Tag: Volkswagen

Quotes, day 02 Rally Italy
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“What a rally day! I think Jari-Matti and I have put on a good show for the fans. We both drove at the limit. Jari put in a fantastic time on the first stage, after that I was able to make up some time. At the end, when Julien and I were informed that he had lost time we stopped taking as many risks. We’re now in a great position to win the rally again. But there are four difficult stages scheduled for tomorrow, without service – that’s why we will be concentrating fully on the final day.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“We need to look ahead: The rally isn’t over yet and we are still in with a chance of taking back second place. Of course I am also disappointed as we are no longer in with a chance of winning. The day didn’t go to plan. On the second stage we lost time through a false alarm due to a defect sensor. When we went to stop, the warning that the water was at a critically high temperature disappeared and we were able to keep going. In the afternoon I skidded sideways at the start of the 60-kilometre special stage, hit a stone and damaged one of my rear wheels. We lost about two minutes to Sébastien and Julien while we changed the tyre.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“Our plan didn’t quite work out today. We wanted to set our own pace, drive our own rally. If that had been fast enough to beat Mads Østberg, great. If not, never mind. What we really wanted was to drive well and finish in the top four. We hit a large stone on Special Stage 12 and damaged one of the front dampers. As a result we were no longer able to attack on the final 60-kilometre stage and instead tried to contain the damage as much as we could. Which we managed. It’s down to team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala’s bad luck that we are still within reach of the podium. We’re taking things as they come. But the same will be true tomorrow: We aren’t going to risk everything to attack.”

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Director of Motorsport
“First place for Ogier, third place for Latvala and fourth place for Mikkelsen – that’s a great intermediate result for Volkswagen, but not what we in the team and the many rally fans had hoped for after the results of the previous days. The Latvala versus Ogier duel was at the highest level of rallying until Jari-Matti’s setback. Both drivers displayed extraordinary driving skills and caused much excitement. No one was as good as them today, so it’s a shame that the duel is over. However, Sunday will be another scorcher at the Rally Italy. On the track, in the cockpit and for everyone following the WRC on Sardinia. The battle for second, third and fourth place could go any way. We’re looking forward to it. As a team we will do our best to take our chances, but our main aim is to get all three Polo R WRCs to finish in the top positions.”

And then there was …
… the standard welcome for Ola Fløene. The new, old co-driver at the side of Andreas Mikkelsen, in a Škoda for Volkswagen in the preparation year in 2012, the Volkswagen team members greeted his return to Mikkelsen’s side with a friendly “Happy New Year” on his arrival. And that in mid June.

eom/Volkswagen press release

Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila claimed their second victory of the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship season at Rally Argentina today. The Finns were dominant throughout and beat team-mates Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia by one minute 26.9 seconds at the end of three long days of competition. Third place was taken by Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle in their debut World Championship outing on Rally Argentina.

In the FIA World Rally Championship, Ogier tops the leaderboard, 24 points ahead of Latvala. Andreas Mikkelsen and Mads Østberg are equal on 48 points behind the two Volkswagen crews who have now collectively won nine consecutive WRC events. In the Manufacturers’

Championship, the German marque takes a commanding advantage and is 97 points ahead of nearest rivals, the Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.

Today’s route covered four stages, without service, and took the crews to the famous Mina Clavero and El Condor stages to the southwest of Cordoba. Conditions were treacherous with deep mud, patchy fog and rain ensuring the final day of competition was no easy ride to the finish. The second running of El Condor counted as the Power Stage, where Ogier, Mikko Hirvonen and Latvala collected the extra points respectively for being fastest through this single stage.

Behind the leading trio, Mikkelsen recovered from an early retirement in the event to take fourth position, but an alternator warning light after the final stage meant the Norwegian had an anxious drive to the finish. Thierry Neuville piloted the sole surviving Hyundai to fifth position in the team’s first visit to South America with the i20 WRC. The Belgian was forced to drive slowly in the final stage, however, having broken something in the transmission. Having adopted a different approach to this rally, Robert Kubica reaped the reward of sixth position and his first points of the season. He headed Elfyn Evans, who similarly drove a measured and safe rally to reach the finish in his first Rally Argentina. Martin Prokop finished eighth and Mikko Hirvonen climbed to ninth, having won three of today’s stages. Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah claimed the final point-scoring position and also won the FIA WRC 2 Championship category for the second consecutive event.

The sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship takes the contenders back to Europe and the Mediterranean island of Sardinia for Rally Italia Sardegna (5-8 June).

Rally Argentina – Final Unofficial Results (subject to scrutineering)

FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers (after 5 of 13 rounds)

FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers (after 5 of 13 rounds)

RALLY NEWS

1. Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen 2. Ott Tanak/Raigo Molder 3. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia 4. Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson 5. Dani Sordo/Marc Marti 6. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul 7. Henning Solberg/Ilka Minor 8. Juho Hänninen/Tomi Tuominen 9. Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula 10. Martin Prokop/Jan Tomanek

Ford Fiesta RS WRC Ford Fiesta RS WRC Volkswagen Polo R WRC Citroën DS3 WRC Hyundai i20 WRC Hyundai i20 WRC Ford Fiesta RS WRC Hyundai i20 WRC Volkswagen Polo R WRC Ford Fiesta RS WRC

1hr 25 min 05.6sec 1hr 25 min 09.3sec 1hr 25 min 12.1sec 1hr 25 min 31.2sec 1hr 25 min 31.3sec 1hr 25 min 47.6sec 1hr 26 min 47.9sec 1hr 27 min 03.8sec 1hr 27 min 21.8sec 1hr 28 min 04.8sec

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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“While the focus was more on driving ability at the first two WRC rallies of the year in Monte Carlo and Sweden, the material will be put to a bigger test this time around in Mexico,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “Adjusting the engine management system to cope with the extreme altitude is a fiddly job for the engineers, who must find the right balance between reliability and losing as little performance as possible. Furthermore, our driver/co-driver pairings have a Herculean task ahead of them. Their positions at the top of the World Championship mean they may – or must – open the route. Despite this huge handicap, I firmly believe that Jari-Matti Latvala, Sébastien Ogier and Andreas Mikkelsen will provide the odd bit of magic here and there, and hopefully surprise everyone.”

Who is quicker than Speedy Gonzales? – Small miracle needed on day one

With every World Rally Car that passes, more and more of the thick layer of gravel is cleared from the special stages. This effect even continues into the second loop of special stages at the Rally Mexico. This is a clear disadvantage for those opening the route. As such, even more pressure is on the drivers and co-drivers in the Volkswagen team. The works duos will be looking to limit damage on day one of the rally with a flawless job and perfectly calculated risks. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila top the Driver and Co-Driver standings with 40 points. As such, they will be first out onto the special stages on the opening day. Their team-mates Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia will follow two minutes later. With 35 points to their name, they are currently second in the World Championship. Another four minutes later, it is the turn of Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (24 points, fourth place in the World Championship) to hit the road.

The rules regarding the starting order in the WRC were revamped ahead of the season. The first day of the rally is now always run in the same order as the World Championship standings. The order on the remaining days is according to the overall standings at the end of the previous day’s rallying. Unlike in previous years, there will be no qualifying ahead of the start of the rally.

Like jogging with a snorkel – engines toil in thin air

The performance of the 1.6-litre turbo engines in the World Rally Championship is limited using an air restrictor, in accordance with WRC regulations. The effect is similar to breathing through a snorkel whilst jogging. With altitudes of around 2,800 metres above sea level in the Sierra de Lobos and Sierra de Guanajuato mountains, this effect is compounded at the Rally Mexico. The higher you get, the lower the oxygen content in the air, resulting in less efficient combustion. Furthermore, the air resistance for the turbo charger is also reduced. This increases the revolution speed in this component, and only by making adjustments with the engine management system is it possible to avoid a mechanical overload. The engines consequently generate 28 to 30 per cent less power than they do at the Rally Sweden.

“The altitude at the Rally Mexico affects the engine more than any other part of the Polo R WRC,” said Dr. Donatus Wichelhaus, Head of Engine Development at Volkswagen Motorsport. “On the one hand, the air pressure drops the higher you get, which in turns results in lower oxygen content in the air. On the other hand, the air resistance in the turbo charger is also reduced. As a result, this component achieves higher revolution speeds than at any other rally. In order to guarantee stability, but still lose as little performance as possible, we used various simulations even before last year to prepare for Mexico.”

In the heart of Mexico: mine shafts, winding roads, and “El Chocolate”

The extremes at the Rally Mexico provide a distinctive, contrasting programme for drivers, co-drivers and fans alike. The pop concert feeling of the “Guanajuato Street Stage” with 80,000 adoring fans is in stark contrast with the solitude of the highlands. A short special stage of just over one kilometre is more than offset by a 56-kilometre boneshaker. The Rally Mexico is one of the most multifaceted on the WRC calendar. Three special stages are worth particular mention, purely because of their length: “El Chocolate” on Friday at 44 kilometres, the 54-kilometre “Otates” on Saturday, and “Guanajuatito” with about 56 kilometres against the clock.

The most popular spectator point comes on the “Derramadero” special stage. Among the exquisite ingredients that combine to make the final, televised Power Stage so mouth-watering are the ultra-quick winding roads, a descent of about 200 metres within just 2.5 kilometres, and the “El Brinco” jump, which sees the World Rally Cars fly through the air in spectacular fashion. And all that just four kilometres from Cerro del Cubilete, at the top of which a 30-metre tall statue of Christ marks the geographic centre of Mexico.

Quotes ahead of the Rally Mexico

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“I like the Rally Mexico. The goal for this year is obviously to repeat last season’s victory. The special stages in Mexico, some of which are very long, are always a big challenge for us. As the second car out, we start in the knowledge that the road conditions will improve with each car. My starting position is definitely better than that of my team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala, but the guys behind us will have even better conditions. As such, we will have to perform as well as possible on the opening day, in order not to throw away any hopes of victory early on. One of our strengths last year was the engine in the Polo R WRC. We had fewer problems with the conditions, the thin air and the ensuing loss of performance than our rivals did. However, we all start from scratch again in 2014.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“The win in Sweden was a special moment for me, and has obviously given me an extra dose of confidence. We used tests in Spain to prepare meticulously for the forthcoming gravel rally in Mexico and the difficult conditions we will encounter there. The scrapping of qualifying means I, as the championship leader, have to be first out onto the route in Mexico. It goes without saying that this is a handicap. However, rules are rules. This is definitely outweighed by the pleasure of travelling to Mexico as the leader in the World Championship. I will be sporting about it and do my best whatever the circumstances. If everything goes perfectly to plan, it could still even be possible to win. However, that is not my main goal. We want at least to finish in the points. A place on the podium would be great.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“Sweden was a perfect weekend. We were in contention to win the rally, and second place was ultimately a fantastic result for Mikko and me. Once you have made it onto the podium, you obviously want to do it again. However, you cannot lose your sense of reality. We are now looking forward to Mexico, which is completely new territory for us. It will not be easy for us, as I have never actually competed at this rally. I was able to take part in the ‘Recce’ last season, which allowed me to gain an initial impression. My goal is the top five. I am definitely physically and mentally fresh going into the rally weekend. After Sweden, I went home and spent some time with my family and friends. I also went to New York for a weekend to relax a little. I’m ready to go again now though!”

Three questions for … Martin Hassenpflug

You are the Car Chief for World Champion Sébastien Ogier’s Polo R WRC. In order to be successful, there has to be absolute trust between  the Car Chief and the driver. How long did it take you both to build up that level of trust?
Martin Hassenpflug: “It actually happened relatively quickly, as we are both about the same age. It was obviously also an advantage that we had contested the entire 2012 season together with the Škoda Fabia. Since then, there has been a blind understanding between us and we have cooperated absolutely seamlessly. That obviously pays dividends on hectic rally weekends.”

You have worked with many drivers. Can you tell us what makes Sébastien Ogier so special, and what makes him stand out from the other drivers?
Martin Hassenpflug: “Sébastien is definitely determined to win all the time. Ok, nearly all the drivers have that, but it is really extreme in his case. (laughs) When it is all or nothing and the rally is underway, he switches into winner mode – and away we go!”

You and your team pamper and look after the Ogier Polo several times every day. When was the last time you washed your wife’s car?
Martin Hassenpflug: “Actually, that happens very rarely. Every so often I will take it to the car wash, or vacuum the seats and floor at the petrol station. But that is about it. However, I have yet to hear any complaints that I have only been cleaning Séb’s Polo and not her car. After all, that is my work, while her car is private – as such, they are two completely different beasts.”

The number for the Rally Mexico: 3

Volkswagen have their sights set on win number three of 2014 in the third round of the World Rally Championship (WRC). The team from Wolfsburg, and its three driving duos, also travel to León and the surrounding area as defending champions and leaders in all three classifications (Driver, Co-Driver and Manufacturer). Last year, Sébastien Ogier not only claimed overall victory on Volkswagen’s third appearance in the World Rally Championship, but also picked up three bonus points for winning the Power Stage.