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  • Kimi Räikkönen: “Let’s hope I’m happier in Spain”

    Drivers Kimi Räikkönen and Romain Grosjean share their thoughts on the Circuit de Catalunya, while Team Principal Eric Boullier and Technical Director James Allison look ahead to the start of the European season.

    After taking his third podium finish of the year in Bahrain, our Iceman looks forward to racing closer to 
    home with the start of the European season

    Yourself and the team currently occupy P2 in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships;  are you pleased with how things are going?
    For sure it’s an okay start and we’re in a better position that this time last year, but there’s a long season
    ahead and it’s too early to say if we can fight for the Championships right to the end. It’s going to be hard to
    catch Sebastian [Vettel] if he keeps taking good results so we need to start taking more points from him,
    but you never know what can happen. We’ll keep pushing to improve the car and see where we end up.

    What’s required to bridge that gap to P1?

    Some more wins! To catch the leaders, we have to work twice as hard as they are. It’s no secret that we
    want more speed from the car in qualifying; it’s so tight up there at the front and we really need to be on the
    first two rows to fight for victories every time. It’s good to be able to start the European season where we
    are as this is when you see teams starting to push on with lots of new parts for the cars. It’s still early days,
    but to have scored strong points since the start of the year is obviously better than not having them. We
    need to keep scoring points in the same way; even if it’s a bad weekend for us, we need to keep finishing
    as well as we can. That’s how we will fight to the end of the season.

    How is the Circuit of Catalunya for you?
    I have won twice in Barcelona and I was on the podium there last year too, so I really look forward to going
    there again; hopefully to end the weekend with another good result. It’s a circuit where you have to get
    everything exactly right to be at the top. All the teams have tested many times at this circuit, so to get an
    advantage there is not very easy. The set-up is crucial as the track changes with the wind and temperature
    so there’s plenty of work for the engineers too.

    Is it good to be racing in Europe again?
    I really like racing in Europe. We don’t have to travel that far so all your energy is saved for the weekend
    itself. Traditionally the real season starts when coming back to Europe. For me, it’s great.

    The Circuit de Catalunya is the only circuit at which you’ve tested the E21 so far; does that help matters?

    That’s true, but you have to remember that was at the end of February and the beginning of March so

    conditions were very different compared to what we hope to see in May. It was very difficult to get the tyres  working properly when we were last there, but it was the same for everybody. We all start from zero again
    in FP1.

    The team didn’t get so much mileage at Barcelona during testing, but reliability doesn’t seem to be so much of a concern now the season is underway?
    I didn’t have that many laps there in testing as there were problems with the car and I also missed a day as
    I was unwell. That said, me and the team know the track pretty well so I don’t think we’ll be too surprised
    about which way the track goes or what setup to use on the car. Even though I didn’t get a lot of mileage in
    pre-season, the main thing was I felt good in the car the whole time. Our car seems to be good at every
    circuit so far…

    You were quite reserved after the podium finish in Bahrain; were you happy with the result?
    You’re never really happy if you don’t win, but I suppose second place is as close as you can get. We could
    maybe have been a few places higher in in qualifying which would have made things easier, but I drove to
    the maximum and luckily we found the pace in the car that was missing in qualifying. Let’s hope I’m happier
    in Spain.Romain Grosjean: “I have the tools at my disposal”

    After his first podium appearance of the season in Bahrain, our man in car #8 sees no reason why top
    points finishes can’t become a familiar state of play

    After a start to the season which fell short of your high expectations, why did everything come
    good in Bahrain?
    It’s no secret that before Bahrain my feeling hasn’t been right with the car. It wasn’t the chassis, the aero or
    anything like that, but we took a while to get everything to my liking and that’s been frustrating. We
    managed to put our finger on the issue and I feel much more comfortable now. I really had a good
    sensation behind the wheel on Sunday in Bahrain, and a podium position at the end of the race was the
    result. I could put the car more or less where I wanted which is all you want as a driver. Third place was a
    deserved reward for everyone after all our hard work.

    How good was it to get that podium after your tough start to the year?
    The race was really enjoyable with a lot of overtaking. There were a couple of tense moments where
    maybe things got a little too close, but it was a lot of fun! To come from P11 through to the podium is really
    satisfying. I saw P4 on the board and Paul [Di Resta] was not too far ahead, so I thought “come on, this is
    the podium, let’s go!” I knew I had fresher tyres but it wasn’t easy as I had to push but at the same time
    look after them, which is hard for a driver when you have another car in your sights. Luckily we managed to
    get past near the end, pull out a small gap and maintain it until the flag!

    How do you feel the E21 is evolving?
    We’ve been able to see progress with the lap times so we know that the upgrades being brought in are
    working. Last year’s car was already very competitive – we achieved a total of 10 podiums in 2012 – so it’s
    good to see the team has retained and developed the best performing areas of the 2012 car for the E21.
    For me, after Bahrain, I’m feeling much more at home with the car and I hope that there will be many
    successes to come in 2013.

    What are your thoughts on the topic of tyre management?
    Tyre management has always been part of the qualifying and race strategy. I don’t know about others, I
    just know that I always push as much as I can to obtain the best result possible. Of course, if you drive a
    certain way or adapt yourself you can get more out of the tyres than if you don’t, but that’s just part of being
    a racing driver; you always have to adapt to extract maximum performance.

    What will be the key to a good weekend in Spain?
    In Barcelona it will be important to qualify well as it will be much harder to overtake than in Bahrain. As a
    team, this is an area where we can still improve a little bit, but we have some ideas of how to do that and
    hopefully we’ll be able to make the front row.

    What are your thoughts on the Circuit de Catalunya?
    Everyone knows Barcelona very well from testing. The first four corners which make up the first sector are
    pretty fast, then there’s the slow final sector with between turns 10-15. Out of turn 15 you need a good rear
    end of the car with strong traction. It’s important not to overheat your rear tyres and managing degradation
    will be important – even with the harder tyres which are now allocated – as when you reach high
    degradation levels on your tyres you are nowhere on lap time. Tyre management will still be the key area
    for a good performance in the race.

    What do you need to keep getting podium results?
    To keep finishing in front of the competition! We’ve had consistency already, finishing every race in the
    points, but now it’s the big results we’re chasing and getting the car as I want it has been a vital ingredient.
    Now I have the tools that I want at my disposal I can really push. In some ways you can say my season
    starts now! My podium in Bahrain was a very good start to that challenge. If we keep working the way we
    have been so far this season as a team I’m sure we can achieve great things.

    endsF1 / SPAIN GRAND PRIX 2010

  • Loeb takes lead as Ogier slips to 2nd: WRC

    The Rally Argentina leaderboard has turned on its head today as crews hit problems up in the mountains surrounding Córdoba. Sébastien Loeb has moved into the lead – his customary position in Rally Argentina – and Sébastien Ogier has slipped to second. Third position is now held by Evgeny Novikov, the Russian benefitting as those around him fell into the clutches of the rocky Argentinean stages.
    Today’s route was the longest of the event and covered two identical loops of two long stages before the crews returned to Villa Carlos Paz for the second and final run around the super special stage. Ogier started the day on top form, the Frenchman winning the opening stage. However, his luck turned on the second stage when he understeered onto slippery mud and, with a broken handbrake, was unable to avoid going off the road. He lost the lead to Loeb and in the following stage then picked up a puncture and cruised through the final long stage, cautious of any further problems and no spare wheel. He now overnights 39.8 seconds adrift of Loeb, who also went off the road in the first stage this morning. Third position is now held by Novikov, the Russian climbing from fifth.
    Jari-Matti Latvala is fourth overnight, the Finn not having the best of days. He made a couple of mistakes in the first stage and dropped time in the following stage, not liking the foggy conditions. This afternoon he was pushing but suffered a puncture after landing too hard in the final long stage. Despite changing the wheel in record time, he is now nearly three minutes adrift of the lead. Thierry Neuville has adopted a cautious and strategic approach to this event and holds a comfortable fifth, while Mikko Hirvonen has dropped from third to sixth. The Finn had a couple of ‘moments’ in the opening stage and was off the road in stage seven. However he then dropped more time in SS8 with a puncture and nearly six minutes in the final mountain stage with an electronic problem that resulted in the engine intermittently cutting out. Andreas Mikkelsen appears ninth in the provisional classification, but the Norwegian was unable to start SS9 after sustaining suspension damage in the previous stage.
    Rally Argentina – Unofficial Results after Day 2
    1.   Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena
    2.   Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia
    3.   Evgeny Novikov/Ilka Minor
    4.   Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila
    5.   Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul
    6.   Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen
    7.   Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson
    8.   Martin Prokop/Michal Ernst
    9.   Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula
    10. Dani Sordo/Carlos Del Barrio
    Citroën DS3 WRC
    Volkswagen Polo R WRC
    Ford Fiesta RS WRC
    Volkswagen Polo R WRC
    Ford Fiesta RS WRC
    Citroën DS3 WRC
    Ford Fiesta RS WRC
    Ford Fiesta RS WRC
    Volkswagen Polo R WRC
    Citroën DS3 WRC
    3 hr 32 min 15.9sec
    3 hr 32 min 55.7sec
    3 hr 34 min 59.2sec
    3 hr 35 min 07.4sec
    3 hr 35 min 48.4sec
    3 hr 38 min 59.2sec
    3 hr 42 min 56.5sec
    3 hr 44 min 29.8sec
    3 hr 45 min 00.0sec
    3 hr 45 min 20.0sec

  • Ogier ahead of Loeb after Day 2: WRC Rally Argentina

    Volkswagen has taken the lead early on at Rally Argentina with a strong team performance. Once again, everything came together today (Thursday) – the technology and the team, the drivers and the co-drivers, the strategy and the tyre choice. With Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) leading the pack, Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) in fourth place and Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN) currently ranking sixth, all three Volkswagen Polo R WRCs are among the frontrunners after the first 157.94 kilometres of the 407.64-kilometre rally. Day two of the fifth event in this season’s FIA World Rally Championship demanded everything of man and machine, with fog and light drizzle, rough gravel roads and the tricky question of which tyres to use all making for a thrilling day in Córdoba Province.

    The teams had to tackle each of the two stages – “Santa Catalina/La Pampa” and “Asochinga/Agua de Oro” – twice. The Volkswagen drivers chose mainly soft Michelin tyres in the second of the two runs: a wise decision. Sébastien Ogier and his Polo R WRC have a 16.3-second lead over record-breaking world champion Sébastien Loeb (Citroën) ahead of the last two days of Rally Argentina. Ogier has secured four of a possible five best times.

    Quotes following day two of the Rally Argentina

    Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #7
    “It was a day of highs and lows for us. In terms of speed, we were usually up there with the best today – like in the first and third stages. I was a bit too fast at one point in the second stage and hit a stone. I was lucky and was able to keep going, but my handbrake stopped working afterwards which is important because we use it to throw the car around hairpin bends. On top of that, the tyres were really starting to flag at the end of that stage. Once my crew had done a great job of servicing the car, everything went according to plan again, but the handbrake played up again in the fourth stage. I lost a bit of time on the hairpin bends. I could have made more of today, so I’m not 100% happy.”

    Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #8
    “We’re very pleased with the way the rally is going for us so far. Winning the first special stage right at the start of a day is a great feeling, of course. We were catching up Dani Sordo in the second stage, which cost us a bit of time, but that’s all part of rallying. In the afternoon, we chose four soft and two hard Michelin tyres, which was far from being the worst decision we could have made. Being in front after such a tough day is great – now we’re concentrating on the rest of the rally. After all, we’ve got several long and difficult stages ahead of us.”

    Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
    “Hazy weather and fog in the morning twinned with four extremely long, physically challenging special stages – the Rally Argentina didn’t make things particularly easy for us today. High levels of humidity and soaring temperatures in the cockpit demanded absolute fitness. We worked on our communication today and tried out our new pace notes for the first time. Everything is moving in the right direction: our times are getting better and I feel more comfortable in the Polo R WRC with every metre. We’re delighted with our placing too – we’d love to keep it up over the next two days, of course.”

    Jost Capito, Director of Volkswagen Motorsport
    “Motorsport directors love days like today. Every member of the team helped to put us in the lead after some really difficult stages. A key part of that was translating the right weather information into the right choice of tyres this afternoon. The mechanics did a brilliant job during the lunchtime service too and sent all three Polo R WRCs back into the rally in tip-top condition. The drivers and co-drivers also put in a great performance today. In short: I’m proud of the lot of them.”

    And then there was …
    … the long trip for the recce cars. The Volkswagen Golf Rs which Jari-Matti Latvala, Sébastien Ogier and Andreas Mikkelsen use to inspect the special stages before the rallies will be overhauled in the course of the rally weekend and then shipped directly from Argentina to Australia. The Volkswagen team’s shipping containers packed with spare parts and equipment will also make their way straight to Australia. Rally Australia will take place from 12 to 15 September.

    Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen Polo R WRC Argentina 2013
    Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen Polo R WRC Argentina 2013

    ends

  • 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.”

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  • Tata Communications to connect Mercedes F1 team

    Brackley, 24 April 2013: MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS is pleased to confirm a new partnership with Tata Communications which will see the delivery of world-class trackside connectivity for the team at all Formula One race locations using the Tata Communications global network. With the new partnership, Tata Communications becomes the ‘Official Managed Connectivity Supplier’ to the team, a release said on Wednesday.

    Tata Communications, a leading global provider of ‘a new world of communications’, will work closely with MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS to deliver high-speed, high quality and secure trackside connectivity, enabling the team to transfer vital real-time data from the Silver Arrow cars at any Grand Prix location to its headquarters in the UK, three times faster than at present. The improved trackside connectivity will enable the team to react more quickly to developments at the track and help to increase car performance.

    Part of the worldwide Tata group, Tata Communications owns and maintains a complete ring of cables around the world including the world’s first wholly-owned subsea fibre ring to circle the globe. The Tata Communications global network comprises over 500,000 km of subsea cable and over 200,000 km of terrestrial network fibre, allowing a data transfer capacity of one terabit per second, high bandwidth availability and seamless scalability. In February 2012, Tata Communications announced a multi-year technology service and marketing agreement with Formula One Management to deliver world-class connectivity to all Formula One race locations over its world-first wholly-owned subsea fibre ring. It also provides global hosting and content delivery services to the official Formula One website Formula1.com

    Ross Brawn, Team Principal at MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS commented: “We are delighted to have agreed our new team partnership with Tata Communications. Formula One relies on data and the ability to transfer our data from the track back to our factories in Brackley and Brixworth quickly and securely. The Tata Communications global network will play a key role in the team’s performance and our ability to react over the race weekends. That we will now be able to achieve our data transfer requirements three times faster is fantastic. Having Tata Communications on-site at the race track to work with the team will be a big asset in our demanding and fast-paced environment, and we look forward to developing a close working relationship with them as we strive to achieve our ambitions in Formula One.”

    Mehul Kapadia, Managing Director, F1 Business, Tata Communications said: “The modification and improvement of car set-up and handling is a constant during the race season, and being able to share richer data and to report issues back from trackside to the factory in real-time provides a competitive edge in car performance, both in speed and also in handling and stability. Providing three times faster connectivity for MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS via Tata Communications’ global network means that the team has access to secure and agile trackside connectivity regardless of race location – it showcases our expertise and speed to lead when it comes to global connectivity, and reinforces our ongoing commitment to technology innovation within Formula One.”

    Part of the worldwide Tata group, Tata Communications owns and maintains a complete ring of cables around the world including the world’s first wholly-owned subsea fibre ring to circle the globe. The Tata Communications global network comprises over 500,000 km of subsea cable and over 200,000 km of terrestrial network fibre, allowing a data transfer capacity of one terabit per second, high bandwidth availability and seamless scalability. In February 2012, Tata Communications announced a multi-year technology service and marketing agreement with Formula One Management to deliver world-class connectivity to all Formula One® race locations over its world-first wholly-owned subsea fibre ring. It also provides global hosting and content delivery services to the official Formula One® website www.Formula1.com
    About Tata Communications 

    Tata Communications Limited along with its subsidiaries (Tata Communications) is a leading global provider of a new world of communications. With a leadership position in emerging markets, Tata Communications leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global and pan-India network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national enterprises, service providers and Indian consumers.

    The Tata Global Network includes one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks, a Tier-1 IP network, with connectivity to more than 200 countries and territories across 400 PoPs, and nearly 1 million square feet of data center and collocation space worldwide.

    Tata Communications’ depth and breadth of reach in emerging markets includes leadership in Indian enterprise data services, leadership in global international voice, and strategic investments in South Africa (Neotel), Sri Lanka (Tata Communications Lanka Limited) and Nepal (United Telecom Limited). Tata Communications Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India and its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TCL).

  • It’s too early to get carried away: Paul di Resta

    Bangalore, 23 April 2013: With the completion of the fly-away races, the F1 circus moves to Europe for its first race in Spain on May 12. Sahara Force India drivers Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil were in Bangalore for a promotion and watched the Royal Challengers’ cricket match and also briefly interacted with the reporters. A blog released on Monday showed the team in an upbeat mood. But Paul cautioned, it is too early to get carried away and warned that things could quickly change in F1.

    The mood from a blog in the team website:

    Celebrating a great result is one of the sweetest parts of being in a Formula One team. The tension, the adrenaline and all the emotions get discharged and you can just relax and enjoy the fruit of your work. It’s a moment for pats on the back, for telling each other well done and fly to the next race in an upbeat mood.

    As we head back to Europe for the start of crucial series of races closer to home, these are the feelings in the Sahara Force India camp. The race in Bahrain showed some brilliant indication of the potential of our car: in Paul’s case, a perfect performance so close to rewarding him with his first ever podium! To see our driver lead the race and battle with World Champions, leaving behind some huge rivals to bring home 12 points is a fantastic feeling, and one we hope to feel over and over again this season.

    Paul drove a faultless race on a track he loves: he was smooth when he needed to be, aggressive when required. He finished the race on a two-stop strategy when other teams required four, a testament to both the VJM06 balance and Paul’s fine tyre management skills. In the end, our ace could not stop Räikkönen and Grosjean from finishing on the podium: but in a Championship with so many bright stars, a fourth place does a lot for a team’s position in the standings.

    There is optimism also in Adrian’s camp. He was extremely fast on the Sakhir track, but the first lap collision with Massa left him with a long and hard way up the rankings. Still, recovering to 13th position was an impressive feat: especially so when you consider that from lap 3 he was five seconds faster than eventual race winner Vettel over the race distance! While we know a rival’s mistake cost him the chance to get some big points, the confidence that the VJM06 and Adrian are a powerful combination make us look eagerly on to the next few rounds.

    We may have missed out on a podium yesterday, but the feeling within the team is that we are growing stronger each race. We are facing mighty rivals and we are increasingly doing so on a level footing; and when luck will be on our side (and our opponents will stay away from crashing into our cars!) we will strike for an even better result.

    The Bahrain Grand Prix confirmed us in fifth position in the Constructors’ Championship standings. As we head back to Europe for races in Spain and Monaco, this is a great situation to build on. Everyone in the team is buzzing with excitement, and we can’t wait to go racing again. Stick with us – the best is yet to come!

    ends