7s)    		 P01 P12
    (+ 52.2s)
    SS 15 Killeri 2 02,06 P03
    (+ 0.7s)    		 P01
    Overall classification P42
    (+ 20m 58.7s)    		 P01 P20
    (+ 12m 17.7s)
    Saturday,
    03 August 2013    		 km #7
    Latvala/
    Anttila    		 #8
    Ogier/
    Ingrassia    		 #9
    Mikkelsen/
    Markkula
    SS 16 Surkee 1 14,95 P03
    (+ 2.7s)    		 P05
    (+ 5.5s)    		 P06
    (+ 7.3s)
    SS 17 Leustu 1 09,65 P06
    (+ 4.9s)    		 P03
    (+ 2.1s)    		 P05
    (+ 3.6s)
    SS 18 Ouninpohja 1 33,01 P06
    (+ 20.1s)    		 P01 P09
    (+ 35.3s)
    SS 19 Painaa 1 07,49 P04
    (+ 5.7s)    		 P05
    (+ 6.0s)    		 P06
    (+ 6.2s)
    SS 20 Surkee 2 14,95 P04
    (+ 3.9s)    		 P01 P06
    (+ 7.0s)
    SS 21 Leustu 2 09,65 P05
    (+ 4.0s)    		 P03
    (+ 2.7s)    		 P06
    (+ 4.9s)
    SS 22 Ouninpohja 2 33,01 P04
    (+ 13.5s)    		 P01 P07
    (+ 32.4s)
    SS 23 Painaa 2 07,49 P03
    (+ 0.8s)    		 P02
    (+ 0.3s)    		 P07
    (+ 4.2s)
    Overall classification P17
    (+ 21m37.7s)    		 P01 P10
    (+ 13m42.0s)
    Volkswagen's Latvala and co driver Anttila takes a jump in the Finland Rally. A Volkswagen photo
    Volkswagen’s Latvala and co driver Anttila takes a jump in the Finland Rally. A Volkswagen photo
    FIA World Rally Championship (WRC),
    Rally Finland results
    1. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen 2h 43m 10,4s
    2. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (B/B), Ford + 36.6s
    3. Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson (N/S), Ford + 57.6s.
    4. Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen (FIN/FIN), Citroën + 1m 21.6s
    5. Daniel Sordo/Carlos Del Barrio (E/E), Citroën + 6m 08,5s
    6. Evgeny Novikov/Ilka Minor (RUS/A), Ford + 8m 39.7s
    7. Jari Ketomaa/Marko Sallinen (FIN/FIN), Ford + 11m 19.2
    8. Per-Gunnar Andersson/Emil Axelsson (S/S), Ford + 11m 41.5s
    9. Robert Kubica/Maciek Baran (PL/PL), Citroën + 12m 48.1s
    10. Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN), Volkswagen + 13m 42.0s
    FIA World Rally Championship (WRC),
    Rally Finland Powerstage results
    1. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (B/B), Ford 3m 46.6s
    2. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen + 0.3s
    3. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), Volkswagen + 0.8s
    FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), standings
    Drivers’ championship
    Points
    1. Sébastien Ogier 181
    2. Jari-Matti Latvala 91
    3. Thierry Neuville 91
    4. Mikko Hirvonen 73
    5. Dani Sordo 69
    6. Sébastien Loeb 68
    7. Mads Østberg 65
    8. Evgeny Novikov 39
    9. Martin Prokop 37
    10. Nasser Al-Attiyah 30
    11. Andreas Mikkelsen 26
    12. Bryan Bouffier 10
    13. Juho Hänninen 8
    13. Chris Atkinson 8
    13. Elfyn Evans 8
    16. Michał Kosciuszko 7
    17. Ken Block 6
    17. Jari Ketomaa 6
    19. Sepp Wiegand 4
    19. Henning Solberg 4
    19. Benito Guerra 4
    19 Robert Kubica 4
    19. PG Anderson 4
    24 Khalid Al Qassimi 3
    25 Oliver Burri 2
    26 Yazeed Al Rajhi 1
    26 Esapekka Lappi 1
    Manufacturers’ championship
    Points
    1. Volkswagen Motorsport 251
    2. Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team 196
    3. Qatar World Rally Team 115
    4. Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team 104
    5. Jipocar Czech National Team 39
    6. Abu Dhabi Citroën Total World Rally Team 33
    7. Volkswagen Motorsport II 26
    8. Lotos WRC Team 20

  • Ogier-Ingrassia take lead

    2 August 2013:

    Sebastian Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia take a jump on the second day of Rally of Finland on Friday. A VW photo
    Sebastian Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia take a jump on the second day of Rally of Finland on Friday. A VW photo

    Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) made their mark on day two of the Rally Finland. The Volkswagen pairing leads the fastest rally of the year with the Polo R WRC ahead of the grand finale on Saturday.

    According to a Volkswagen release, the two Frenchmen first moved to the top of the overall standings on day two of what is known as “Formula One in the Forest”, before opening up a lead bit by bit. The duo, which leads both the driver and co-driver competitions in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), won seven of the day’s nine special stages and now holds a 38.1-second lead over Thierry Neuville and Mads Østberg (both Ford). On the first of today’s two loops, each of which consisted of four special stages, Ogier/Ingrassia clocked similar top times to their rivals at Ford and Citroën. On the second loop, however, they set an irresistible pace and rounded off a superb day by winning the evening’s Super Special Stage.

    Their Volkswagen team-mates also produced impressive displayson Friday, but will no longer play a decisive role in the overall standings. Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN) in the number 9 Polo R WRC were embroiled in a thrilling duel for fifth place with Kris Meeke (Citroën), but were then forced to retire after the penultimate stage of the day with a damaged suspension. They will start again on Saturday with a five-minute penalty, in accordance with Rally 2 regulations. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) had also lost time due to suspension damage on Thursday. However, the all-Finnish driver/co-driver pairing rejoined the action under Rally 2 regulations and was once again among the fastest cars out on the route. The duo, which currently lies second in both the driver and co-driver competitions in the World Rally Championship, were not to be found outside of the top five on Friday, and finished in the top three on six of the day’s nine stages.

    Quotes after day two of the Rally Finland
    Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #7
    “I am happy with the way day two of our home rally panned out. We started under Rally 2 regulations, meaning we were the first car out onto the route. This morning, when the road was still wet after the rain, this was certainly a small advantage, as the grip level was a bit higher. On the second loop, the opposite was true. The many ruts and various tracks left by smaller rally cars did not make driving any easier for us. However, we achieved the goal we had set ourselves for the day: to arrive safely at the finish. We also tried out a few modifications to the set-up of the Polo, which could help us with regard to the forthcoming rallies.”

    Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #8
    “More than 30 seconds is really a good lead over the second-placed driver, but the rally still has a long way to go. This is particularly true as the legendary ‘Ouninpohja’ special stage still awaits us twice tomorrow – for me the absolute highlight of this weekend. I can hardly wait to finally drive here in a World Rally Car. Today was great for us. We put our foot down, but did not push ourselves right to the very limit. The roads were very rough and difficult, particularly in the afternoon. The risk of getting a puncture was simply too great for an unconditional attack. Picking up points towards the World Championship are obviously the top priority, but I want to try to fulfil my dream of winning the Rally Finland for the first time.”

    Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
    “A day of highs, but unfortunately also lows for me. I still have a lot to learn in the World Rally Championship, but particularly at the Rally Finland. I was driving most of today’s stages for the first time in a World Rally Car. Our plan was to master them as quickly as possible and with as little risk as possible. And it nearly worked. I tried to use the experience we gained in the morning on the afternoon’s second loop. For this reason, I particularly enjoyed the 13th special stage, ‘Mökkiperä’. Braking points, gear changes and corner entries were just as I had imagined. Up until then everything was running almost perfectly. Unfortunately a damaged suspension put an end to all that on the next stage. It is a shame, as I had my sights set on a top-five result. However, the team will have the Polo excellently prepared for tomorrow and I will start again under Rally 2 regulations. That is important in order to gain more valuable information.”

    Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
    “It doesn’t get any better. Sébastien Ogier produced an irresistible and tactically outstanding performance today. He drove cleverly and conservatively on the morning’s loop, and then won every single stage in the afternoon. He richly deserves to be leading the Rally Finland. However, Andreas Mikkelsen also produced a mature display today. He can be proud of the way he is competing on a par with the top drivers who have greater experience of Finland. Unfortunately he had a problem with the suspension on the penultimate stage of the day and had to retire. However, he will rejoin under Rally 2 regulations tomorrow. Jari-Matti Latvala was also in fine form and bounced back impressively. I am proud of all three.”

    And then there was …
    … that one very special stage on the Rally Finland. The 23.66-kilometre “Lankamaa” stage, which the drivers tackled twice on Saturday, ran through the property of rally legend Juha Kankkunen (FIN) for several hundred metres. The three-time winner of the Rally Finland spends every summer on his family farm in Laukaa, where he once learned to drive in a Volkswagen Beetle. “I can practically see the World Rally Cars from the balcony,” said Kankkunen, who took part in the Rally Dakar with Volkswagen in 2005. The Volkswagen drivers paid Kankkunen a visit during Monday’s “Recce”, and allowed the four-time world champion to show them his impressive collection of historic racing cars – including a 1986 Audi Quattro S1.
    FIA World Rally Championship (WRC),
    Rally Finland – results
    Friday,
    02 August 2013    		 km #7
    Latvala/
    Anttila    		 #8
    Ogier/
    Ingrassia    		 #9
    Mikkelsen/
    Markkula
    SS 07 Jukojärvi 1 21,90 P03
    (+ 2.4s)    		 P04
    (+ 4.9s)    		 P08
    (+ 14.9s)
    SS 08 Palsankylä 1 13,92 P02
    (+ 0.0s)    		 P01 P08
    (+ 10.9s)
    SS 09 Mökkiperä 1 13,74 P03
    (+ 0.7s)    		 P04
    (+ 2.6s)    		 P09
    (+ 9.3s)
    SS 10 Lankamaa 1 23,66 P05
    (+ 4.5s)    		 P01 P07
    (+ 16.4s)
    SS 11 Jukojärvi 2 21,90 P05
    (+ 7.3s)    		 P01 P07
    (+ 12.2s)
    SS 12 Palsankylä 2 13,92 P03
    (+ 4.9s)    		 P01 P06
    (+ 7.0s)
    SS 13 Mökkiperä 2 13,74 P05
    (+ 3.7s)    		 P01 P06
    (+ 4.1s)
    SS 14 Lankamaa 2 23,66 P03
    (+ 4.7s)    		 P01 P12
    (+ 52.2s
    SS 15 Killeri 2 02,06 P03
    (+ 0.7s)    		 P01
    Overall classification P42 P01

  • Mercedes AMG Petronas lets 2014 engine roar on YouTube

    The MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team has given Formula One fans around the globe a unique insight into the future today on its official commercial YouTube channel.

    To mark the team’s new status as a YouTube partner for the creation and broadcast of exclusive video content about the Silver Arrows team, MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS has offered fans the first taste of how the new 2014 Power Units will sound out on track.

    The audio recording of the turbocharged V6 unit was conducted using a development engine at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) in Brixworth, UK.

    This simulated lap of the Monza circuit – the definitive test of any Formula One powerplant – was then synced to a lap of the circuit at the team’s Driver-in-the-Loop simulator at team HQ in Brackley, UK.

    The result is the most accurate impression so far of how the new Power Units will sound in 2014, with a maximum rev limit of 15,000 rpm and a single turbocharger spinning at speeds of up to 125,000 rpm.

    This unique video can be found on the YouTube channel www.youtube.com/MERCEDESAMGPETRONAS

    The team’s official YouTube channel will continue to provide exclusive content throughout the Formula One season and off-season, from the awesome Nordschleife to deepest Northamptonshire, offering a unique insight into life behind-the-scenes of a top Formula One team.

    Follow the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team on:

    Twitter: @MERCEDESAMGF1
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/MERCEDESAMGPETRONAS
    YouTube: www.youtube.com/MERCEDESAMGPETRONAS
    Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Mercedesamgf1
    ends

    A Mercedes team file photo by FIA.
    A Mercedes team file photo by FIA.

  • Editorial: Coming soon!

    From August First we have started an Editorial column. Please watch out for the first editorial as we expand our services.

     

    F1 Correspondent.