Tag: WRC, Rally

Wolfsburg, 16 October 2015: All eyes on the surface – Volkswagen faces a unique challenge when it lines up with the Polo R WRC at the Rally Spain (22–25 October). The twelfth and penultimate round of this season’s FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) is the only one on the WRC calendar, at which the drivers go up against the clock on both asphalt and gravel. Two men, in particular, have proven to be experts in this field: reigning champions and champions elect* Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (F/F). Last year, the two Frenchmen wrapped up their second World Championship title on the Iberian Peninsula, with one round still to come. In 2013, when Volkswagen won the Manufacturers’ Championship, the winners in Spain were once again Ogier/Ingrassia. Second place in a Volkswagen one-two in both years went to Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), who are currently second in the World Championship and arrive in Spain on the back of their recent victory on Corsica. Success at the Rally France on Corsica saw Latvala/Anttila extend their advantage in the overall standings over the third Volkswagen duo of Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N) to 34 points. Should Latvala/Anttila retain at least 28 points of their lead on Mikkelsen/Fløene, who are third in the World Championship, they would be guaranteed to end the season as runners-up in the overall standings.

“The Rally Spain is unique. We must ensure the Polo is ideally set up for both gravel and asphalt,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “This not only means that the driver and co-driver must be wide awake and able to adapt well to the changing conditions, but also puts the entire team to the test – particularly the mechanics. We have done a good job of switching from gravel to asphalt for the past two years, and have been successful in Spain. This year, we are obviously hoping to make it a hat-trick of wins. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila dominated on Corsica and travel to Spain brimming with confidence. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia were unfortunate at their home rally – it goes without saying that they are now hungry to bounce back with what would be their eighth win of the season. Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene have not yet given up on second place in the overall standings. It will certainly be exciting.”

New this year – 23 special stages, 51 per cent unfamiliar terrain

Asphalt, gravel, asphalt, asphalt – this sequence of road surfaces is what awaits the elite of the WRC on Thursday and the three subsequent days of rallying. And that is not the only challenge: the 51st staging of the Rally Spain features a total of 23 special stages – seven more than in 2014 – with 331.25 kilometres against the clock. The driver/co-driver crews must write new pace notes for 51 per cent of the route.

A wide range of challenges – the 2015 Rally Spain

The Rally Spain poses a wide range of challenges to the drivers and co-drivers. Like last year, the 3.2-kilometre “Barcelona” special stage will be held on Montjuïc on Thursday evening. The site of the International Exposition in 1929 and the 1992 Summer Olympics will attract spectators aplenty when the WRC elite open the Rally Spain on the narrow route in the Catalonian metropolis. In contrast, Friday is set to be a dusty affair, as the itinerary features the first of the gravel stages – all of which are covered with a fine layer of gravel, more of which will be swept off the road with every World Rally Car that passes. Typical: the “Terra Alta” special stage, with its five changes of surface and central asphalt section. At 35.68 kilometres, it is also the longest stage at the Rally Spain.

A lot of feeling and good line selection – the key to success at the Rally Spain

After giving the World Rally Cars a complete overhaul to switch to their asphalt set-up, the teams then face a total 199.45 kilometres against the clock on Saturday and Sunday. Parts of last year’s “Riudecanyes” stage will this time be tackled in the opposite direction on “Duesaigües”. The second running of this stage will also form the Power Stage, on which extra points towards the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championship are up for grabs. The rally has made the two roundabouts on this stage famous throughout Spain. It goes without saying that the drivers must pull off a crowd-pleasing donut on one of these. Narrow, winding downhill sections also define this famous stage. The Rally Spain demands a lot of feel for the car on the gravel sections and a good sense for the perfect line on the winding asphalt roads, some of which are reminiscent of classic racetracks.

One-twos, titles, milestones – happy stomping ground in Spain

Two wins from two appearances, the first one-two in the history of the Polo R WRC, the Manufacturer’s title with one round to go in 2013, and the Drivers’/Co-Drivers’ Championships for Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia last year – the asphalt and gravel roads of the Rally Spain have proven to be a happy stomping ground for Volkswagen. Last year, Ogier/Ingrassia and Latvala/Anttila pulled off a spectacular tenth one-two with the 318-hp four-wheel drive car from Wolfsburg. Coming into this year’s Rally Spain, the three Volkswagen crews now have a total of 16 one-twos to their name.

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

Quotes ahead of the Rally Spain

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“When I think of the Rally Spain, the success we have enjoyed for the last two years obviously springs to mind. In 2014, Julien and I won to secure our second Drivers’ title In 2013, we helped Volkswagen wrap up the Manufacturers’ Championship with one rally still to come. Those scenes of jubilation and the big smiles on the faces of everyone in the team – you simply don’t forget memories like that in a hurry. This year we want to have cause for celebration again. Especially after what was a disappointing Rally France for Julien and me. However, it will be far from easy. Over half of the special stages at the Rally Spain are new, so we are all starting from scratch. Then there is also the added challenge of the different surfaces on the three days of the rally. In 2014 it was a close battle between Jari-Matti Latvala and me. I expect that to be the case again this time. Although we have already won the World Championship, it goes without saying that we will still be pushing hard. I think that is what makes our team so special. Everyone gives 100 per cent and we are all hungry to win.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“The Rally Spain is one of my favourite rallies. Last year Sébastien Ogier and I had a very close battle. I pushed hard right to the finish, and won the closing Power Stage. Unfortunately I missed out on victory by just over eleven seconds. I was not 100 per cent in gravel mode at the start of the rally. I had focussed more on the asphalt set-up, so won most of my special stages on the final day of the rally. However, you must also be set up for gravel on the opening day in Spain if you want to be right up there. I have learned from that: I now know how I need to set up the Polo and that I have to drive cleanly on these sections. The surface on the gravel stages is relatively hard, but it is covered by a fine, loose layer. Victory on Corsica has definitely given me plenty of confidence. There are just two rallies remaining this year – and I want to be in contention to win them both.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“This year there are a few new special stages at the Rally Spain. That suits me. I like working out new sections, and have always been fast on them in the past. However, one thing has not changed at the Rally Spain: the first day will be on gravel – with the exception of the Barcelona stage on Thursday – and the remaining two days on asphalt. It is always tricky to adjust from gravel to asphalt within a day. Hopefully Ola and I will find our rhythm quickly. Last year a puncture on Saturday cost me over two minutes. Without that, I could have been on the podium. As it was, I had to settle for seventh. I am yet to get through the Rally Spain without making a mistake, so a flawless rally is definitely my goal for this year. A podium would be nice too, but it goes without saying that I would like to be in with a shout of winning. Jari-Matti Latvala’s victory on Corsica increased the gap to him and second place in the overall standings. There are still two rallies to come though, and I am obviously not going to give up. However, I will not put myself under any undue pressure or reflect too much on the situation. Ideally, I will finish ahead of him and get a good result.”

Did you know …

… Carlos Sainz won his home rally twice? “El Matador” won in 1992 and 1995. At his side: Luís Moya, now a member of the Volkswagen Motorsport team.

… Sebastián Salvadó won the inaugural Rally Spain? The Spaniard was victorious at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo in 1957.

… the first time the Rally Spain was not won by a Spaniard was in 1983? The Italian pair of Adertico Vudafieri and Tiziano Siviero won in a Lancia Rally 037.

… the Rally Spain is being held for the 51st time this year, and the 23rd time as a round of the World Rally Championship? The event, which is run by the Reial Automòbil Club de Catalunya (RACC) first featured on the WRC calendar in 1991. Only once – in 1994 – did the Rally Spain only count towards the 2-Litre World Rally Cup.

… the Rally Spain was held on the Costa Brava between 1991 and 2004? Back then, the rally headquarters were in the party stronghold of Lloret de Mar. However, there has also been plenty on offer in the way of leisure activities since 2005: the headquarters, media centre and service park are housed in the grounds of the PortAventura Resort.

… France is the most successful nation at the Rally Spain? Since the rally first appeared on the WRC calendar, it has been won by a Frenchman on 16 occasions. Sébastien Loeb alone won eight times between 2005 and 2012. Volkswagen driver Sébastien Ogier contributed two victories to the French total in 2013 and 2014.

… the body shell of the Polo R WRC is made in Pamplona? Last year, 150 employees from the Volkswagen factory in Pamplona made the 400-kilometre journey to watch their three Polo R WRCs in action, courtesy of an invite from Volkswagen Spain.

The number for the Rally Spain: 4,044

The mechanics could produce a record-breaking performance at the Rally Spain. During the 75-minute service on Friday evening – the longest of the season – they will convert the Polo R WRC from its gravel configuration to the asphalt set-up. For an idea of the sheer effort required, look no further than the number of individual components that must be replaced. Per car, the mechanics must swap 13 modules, consisting of 1,348 individual parts – that is a total of 4,044 parts for all three Polo R WRC.

As good as it gets: Volkswagen got a triumphant one-two-three win in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), seeing them celebrate the most successful rally in the history of the Polo R WRC. In Portugal, at the fifth event of the season, Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) won ahead of their team-mates Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N), and with the triple success on the power stage, also secured the maximum number of points in all three WRC standings for the works team from Wolfsburg. This makes Volkswagen the first manufacturer to achieve this since the introduction of the special stage for which bonus points are awarded to the top three. The total of 122 championship points for the drivers’, co-drivers’ and manufacturers’ standings were the icing on the cake of an extremely exciting Rally Portugal, in which all four manufacturers – alongside Volkswagen, the teams of Citroën, Hyundai and M-Sport-Ford – fought for the lead, and a four-way battle for the podium kept thousands upon thousands of enthusiastic fans on tenterhooks right to the end.

During the Rally Portugal, the Volkswagen brand board members Dr. Arno Antlitz (Controlling and Accounting) and Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neußer (Technical Development) paid a visit to the works team. Dr. Neußer and Dr. Antlitz are regular guests in the service parks. Dr. Antlitz was also on site at the team’s Rally Dakar win in 2011. “The one-two-three win in Portugal is a magnificent success for Volkswagen. It underlines that the drivers and co-drivers, the whole team, and the Polo R WRC were once again the measure of all things, in extremely difficult conditions for both drivers and cars,” said Dr. Neußer, who is also responsible for Volkswagen’s involvement in motorsport. “At the same time, the open contest for the win proved just how fascinating the sport on offer in the World Rally Championship is – a first-class stage for our cars. I am proud of the whole team.”

Thrilling final: only 0.065 percent made the difference

Advantage Latvala on Friday, pursuit Ogier on Saturday and Sunday: A thrilling duel for the win intensified right up to the closing special stage, the legendary classic “Fafe”, with the win going to Latvala with an advantage of 8.2 seconds. 10.4 seconds separated Jari-Matti Latvala and Sébastien Ogier going into the final special stage. Only a further 16.4 seconds placed Andreas Mikkelsen in third. In the end, only 28.6 seconds separated the top three – converted to a distance, this was 0.2 percent of the kilometres of special stages covered. And only 0.065 percent between Latvala and Ogier.

On marbles – Volkswagen drivers conquer new territory in difficult conditions

The conditions in Portugal proved difficult for drivers, co-drivers and World Rally Cars. For the first time since 2001, the Rally Portugal was held in the north of the country again, proving to be new territory for the majority of competitors. The special stages were covered in a thick layer of loose gravel, which produced more grip with every World Rally Car that covered the track. The tyre selection proved to be a challenge. The fastest option was the soft compound of the Michelin competition tyres. With the quantity

of soft and hard compounds available, the trick was also to economise wisely over the four days of rallying.

A matter of honour: 172 plus one – Finland ahead of France in the nations ranking

The duel between Jari-Matti Latvala and Sébastien Ogier in Portugal was also the duel for the lead in the battle of the nations in the all-time rankings of the WRC. Going into the fifth event of the season, the two most successful countries in WRC history were level-pegging. Jari-Matti Latvala’s win saw Finland retain the upper hand. The Volkswagen drivers Latvala and Ogier are the only regular starters for their countries in the WRC elite and are fighting this prestigious battle amongst themselves with identical equipment. Ahead of the upcoming WRC events, Finland is now slightly ahead with 173 wins, France has 172 to its name.

It was also a successful rally for Portugal. With Jari-Matti Latvala, his long-term chief mechanic Jose Azevedo da Silva and his mechanic Rui Cabeda won their home rally. Also to the delight of the thousands upon thousands of fans along the rally routes and in the service park, who despite their great passion for the sport, stuck to the strict safety zones, enabling a successful Rally Portugal.

Best result of the season: eleven number ones – stage wins for Volkswagen, one special win for Ogier
Volkswagen secured eleven of the 15 possible stage best times at the Rally Portugal – and in this respect, also achieved the record of the season (73.33 percent). In light of the regulation changes to the starting order for 2015, the previous record of the season stood at 66.66 percent – achieved in Sweden and

Argentina. Volkswagen have bagged a total of 392 out of 569 possible best times since January 2013 (69 percent).

Furthermore, for the 23rd time in 30 power stages, it was one of the Volkswagen duos who picked up the three bonus points for the best time – Ogier/Ingrassia. Out of 87 chances to pick up bonus points since the Rally Monte Carlo in 2013, the drivers from Wolfsburg have capitalised on this 52 times.

Milestone achieved – 48 plus three equals 51 podium finishes for the Polo R WRC

Latvala, Ogier and Mikkelsen finished in first, second and third to add podium finishes 49 to 51 to Volkswagen’s name. This saw the works team from Wolfsburg achieve another milest

one on their 31st start in the WRC with the Polo R WRC.
Advantage Wolfsburg – lead extended in all three WRC standings

Ogier ahead of Mikkelsen – Volkswagen has regained a one-two lead in the drivers’ and co-drivers’ standings. Ogier leads with 105 points, with Mikkelsen behind (63). Jari-Matti Latvala’s win sees him move up from ninth into fifth place – he now has 46 points to his name. In the manufacturers’ standings, Volkswagen is 43 points ahead of Citroën, making them as far ahead as the maximum number of points for a manufacturer per rally.
Quotes, day 04 Rally Portugal
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“We can be proud of our performance this weekend. Julien and I really did not have e

asy conditions here in Portugal, but we still made the most of what we had. From a driving point of view, that was possibly one of my best rallies. And second place extends our lead in the World Championship. That is important. Congratulations to Jari-Matti, who was particularly strong on the all-important penultimate stage. I would obviously have preferred to pick up my fifth win and pulled level with Markku Alén, b

ut in the end it was not worth risking everything. The World Championship remains our priority. I would like to thank the fans, whose enthusiasm makes this rally so special.”
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“That was a very important win! Not just for me, but for the entire team. That was the right response to the poor result in Argentina. For me personally, it was important to get back in the points after my long lean period – and to do that with a win is awesome. It was an exciting battle with Sébastien Ogier, who really put us under pressure. However, I resisted it at the crucial moment. Thank you to my te

am for their work and support when things were not running so smoothly lately. I am looking forward to the next rallies.”
Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9

“I am really happy and delighted with my own performance. However, I am even more pleased with the new Polo R WRC, which I drove for the first time here. What an incredible car Volkswagen has built! It behaved exactly as I would want it to under every circumstance and is just great to drive. We were constantly operating within ourselves this weekend, so as to avoid any major mistakes, and were ultimately right with our tyre selection. Third place and a point from the Power Stage is a great result and I am particularly pleased for the team that we made it a one-two-three. Between us, we could not have done a better job. It is a great feeling to have been involved and to have done my bit.”

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“What a great reaction from the entire team here in Portugal after the huge disappointment in Argentina! Portugal was Volkswagen’s most successful rally since we lined up with the Polo R WRC, and a lot of people have made a valuable contribution to this outstanding triumph – particularly our drivers and co-drivers. Jari-Matti Latvala produced a strong, mature display and, like Sébastien Ogier, made the most of what he had to play with. This time Seb just missed out. Andreas Mikkelsen also put in a very fine performance on his debut with the second-generation Polo R WRC. I take my hat off to all t

hree. They once again had a dream team behind them, who did a flawless job. Every one of them did their

utmost to banish the memory of Argentina. I am incredibly proud of our team.”

And then there was …

… a great honour for the 2014 Polo R WRC. It lined up alongside such legendary cars as the Lancia Stratos, Porsche 911, Renault Alpine and the Ford Escort in an exhibition of historic rally cars at the Rally Portugal. With a win rate of almost 84 per cent, the reigning world champion car from Wolfsburg is currently the most successful model in the history of rallying.

Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and their Volkswagen team-mates Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N) were forced to abandon their hopes of winning the Rally Argentina very early on in proceedings. A problem with the fuel supply to a cylinder resulted in a loss of performance for Ogier/Ingrassia, causing them to pull over and retire on the second stage of the rally. Mikkelsen/Fløene also had to stomach a set back as a result of the extremely tough conditions on “Agua de Oro-Ascochinga”. A puncture first led to a damaged shock absorber, which then broke completely, and a damaged servo pump affecting the power steering. Both Volkswagen duos had no option but to retire on Friday, but will rejoin the action on Saturday under Rally2 regulations.

Quotes after day two of the Rally Argentina
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“Everything was running completely as usual until the start of the morning’s first stage. Then – after just ten kilometres – we suddenly had a drastic loss of power. And the engine did not sound as good as usual. Seven kilometres from the end of the stage we had to stop and park the car up. It is obviously a shame to miss out on the chance to win here. But that is part and parcel of motorsport. I cannot complain, as our team does an absolutely fantastic job and we have won every rally so far this year with the Polo. We were just unlucky this time.”
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“What an eventful day of rallying. Not just for me, but for the entire team. The conditions were – as we expected – extremely tough for man and machine. As far as the tactics are concerned, I tried not to push too hard from the start. And that worked well. We had a problem with the power train on the fifth special stage. After that we didn’t really have proper drive and that meant we lost almost a minute to Kris Meeke. First and foremost I am just happy to have got the car back to the service after this tough day. Tomorrow I will be able to attack on ‘all fours’ again, and try to put some pressure on the two leading Citroëns. There is still a long way to go, and a lot can happen. We certainly saw that today.”
Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“Today was definitely not our day. ‘Standard’ tyre damage turned out to be the biggest possible setback. Hindsight is a wonderful thing: but it would have been better if we had changed the flat tyre straight away. The tyre came away from the rim, the many blows damaged the damper and then it ended up being useless on the next stage because it was no longer absorbing anything. On top of this massive blow, the servo pump also broke. Our mechanics did a fantastic job; they practically built a new car in 30 minutes, but couldn’t keep it in the race. I feel really sorry for them. Overall I am obviously disappointed with the result and would love to have continued my fantastic start to the season. But we’ll be back again tomorrow, and will try to gain as much experience as possible and then really go for it on the Power Stage on Sunday to pick up some points for the championship.”
Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“Let’s start with the good news: Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila are still flying the Volkswagen flag at the Rally Argentina and are still on track to finish on the podium thanks to their fighting spirit. The bad news: all three of our Volkswagen duos struggled with problems today. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia were forced to end the day early when they had an issue with the fuel supply to a cylinder; tyre damage triggered a chain reaction for Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene. They – like Séb and Julien – will restart tomorrow under Rally2 regulations. The conditions push man and machine to the limit – which is why Jari-Matti and Miikka were also slowed down by a problem with their power train. But thanks to them we are still in with a chance of winning. And that is still our goal.”
And then there was …
… the tattoo of the day. Last year, Lorena Granelli from Córdoba made her name as a passionate Volkswagen fan. For the 2015 Rally Argentina, Lorena commissioned another expression of her dedication to the two-time World Championship winning team. Her back now bears a large tattoo with the Volkswagen logo and the words “Special Fan”.

eom/VW release

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.”