The fastest drifters in the world are back in business after a 38-day break: Volkswagen kicks off the second quarter of the 2015 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) at the Rally Argentina (23–26 April). After three back-to-back victories, double world champions Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) have opened up a commanding lead in the World Championship in their Polo R WRC. Their closest rivals: team-mates Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N), who find themselves second overall after three rounds. Last year’s winners in Argentina, Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), are looking to bounce back from the disappointment of the last two rallies. All three Volkswagen duos face a unique and diversified rally route. The 345.70 kilometres against the clock consists of twelve special stages, including four stages of over 50 kilometres in length and the downhill classic “El Cóndor” with its characteristic fog.

“Volkswagen can look back on a successful motorsport tradition in Argentina,” said Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director. “This is where our company enjoyed its first major successes in top-class racing – and we are virtually unbeaten here. There is no doubt about it: we enjoy coming to Argentina – a country that is also a key market for Volkswagen. We also have big plans from a sporting point of view. We travel to Argentina leading the World Championship and will do everything in our power to win the Rally Argentina again. As Motorsport Director, it is a real luxury to be able to turn to three duos who are all capable of winning: Sébastien Ogier can look back on some fierce duels here with his team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen. They have all shown that the Rally Argentina suits them. However, we must always keep a wary eye on our rivals at Hyundai, M-Sport and Citroën – they all want to win and are capable of doing so. It will certainly not be boring for the fantastic Argentinean fans.”

Ogier versus Mikkelsen – or: World Championship leader against his closest rival

Double world champion versus youngster – that is the fascinating all-Volkswagen duel that has developed at the top of the World Championship standings over the past three rallies. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia and Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene have put together flawless podium hat-tricks so far in the 2015 World Rally Championship. Ogier/Ingrassia won in Monte Carlo, Sweden and Mexico, and were joined on the podium on each occasion by Mikkelsen/Fløene. The coming duel in Argentina also promises to be exciting, as the two duos have already been in this situation in the past: back in 2012, whilst preparing for the World Rally Championship in the Volkswagen team’s Škoda Fabia S2000. They put on an entertaining battle for the class victory, until Mikkelsen/Fløene were forced to retire with a faulty suspension.

Ogier versus Latvala – or: France vs. Finland

Ogier against Latvala – the duel that kept fans on the edge of their seat during the 2014 Rally Argentina, and indeed throughout the entire season. Twelve months ago, Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila produced an immaculate drive to finish ahead of their Volkswagen team-mates. A potential reprise of this duel would be of even greater importance in 2015. Victory for Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia at the Rally Mexico saw France draw level with Finland in the all-time best list in the World Rally Championship. Both countries now have 172 triumphs to their name. The next winner of the duel between Ogier and Latvala – they are the only competitors representing their respective nations in the top category of the WRC – will put their country ahead.

Pentti Airikkala (1x), Markku Alén (19x), Marcus Grönholm (30x), Kyosti Hamalainen (1x), Mikko Hirvonen (15x), Juha Kankkunen (23x), Jari-Matti Latvala (12x), Timo Mäkinen (4x), Tommi Mäkinen (24x), Hannu Mikkola (18x), Harri Rovanperä (1x), Timo Salonen (11x), Henri Toivonen (3x) and Ari Vatanen (10x) have been victorious for Finland – that is 14 different drivers. For France, Alain Ambrosino (1x), Jean-Claude Andruet (3x), Didier Auriol (20x), Bernard Beguin (1x), Philippe Bugalski (2x), Bernard Darniche (7x), François Delecour (4x), Guy Frequelin (1x), Sébastien Loeb (78x), Michèle Mouton (4x), Jean-Pierre Nicolas (5x), Sébastien Ogier (27x), Alain Oreille (1x), Gilles Panizzi (7x), Jean Ragnotti (3x), Bruno Saby (2x), Patrick Tauziac (1x) and Jean-Luc Therier (5x) have all tasted success – 18 different drivers.

Ogier versus the rest of the world – or: can anyone catch the championship leader?

Team-mates Andreas Mikkelsen and Jari-Matti Latvala are certainly not the only drivers with their sights set on catching double world champion Sébastien Ogier – there are also plenty of good drivers and co-drivers outside the Volkswagen team, all of whom are hungry for a win. Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (B/B) are third in the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ World Championship, and were embroiled in thrilling duels with the Volkswagen duos at the recent rallies in Sweden and Mexico. Citroën goes in search of victory at the Rally Argentina with their gravel specialists Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (GB/IRL) and Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson (N/S). M-Sport-Ford lines up with the impressive youngsters Elfyn Evans (GB) and Ott Tänak (EST).

A dozen stages – from classic to innovative

From 2.68 to 56.77 kilometres in length, in sun or through fog, on spectacular city routes and barren lunar landscapes – the Rally Argentina features a wide range of conditions and demands a great degree of versatility from the drivers and co-drivers. The itinerary consists of just seven different special stages – but they are all demanding in their own way. On Thursday, a special stage will be held for the first time in Merlo in the province of San Luis, the epicentre of Argentinean motorsport. And new challenges await the competitors on Friday too: two of the special stages are new, the third – the classic Agua de Oro–Ascochinga – will be held in the reverse direction this year. Saturday is all about the rapid roads in the Punilla valley. The “Capilla del Monte–San Marcos” and “San Marcos–Characato” special stages offer the drivers two opportunities to show off their skills at top speed. On Sunday, the iconic “El Cóndor–Copina” forms the closing Power Stage, on which bonus points are up for grabs for the top three. And there is every chance that fog will once again play a role: the “El-Cóndor” stage slaloms over a lunar landscape from an altitude of 2,138 metres down to 1,389 metres above sea level.

A 1,497-metre difference in altitude: an ever-increasing challenge

While the Rally Mexico provided the highest point of the season at 2,752 metres above sea level – the “roof of the WRC” – the Rally Argentina features the greatest difference in altitude in this year’s World Rally Championship. The route ranges from 641 to 2,138 metres above sea level. The difference in altitude is 1,497 metres in Argentina, as opposed to 952 metres at the Rally Mexico. This requires the engine specialists to come up with a clever engine management system, which will stand the test in any extremes. The higher you get, the lower the air pressure and with it the oxygen content of the air – the result is less efficient combustion and thus less engine performance.

Quotes ahead of the Rally Argentina

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“I have never won the Rally Argentina, and would obviously like to stand on the very top step of the podium there for the first time. The atmosphere is excellent. The South Americans love their motorsport. It is the only rally, at which you can actually smell the fans’ barbecues in the cockpit when you are out on the special stages. I have been told that France pulled level with Finland in the all-time list thanks to my victory at the Rally Mexico. The goal now is obviously to move into the lead! However, we have seen at recent rallies that the opposition at Hyundai and Citroen are closing in and battling for victory with us. Compared to Mexico, the surface at the Rally Argentina is not as aggressive on the tyres and the temperatures are far lower. We would usually all use the softer compounds. We are unlikely to see any tactical games like we did in Mexico, when we opted for a crossover of hard and soft tyres.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“I am really looking forward to the Rally Argentina. It is a gravel rally, but very different to the Rally Mexico. The surface in Argentina is far sandier, not as hard, and there is far more grip. My favourite special stage is ‘El Cóndor’, which forms the Power Stage, as it did in 2014. Miikka and I won here last year. We’ll have to wait and see whether we can repeat that feat – Sébastien Ogier is very strong at the moment. I have had a bit of time to relax and switch off since the Rally Mexico. I spent two weeks in the USA, where my girlfriend and I took a road trip through California and Nevada. I also had cause to celebrate: I reached the big ‘three-oh’, so we threw a small party. Small, because we had a fitness test in Lapland afterwards, in order to ensure we are as well prepared as possible for the Rally Argentina.”

Irresistible #GOgier: double world champion in superb form

It does not get much better than that: Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia produced a perfect rally in Mexico. From the first metre to the last – the double world champions finished in the top three on 20 of the 21 special stages. They even clocked the fastest time on nine of the 21 stages. Ogier/Ingrassia moved into the lead just 5.61 kilometres into the rally and never surrendered that position. There was no lack of competition for the works drivers from Wolfsburg: as well as their team-mates Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene and Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila, Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (B/B, Hyundai) and Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson (N/S, Citroën) were also heavily involved in what was an exciting battle for the lead.

Ogier/Ingrassia laid the foundation for their fifth victory in a row with a clever tyre selection on Friday, when they overcame the disadvantage of having to open the route and sweep the roads free of loose gravel by opting for a crossover mixture of hard and soft Michelin tyres. They made the most of their masterstroke with a flawless display of driving and navigating.

Third podium in succession – top performance from Mikkelsen/Fløene
Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene continued the success story they have been writing since the start of the season. They added a third podium at the Rally Mexico to the ones they had previously claimed at the Rally Monte Carlo and Rally Sweden. Lining up for the first time in the Polo R WRC at this rally, their third place finish propelled also them into second place in the Driver and Co-Drivers’ Championship. The key to their success was to drive safely, but at the same time fast. Despite the unique special stages in Mexico, on which experience is invaluable, they were always within reach of the leaders. In the end, Mikkelsen and Fløene finished just 6.3 seconds behind second-placed Mads Østberg.

Early set-back, slight consolation for Latvala/Anttila
Up to the twelfth special stage, they were the only ones able to match the pace of Ogier and Ingrassia: Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila. However, in trying to put their team-mates under pressure, they skidded into a bank with the rear of their Polo R WRC. The resulting suspension damage forced them to retire early on Saturday. Latvala/Anttila returned to action on Sunday, fighting their way back to claim six points for Volkswagen in the Manufacturers’ Championship.

The cherry on the cake: the only way is up, 21 times – “El Brinco” brings curtain down
Higher than anything in Europe – the entire Rally Mexico is held over 1,800 metres above sea level. For comparison: the highest point on the ten European rallies is 1,608 metres above sea level – on the “La Bollène-Vésubie–Sospel” stage at the Rally Monte Carlo. And the Rally Mexico is always a time for superlatives: the World Rally Cars reached the “roof of the WRC” at 2,752 metres on the “El Chocolate” special stage, while the final Sunday saw them complete the longest stage of the 2015 season – the 55.82-kilometre “Guanajuatito”. And then there was the emotional start in the silver mine city of Guanajuato, where the passionate fans ensured nobody was spared goosebumps.

The conditions on the special stages posed big challenges for the drivers and co-drivers. The road surface on the first of six gravel rallies in a row consisted of a mixture of loose sand on the one hand and rough, jagged gravel on the other. “Otates”, “Los Mexicanos”, “Ibarilla” and “Derramadero” are classics on the WRC calendar. The “El Brinco” Power Stage, with its famous and popular jump, provided a fitting finish. The three bonus points for the fastest time went to Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia, with Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene picking up two extra points for finishing second.

25 of 48, and 21 – fact finding at the Rally Mexico
Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia’s success not only marked the 25th victory for the Polo R WRC in the World Rally Championship, but was also the 47th podium for Volkswagen since the manufacturer first entered its World Rally Car in 2013. Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene finished third to add podium number 48. Volkswagen is now undefeated in the last seven WRC events. Since 2013, 373 of a possible 542 stage wins have gone to Wolfsburg. The Volkswagen drivers have also won 21 of the 28 Power Stages since 2013.

Quotes after day four of the Rally Mexico
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“Absolutely incredible! I am so happy and proud of this victory in Mexico. It is one of the best wins of my career. Julien and I had a perfect weekend, the Polo was fantastic, and the team did a magnificent job. We pushed like crazy from the word go in the cockpit, came up with the cleverest tyre selection on Friday – and were rewarded in the end. It is my third win in a row here. The Rally Mexico seems to be kind to me. And I love coming here. The route suits me, the countryside is fantastic, and the fans make the rally a great fiesta every year.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“All in all, the weekend obviously did not go to plan. I had hoped for more from my starting position, and did not manage to establish a rhythm over the course of the weekend. I tried to put as much pressure as possible on Ogier, which meant driving at the limit. My rally was over once I damaged the suspension. Fortunately I have a break now and have time to forget about the disappointing start to the season. I need to find my rhythm and then attack again in Argentina.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“Third place at the Rally Mexico plus two bonus points on the Power Stage – that is an absolutely fantastic result for us. We do not have an awful lot of experience of the special stages, so always set a safe pace. Our plan was to get through each special stage without making any mistakes. We executed that perfectly. I am totally happy with our rally. And second place in the championship does not look bad either.”

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“To win the Rally Mexico three times in a row is a fantastic effort. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia more than deserve this triumph for their outstanding display of driving and navigating. From tyre selection to a perfectly calculated risk strategy – it was a flawless rally from the two of them. However, they are not the only ones who have continued their superb start to the season: Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene have too. They produced a tactical masterclass and looked very good. You cannot forget that Andreas was making only his second appearance here and had hardly any experience of the special stages. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila made the best of the unfortunate situation after their crash yesterday and picked up some points for the team in the Manufacturers’ Championship. All in all, we are very happy with the outcome of the Rally Mexico.”

And then there was …
… a greeting from champion to champion. After Renaud Lavillenie added the European Indoor Championship to his collection of pole vault titles with a height of 6.04 metres at the weekend, Sébastien Ogier congratulated his fellow Frenchman on Facebook. Lavillenie had been a passenger on board Ogier’s Polo R WRC at the Rally Monte Carlo. Lavillenie is World Athlete of the Year and Olympic champion.

And then there was also …
… International Women’s Day on the Sunday of the rally, which was also celebrated by the International Automobile Federation FIA in León. In 2009 the FIA formed the “Women in Motorsport Commission”, of which Michèle Mouton is president, in order to support ladies in motorsport. Three ladies from Volkswagen also appeared in the official photo.

Quotes, day 3 Rally Mexico
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“From a driving perspective, this weekend is definitely one of the best of my career, I’m very happy with my performance. Julien and I have had another perfect day and haven’t made any mistakes. We kept putting pressure on the others. While I didn’t need to continue taking risks after Jari-Matti Latvala retired, the job is far from done. I said previously that a win here was highly unlikely unless my rivals had a bad weekend – and now it looks like it might actually happen. But we still have the longest and most challenging stage of the rally ahead of us. I can promise you this: Despite our lead, we won’t be making the mistake of shifting down a few gears. The danger of losing focus would be too great.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“If you want to win, you have to put the leader under pressure. But I knew that I couldn’t risk everything. I had a good rhythm on the twelfth stage. There was a pothole on the inside of a bend and I came off the line slightly to avoid it, and I ended up on loose ground in this really narrow section. I hit a bank with the rear left of the car and damaged my suspension. I had hoped that we would be able to repair it at the end of the stage, but unfortunately there was nothing we could do.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“We’re sticking to our plan and aren’t changing it: Our aim is to drive at our own rhythm, stay out of trouble and to reach the finish of each special stage without incident. We don’t have much experience of Mexico and many of the stages are new to us. Which is why the first pass of the special stages in the morning wasn’t as good as the pass in the afternoon. We left room for manoeuvre and waited until the afternoon loop to attack a bit more. I’m very happy with how the rally is going for us. So far, so good – tomorrow will be another hard day for us, with tricky special stages. But even then we need to stick to our plan for the rally.”

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“Volkswagen has experienced a day of mixed feelings at the Rally Mexico. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia demonstrated their superior class once again, and extended their lead without resistance. Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene also organized the day and the special stages perfectly and are on course to finish on the podium, and are even within reach of second place. Unfortunately, we also suffered a setback here today. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila damaged their car trying to put their team-mates under pressure, and forfeited their chance of winning. Our mechanics worked extremely hard to give them a perfect Polo R WRC so that they can start tomorrow and battle for points in the manufacturer’s world championship.”

And then there was …
… the “Fiesta Mexicana”. On Saturday evening at the Rally Mexico, Volkswagen Mexico traditionally invites the rally team of Ogier, Latvala and Mikkelsen to a Mexican evening. The evening, which the Volkswagen mechanics and engineers always look forward to attending, is a fantastic event that is part of a rally week organized perfectly by the Mexican importer. From the presence in the service park that is clearly visible, to looking after the guests on the special stages, the Volkswagen Mexico commitment is exemplary worldwide. Our “thanks” go to our colleagues!

eom/Volkswagen Motorsport release

Volkswagen is currently unbeaten with the Polo R WRC at the Rally Sweden. In 2013, Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia claimed the maiden victory for the World Rally Car from Wolfsburg. One year later it was the turn of Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila, who won a thrilling duel with team-mates Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula.
Quotes after day one of the Rally Sweden
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“To put a positive spin on it: it was certainly not a boring day for Julien and me. It was one with highs and lows. Everything ran superbly in the morning: we went flat out and the conditions were perfect. The 18-kilometre ‘Röjden’ stage was particularly fantastic to drive. You enjoy every metre in the cockpit on a stage like that. Things did not run quite so smoothly for us on the second loop in the afternoon. First the windscreen wiper stopped working. Then, in our efforts to repair it, we forgot to fasten the bonnet down, which resulted in the windscreen taking a battering later on. And on the ninth stage I slid into a snow bank in a slow corner. I just braked too late. By the time you put all those set-backs together, we had lost the lead. However, the rally is far from over. Anyone who knows Julien and me knows that we will keep on fighting to the very end.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“I am very disappointed. I was just too quick and thought I had more grip. As it turns out, I didn’t. The rear of the car got caught in a snow bank in the corner, and I then skidded into a ditch. Nothing happened to our Polo. I’d like to thanks all the fans on the route again. Without their fantastic and quick help, we would never have got out. I must now try to finish the rally in a decent fashion.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“It is fantastic to be leading the Rally Sweden after the special stages in Norway. However, it does come as a bit of a surprise. We did not find our rhythm straight away today. Only in the afternoon did things pan out as we had envisaged. The fans in Norway cheered us on furiously, and gave us an extra boost of motivation. It is nice to be able to present them with this result after day one, even though we did benefit from our team-mates’ misfortune. And, it is only the lead after day one. We still have a lot of work to do and must continue to drive intelligently if we are to convert it into something that counts. There is still a long way to go to the finish, and I am certain my team-mate Sébastien Ogier, Mads Østberg and Thierry Neuville will not give in without a fight.”

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“Dream conditions, an all-Volkswagen three-way battle for the lead for much of the day, and the kind of drama Sweden is renowned for. As a fan, what more can you ask for? To be honest, I personally would not have had anything against it remaining a Volkswagen one-two-three at the end of the day. All three Volkswagen drivers performed fantastically today, and set the pace together for a long time. However, both Jari-Matti Latvala and Sébastien Ogier were unlucky to get caught up in a snow bank and lose time. That is all part and parcel of the Rally Sweden. Andreas Mikkelsen leads the rally – I am extraordinarily pleased about that, and it is richly deserved. However, Sébastien Ogier is still in with a chance of winning, as are our rivals at Hyundai and Citroën. There is no doubt about it: the next two days are going to be exciting.”

And then there was …
… a remarkable comparison. Thanks to the ‘Sweden Spikes’ provided by tyre partner Michelin, the grip generated by the World Rally Cars is greater on the ice and snow than it is on a typical gravel rally. Last year the three Polo R WRCs took an average 124.87 metres to accelerate from nought to 100 km/h at the start of each stage at the Rally Argentina. In contrast, it took an average of just 107.32 metres to hit the same speed on Friday at the Rally Sweden.

FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Rally Sweden – Results
Thursday, 12 February 2015		km	#1 Ogier/ Ingrassia	#2 Latvala/ Anttila	#9 Mikkelsen/ Fløene
SS 01S	Karlstad I	01.90	P07 (+ 1.1s)	P03 (+ 0.4s)	P05 (+ 0.7s)
Overall classification			P07 (+ 1.1s)	P03 (+ 0.4s)	P05 (+ 0.7s)
Friday, 13 February 2015		km	#1 Ogier/ Ingrassia	#2 Latvala/ Anttila	#9 Mikkelsen/ Fløene
SS 02	Torsby I	14.76	P01	P02 (+ 2.7s)	P05 (+ 8.6s)
SS 03	Röjden I	18.73	P01	P05 (+ 5.8s)	P02 (+ 2.2s)
SS 04	Finnskogen I	20.76	P02 (+ 1.6s)	P01	P03 (+ 4.6s)
SS 05	Kirkenær I	07.07	P01	P02 (+ 2.9s)	P04 (+ 6.2s)
SS 06	Kirkenær II	07.07	P08 (+ 8.0s)	P02 (+ 2.2s)	P05 (+ 4.1s)
SS 07	Finnskogen II	20.76	P04 (+ 2.3s)	P01	P03 (+ 2.2s)
SS 08	Röjden II	18.73	P04 (+ 4.1s)	P06 (+ 6.0s)	P01
SS 09	Torsby II	14.76	P20 (+ 38.6s)	P41 (+ 8m 36.5s)	P02 (+ 1.0s)
SS 10S	Karlstad II	01.90	P01	P07 (+ 1.5s)	P06 (+ 1.4s)
Overall classification			P04 (+ 24.7s)	P23 (+ 8m 27.0s)	P01

Karistad (Sweden), 12 Feb 2015: Volkswagen finished first, fifth and sixth fastest in the Shakedown ahead of the Rally Sweden. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassi

a (F/F) were the fastest duo on the 4.30-kilometre “Råda” stage, which was used for the FIA World Rally Championship’s (WRC) free practice. They were followed by Robert Kubica (M-Sport-Ford), Mads Østberg and Kris Meeke (Citroën), as well as Volkswagen team-mates Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N) and Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN). Without having to look after the so-called Sweden spikes, the top drivers completed at least four runs – sometimes up to seven – with every attempt quicker than the previous run. On the whole, conditions improved with every World Rally Car, as they swept the snow and slush from what at the start of the day were icy, snow-covered roads.
The Rally Sweden is the second round of the season in the 2015 World Rally Championship. The only rally on the calendar to be held entirely on snow and ice officially gets underway this evening with a 1.90-kilometre stage on the racecourse in Karlstad.

Quotes after the Shakedown at the Rally Sweden
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“Ice and snow are some of my very favourite conditions, so I am glad to be back in Sweden again. The roads were in perfect condition when we did the ‘Recce’. Unfortunately it has warmed up a little, and you could really notice this on the Shakedown. When it starts to thaw, the conditions become very slippery and far from easy. For this reason, I hope it freezes over again during the night. If so, the fans can look forward to a spectacular rally. The fiercest opposition will certainly come from the Nordic drivers like Østberg, Tänak and, of course, my team-mates Jari-Matti and Andreas. Julien and I are feeling just as good as our Polo R WRC coming into this event.”
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“The Shakedown went perfectly. Our Polo feels good and the conditions are top-class, despite the rise in temperature. The competition will be fierce. Not just from our own team. You cannot afford to underestimate anyone, particularly Mats Østberg and Ott Tänak. And it goes without saying that you have to take the starting order into account. Winning here for the fourth time would certainly be very special for me. However, we have a long way to go before then.”
Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“That was the first time that I have completed the Shakedown stage here at full speed. In previous years we have always had to look after the tyres, but this time we had access to a set of spikes specifically for the Shakedown. The walls of snow along at the sides of the road are particularly high this time, so the route was very narrow. It was anything but easy out there, but this made it a good warm-up for the coming days. Unfortunately you could also see how the conditions were improving with every car.”
Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“Everybody in the WRC circus loves the Rally Sweden, as it is truly one of a kind. This is the only place you get to plough full-speed through the snow-covered forests on studded tyres. And this year the drivers, teams and spectators can look forward to a particularly beautiful edition of this classic. There is a thick layer of ice on the stages, which are nestled in a perfect winter wonderland. However, today’s Shakedown also showed us that the conditions can change quickly when the temperatures rise. Whatever happens, we will do our best to remain unbeaten here in Sweden with the Polo R WRC.”

The final round of the year also brought the curtain down on what has been a fairy-tale season for Volkswagen. A series of records went to the Wolfsburg-based manufacturer in 2014. The twelfth of a possible 13 wins saw Volkswagen eclipse the previous record of eleven, held by Citroën. Volkswagen also equalled the record eight one-twos in a season, set by Peugeot back in 2002. And there’s more: Volkswagen also wrapped up the title in the Manufacturers’ Championship at the earliest point of the season for 25 years, as well as becoming only the second manufacturer in WRC history to provide all of the top three drivers in the Drivers’ World Championship. Only Lancia had achieved this feat before them – in 1987 and 1988. Not only were Volkswagen’s achievements impressive, but also the manner in which they were achieved: in 2014, Ogier, Latvala and Mikkelsen added a further 197 of a possible 249 stage wins to the success story of the Polo R WRC. In total, 23 podiums went to Volkswagen over the course of the season’s 13 rallies. Since the Polo R WRC made its World Rally Championship debut in January 2013, the powerhouse has racked up 22 victories and 41 podiums in 26 rallies. The Volkswagen drivers clocked the fastest time on 345 of the 486 special stages over the last two seasons.

XXL mud pack: extremely difficult conditions in Wales

The Rally Great Britain is not only the “Rally of Legends”, but is a legend in its own right. The ubiquitous rain and menacing fog hanging over the forests make for perilous Welsh gravel stages, the likes of which are not experienced anywhere else on the WRC calendar. Smooth in places, mostly muddy, but always slippery, the 70th staging of this classic once again posed an extreme challenge to driver, co-driver and World Rally Car alike.

Disappointment for Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila

About halfway into the 305.64 kilometres against the clock, a mere 6.6 seconds separated the world champion* and the man who finished runner-up* in the World Championship – the rally in Wales was initially shaped by the same duel that had dominated the 2014 WRC season. The battle between Ogier and Latvala produced no fewer than three of the ten closest WRC finishes in World Championship history, with a fourth only prevented by a slight mistake. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila fell victim to the perilous Welsh mud on Saturday morning, sliding into a ditch on the ninth stage of the rally – and lost over three minutes in the process. They fought back strongly on Sunday, however, winning four of the final day’s six special stages – including the closing Power Stage – to climb from tenth to eighth place.

Highs and lows: set-backs and stage wins for Mikkelsen and Fløene

The rally was to prove an emotional rollercoaster for Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene. Five stage wins and four second places on Saturday were unfortunately offset by crashes on Friday and Sunday. Mikkelsen and Fløene were always one of the cars first onto the route – no easy task at the Rally Great Britain. As such, a dream season ended in disappointment for Mikkelsen/Fløene. However, this does not detract from an otherwise impressive record: Andreas Mikkelsen made five appearances on the podium in 2014, including second places on three different surfaces: ice and snow (Sweden), gravel (Poland) and asphalt (France).

Power Stage: bonus points for Latvala

Volkswagen continues to dominate the Power Stage, in which extra points towards the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championship are awarded to the fastest three cars. For the eleventh time in the 2014 season the fastest time was set by a Volkswagen driver. In Great Britain it was the turn of Jari-Matti Latvala to pick up the three bonus points. A Volkswagen driver has picked up at least one extra point on 24 occasions this year. Volkswagen can point to a proud record since joining the championship in 2013: of the 25 Power Stages held in that time, the fastest man was at the wheel of a Polo R WRC on 19 occasions, while the Volkswagen drivers finished in the top three 44 times.

Three titles*, twelve wins – the conclusion of a demanding season

The Volkswagen team can look back on what was not only a successful, but also a demanding season, with the three World Championship titles* in the Drivers’, Co-drivers’ and Manufacturers’ competitions as a reward. The 2014 FIA World Rally Championship took team members from 20 nations to 13 rallies in 15 different countries. 4.2 million fans now follow the works team from Wolfsburg on social networks, 101,647 fans were delighted to get their hands on signed autographs of the Volkswagen drivers, while journalists were supplied with information via 703 pages of press releases and 322,488 text messages.

In extreme conditions, from sea level up to altitudes of 2781 metres, the temperatures on the special stages ranged from minus 12 to plus 34 degrees Celsius. The turbo chargers in the three 315-hp engines completed 1.3 billion revs between the Rally Monte Carlo and the Rally Great Britain. Sébastien Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen changed gears in their Polo R WRCs 73,211 times. Using muscle power alone, the mechanics lifted a total of 265 tons moving the roughly 1,100 tyres used. The engineers evaluated about 17.9 gigabytes of data from the year’s 249 special stages – roughly the same as 3.2 million pages of pure text. The team members covered a total of 96,845.99 kilometres as the crow flies between the service parks and the team HQ in Hannover. The equipment for the overseas races travelled a further 46,202.62 kilometres by sea.

All with 100 percent team work.

Quotes after day three of the Rally Great Britain

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“That is obviously the best way to end a season: with a win. We were under no pressure, as the World Championship was no longer at stake, and just wanted to enjoy the Rally Great Britain. We really had to go flat-out on Friday and had a close battle for the lead with my team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala. That allowed us to open up a big lead over the rest of our rivals. When Jari-Matti made a mistake on Saturday, it obviously completely changed the character of the rally for us. I just had to get the car to the finish line. However, that is anything but easy given the typical conditions here in Wales. All in all, it has been another magnificent season for Julien and me, with a fantastic team behind us. We now have a few tests and official parties before the Christmas holidays begin. A quick word on Mikko Hirvonen: I am delighted for him that he ended his final WRC rally on the podium. He has had a great career, and we will miss driving against him.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“I can look back with great satisfaction on the 2014 season: I mounted my first serious challenge for the World Championship title, and kept the title race alive for a long time. I also won my first rally on asphalt, which was an important milestone for me. The duel with Sébastien Ogier was extremely exciting. I will carry on where I left off next season. The Rally Great Britain did not pan out as I had hoped. My goal was definitely to go for the win here in Wales. Apart from the slip-up, our pace was good. As such, I am already looking forward to next year.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“Unfortunately that was not the end to the season I had hoped for. I would have liked to have given the team something better than two offs. However, the conditions were particularly difficult and mistakes happen quicker at the Rally Great Britain than anywhere else. I am disappointed, but I believe we matched the pace of our team-mates and could have challenged for the win. Despite this disappointment, we can still be proud of what we have achieved this season. With five podiums we have exceeded our own expectations. Third place in the Drivers’ Championship is the best result of my career. I am looking forward to a bit of a rest over the coming weeks, but also to the 2015 season. We are determined to be challenging for victories and podiums right from the word go. That is my goal.”

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“Twelve wins in one season – we really can look back on a successful year. We can be proud of what we have achieved, and enjoy every moment in the World Rally Championship. The Rally Great Britain has also been a great success, and Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia did everything right en route to their eighth win of the season. Respect to them. In contrast, Jari-Matti Latvala, Miikka Anttila, Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene did not end the season the way they had hoped. However, they can also be proud of what they have achieved. There is no chance of us resting on our laurels. The 2015 season gets underway with the Rally Monte Carlo in just 65 days, and we want to be as well prepared as possible again. Preparations have already been in full swing for a while now.”

And then there were …

… Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen. The two Finnish M-Sport Ford drivers were contesting their final WRC rally in Wales after a career spanning 13 years. Volkswagen would like to thank them for some exciting battles and two years of fair competition.

* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA.

 ends/A Volkswagen Motorsport release