INDIA in F1

Tag: WRC, Rally

  • Loeb on top; Volkswagen off to a flying start after Day 1

    Wolfsburg, 16 Jan 2013: Citroën’s Sébastien Loeb heads the leaderboard after the opening day of Rally Monte-Carlo, the first round of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship. Former team-mate Sébastien Ogier holds second in the debut competitive outing of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC and Mikko Hirvonen is third after the first of four days of action.

    The 81st Rallye Monte-Carlo started in Valence today and took the contenders over two loops of two identical stages in the south Ardeche region covering 135.40 competitive kilometres. Snowfall yesterday resulted in treacherous and unpredictable conditions and, as always, tyre choice and confidence became critical factors, an FIA press release said. The Fox team was off to a flying start and the Volkswagen release is attached below the FIA release.

    Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) in a Volkswagen Polo R end up second on the leaderboard in WRC first round on 16 Jan 2013. A Volkswagen Motorsport Communications photo.

    With Volkswagen Motorsport joining the series this season, all eyes were on the pace of the Polo R WRC this morning and Sébastien Ogier didn’t disappoint, the Frenchman fastest by 3.7 seconds over the opening 37.10 kilometre stage. While he remained one of Loeb’s nearest rivals throughout the day, he then lost nearly a minute in the final stage as road conditions deteriorated. Nevertheless, a fine performance sees him second to Loeb after a full year out of world rally car competition. Loeb then dominated the remaining three stages, the nine-time World Champion winning each to pull out over a minute’s advantage. His team-mate Mikko Hirvonen is third but the Finn struggled with grip and confidence in the sister DS3 WRC. Dani Sordo has run without problems to an overnight fourth and Jari-Matti Latvala – in the second Polo R WRC – ran better this afternoon with set-up changes. He has climbed from 10th to fifth. Evgeny Novikov heads the Qatar M-Sport squad in sixth, ahead of Mads Østberg and former Monte-Carlo victor Bryan Bouffier. The leading retirement of the day was Thierry Neuville, the Belgium retiring after taking a wheel off his Fiesta RS WRC. Without Rally 2 regulations in Monte-Carlo, he will not be re-starting.

    Volkswagen Release:

    Wolfsburg, 16 Jan 2013: First outing in the FIA World Rally Championship, first stage, first milestone: Volkswagen made an impressive start to the legendary Rally Monte Carlo with the Polo R WRC. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) won the opening special stage of the iconic classic in extremely difficult conditions – finishing ahead of multiple world champions Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroen). All the top teams adopted identical tyre strategies on the opening “Le Moulinon” stage, as they looked to overcome the challenge thrown up by parts of the stage being run on grippy tarmac and other sections on smooth ice. After the first leg of the four-day “Monte” challenge, Ogier/Ingrassia are currently 1:20.30 minutes behind world champion Loeb in second place, following further excellent stage results. Their team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) follow in fifth place overall after their progress was halted by a puncture on the final stage of the day.

    However, the good results at the Rally Monte Carlo cannot really be seen as a true indication of how the Polo R WRC will fair over the course of the season. The conditions – a mixture of ice, snow and tarmac – are unlike any others on likely to be experienced over the remainder of the WRC calendar.

    Quotes, day 1 of the Rally Monte Carlo

    Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
    This is our first competitive outing with the Polo R WRC, and we are obviously pleased to we need to remain realistic. One single stage win does not mean a great deal. It does, however, give us confidence and the knowledge that the entire team did a great job coming into the season. However, there is certainly no question of euphoria breaking out. Our learning phase with the Polo R WRC has only just begun. The ‘Monte’ is always something of a lottery. Second and fifth at the end of day one is far more than we were expecting.”

    Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #7
    “We have survived this typical and unpredictable opening day of the ‘Monte’. That is the most important thing. However, today was not really my day. The first special stage put so much strain on the tyres that we had to change them on the way to the second special stage. We than made a mistake with our timing and arrived at the start too late. On the fourth stage we had to complete five kilometres with a puncture and lost a lot of time as a result. From a driving point of view, I am yet to really find my rhythm. That will come though.”

    Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #8
    “A good start to the ‘Monte’, and one I am more than happy with. However, that was just the first day, which does not mean an awful lot. The rally still has a long way to go, and we still have some tough days ahead of us. The Polo R WRC feels good and I am obviously pleased with my special stage win this morning. I just drove my own rhythm without really pushing too hard, and was really surprised when I looked at the times. It is extremely difficult to drive in these conditions and the tyre selection is even more important than usual. For this reason, I must say a big thank you to the Gravel crew, with whom I have been working for the first time. That was worth its weight in gold: the ‘Monte’ is at its best out there, as it is totally unpredictable.”

    And then there were …

    … former world rally champion and Volkswagen consultant Carlos Sainz and his co-driver Timo Gottschalk, who surprisingly turned up on site to support the Volkswagen team at the Rally Monte Carlo. Immediately after crashing out during the first week of the Rally Dakar, Sainz and Gottschalk flew straight back to Europe in order to be in Valence in time for the opening day of the event. The ‘Monte’ is the toughest way to start your World Rally Championship campaign,” said the man known as ‘El Matador’. “That makes it even more satisfying that we managed to win the first special stage this morning. We need to stay calm though, as that was just a starter. The Rally Monte Carlo is a long race.”

    Sainz won the Rally Dakar with Volkswagen in 2010, while Gottschalk was successful the following year – both in a Volkswagen Race Touareg. Sainz and Gottschalk were joining forces for the first time at the 2013 “Dakar” – in a privately run Buggy.

    FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), 
    Rally Monte Carlo – Results

     

    Wednesday,
    16 January 2013    		 km #7
    Latvala/Anttila    		 #8
    Ogier/Ingrassia
    WP 01 Le Moulinon 37,10 P08 (+33,6 sec.) P01
    WP 02 Burzet 30,60 P07 (+25,7 sec.)* P02 (+10,4 sec.)
    WP 03 Le Moulinon 37,10 P02 (+12,1 sec.) P05 (+19,9 sec.)
    WP 04 Burzet 30,60 P05 (+54,5 sec.) P04 (+53,7 sec.)
    Overall 135,40 P05 (+2.32,2 min.) P02 (+1.20,3 min.)
    * plus 30-second time penalty.

    FIA World Rally Championship (WRC),
    Rally Monte Carlo – TV times  

    Thursday, 17 January 2013
    17:30  Sport 1  WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, Preview
    n-tv  Daily reports in the sports news

    Friday, 18 January 2013
    17:30  Sport 1  WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, Highlights
    n-tv  Daily reports in the sports news

    Saturday, 19 January 2013
    16:15  Sport 1  WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, Highlights
    n-tv  Daily reports in the sports news

    Sunday, 20 January 2013
    19:30  n-tv  WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, PS – Das Automagazin
    18:30  Sport 1  WRC, Monte Carlo 2013
    n-tv  Daily reports in the sports news

    Thursday, 24 January 2013
    19:05  n-tv  WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, PS – Das Automagazin (repeat Friday/Sunday)

    Rallye Monte-Carlo – Unofficial Results after Day 1

    1.   Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena Citroën DS3 WRC 1 hr 39 min 49.0sec
    2.   Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia Volkswagen Polo R WRC 1 hr 41 min 09.3sec
    3.   Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen Citroën DS3 WRC 1 hr 41 min 35.7sec
    4.   Dani Sordo/Carlos Del Barrio Citroën DS3 WRC 1 hr 41 min 50.2sec
    5.   Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila Volkswagen Polo R WRC 1 hr 42 min 21.2sec
    6.   Evgeny Novikov/Ilka Minor Ford Fiesta RS WRC 1 hr 42 min 39.6sec
    7.   Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson Ford Fiesta RS WRC 1 hr 42 min 44.1sec
    8.   Bryan Bouffier/ Xavier Panseri Citroën DS3 WRC 1 hr 42 min 46.1sec
    9.   Juho Hänninen/Tomi Tuominen Ford Fiesta RS WRC 1 hr 42 min 52.5sec
    10. Martin Prokop/Michal Ernst Ford Fiesta RS WRC 1 hr 46 min 00.3sec

  • Successful `Monte’ dress rehearsal for Fox

    Wolfsburg, 15 Jan 2013: Heavy snow and icy roads: even before the official start, the Rally Monte Carlo is already living up to its legendary reputation as an unpredictable entity. Volkswagen crews Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) and Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) experienced difficult conditions during the Shakedown, a free practice ahead of Wednesday’s opening special stage. A “Fox” release said on Tuesday.

    The route near Valence was an ever-changing mixture of snow, mud and wet asphalt, and gave the drivers a first taste of what they can expect to face over the next few days at the opening round of the World Rally Championship in the French Maritime Alps. Latvala clocked the fifth fastest time after four runs, with Sébastien Ogier just behind him in sixth.

    Thoughts after the Shakedown:

    Jari-Matti Latvala, Polo R WRC #7
    “It was a great feeling to get out there in the Polo R WRC for the first time this morning. I feel right at home in the team. Everyone is working very passionately and is determined to succeed. The weather conditions were not easy today, and I expect the situation to deteriorate further over the coming days. The Rally Monte Carlo is renowned for its fluctuating weather – with asphalt, snow, ice and mud, you can potentially face every possible surface except gravel. As such, the tyre selection will be difficult: if you make the right decision, you can suddenly find yourself up front. At the same time, the wrong decision can soon see you lose a lot of time and positions.”

    Sébastien Ogier, Polo R WRC #8
    “The first Shakedown in the Polo R WRC was a special feeling for me and the entire Volkswagen Team. The waiting is finally over! Furthermore, the ‘Monte’ is my home rally. I have a lot of fans here, and my friends and family will also be here. The car is fun, but the heavy snowfall obviously really affected the Shakedown. The tyre selection plays a pivotal role at the ‘Monte’. I did without spikes on the first practice run, in order to save them for the rally itself, but it was actually a bit too slippery. Generally speaking I am happy, and we managed to test out a few tyre combinations. I am looking forward to tomorrow!”

    Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
    “The Shakedown provided the drivers with an important opportunity to get used to the car and the conditions – the result is of secondary importance for now. The entire team was full of anticipation ahead of the first outing of our new cars, and everyone is now focussed on their job. The early snowfall means that this year’s Rally Monte Carlo looks like being a particularly difficult challenge. The varying conditions can make every single stage a lottery when it comes to tyre selection. We are really looking forward to the first stage on Wednesday.

    WRC Monte Carlo shakedown on Tuesday. A Volkswagen Motorsport Communications photo.

    ends

  • WRC 2013 begins with Rally Monte Carlo

    Valence (Monte Carlo), 13 Jan 2013: The 2013 Rallye Monte-Carlo marks the opening round of the series and the 40th anniversary of the FIA World Rally Championship, the series having been inaugurated at the start of 1973 with this now world-famous event. Back then, the eight-day rally started with concentration runs from Almeria, Athens, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Monte-Carlo, Oslo, Reims, Rome and Warsaw – the average distances being in the region of 2,500 kilometres – before the crews met up for the start of the competitive action. The first-ever FIA World Rally Championship special stage was Col du Corobin, which ran at the end of the concentration runs to establish a classification before the start of what was then known as the ‘common run’.

    Remarkably, one competitor – the overall victor of the 1973 Rallye Monte-Carlo – will be participating in the 40th WRC anniversary event. “Biche”, who navigated Jean-Claude Andruet to victory in a Renault Alpine A110 and claimed the win ahead of Ove Andersson and Jean Todt, starts this year in car #73 (Mitsubishi Evo IX) alongside Italian Maurizio Verini.

    Rallye Monte-Carlo is famous for its mixed conditions, most notably the potential combination of wet and dry tarmac, snow and ice, making tyre choice a critical factor. Competitors have a choice of four types of tyre and having the correct ones fitted at the right time is key to Monte-Carlo success.

    Volkswagen makes its WRC debut in Monte Carlo Rally. Photo Volkswagen Comm.

    ends

  • Volkswagen Polo R all set for WRC debut

    Monte Carlo: When the first World Rally Car sets out on the opening stage of the Rally Monte Carlo, from Moulinon to Antraigues, at 09:00 on Wednesday 16 January, it will mark the start of something rather special: Volkswagen’s first season in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). 20,000 kilometres of testing, 1,700 parts designed completely from scratch, 17 months of preparations – all for this one moment, the dawn of a new age, a press release from Volkswagen said.

    The appearance of the Polo R WRC in the FIA World Rally Championship heralds a new era in motorsport for Volkswagen – and where better to make your debut than the legendary Rally Monte Carlo. In Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) and Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), the works team from Wolfsburg lines up at the WRC season-opener with two young crews who nevertheless already possess a wealth of experience. From 15 to 20 January, Volkswagen will face strong opponents and a new technological challenge. The WRC is regarded as the biggest all-round test in international motorsport and, alongside Formula One, it is the most iconic of the FIA’s world championships.

    “I cannot wait to finally getting going. The entire team at Volkswagen is looking forward to the WRC debut of the Polo WRC,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “World Championship rallies in the top WRC class are new territory for the team. Furthermore, the Polo R WRC has been developed from scratch, features a lot of innovative ideas, and will be making its competitive debut. The ‘Monte’ will give us our first indication of how we compare with the opposition – our rivals already have two years’ experience of the regulations that came into force in 2011, and have been driving in the WRC for many years. Our goal for the Rally Monte Carlo is to gain as much experience as possible and to finish with both cars.”

    Debut time: Volkswagen, the World Rally Championship and the Rally Monte Carlo

    The Rally Monte Carlo is a first for Volkswagen in many regards: the team is competing at a World Championship rally in the top category for World Rally Cars. At the same time, the Polo R WRC will make its first competitive outing and the team will be working with a new driving duo for the first time under rally conditions. Finn Jari-Matti Latvala and his compatriot and co-driver Miikka Anttila officially joined the Volkswagen outfit at the start of the year. Prior to their appearance at the “Monte”, the duo with seven WRC wins to their name have completed a number of test drives.

    Latvala and Anttila start the 2013 season in the number 7 Polo R WRC. In the cockpit of the number 8 Polo will be Frenchmen Sébastien Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia. They have been under contract as Volkswagen works drivers since the end of 2011 and have played significant roles in the development and testing of the Polo R WRC. Together with co-driver Ingrassia, Ogier, who was born in Gap (F), has already won his home rally on one occasion. In 2009 the French pair won the classic as guest starters in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC). Like Latvala and Anttila, Ogier and Ingrassia currently have seven WRC race wins to their name.

    Simply legendary: the “Monte” challenge in the snow and ice of the mountains

    The Volkswagen Motorsport team could hardly be facing a tougher challenge. After all, the “Monte” is the oldest rally in the world and the “mother of all rallies”, having been held for the first time in 1911. The majority of the Rally Monte Carlo is held on narrow tarmacked roads in the French Maritime Alps to the north of the principality of Monaco. While the lower roads close to the Mediterranean are regularly dry, the drivers are often faced with black ice and snow on the many mountain passes they are required to negotiate. This makes it essential to select the right tyre – and makes the “Monte” one of the most difficult and complex rallies on the World Championship calendar.

    Thoughts ahead of the Rally Monte Carlo
    Jari-Matti Latvala, Polo R WRC #7
    “I can hardly wait for the season to get started. I may already have five years as a works driver in the World Rally Championship under my belt, but both the Volkswagen Motorsport team and the Polo R WRC are new to me. As such, I will be making my debut in two regards. The tests up to now have shown that the Polo R WRC is very reliable. This is probably the most important finding so far – and a good basis for future technical developments over the course of the season. I have already developed a good feeling for the car on asphalt and snow, which is a good sign ahead of the Rally Monte Carlo. It is great fun driving the Polo R WRC. It is very stable and the driveability of the engine is also very good. I would like to get the season off to a good start at the ‘Monte’. The result is not the top priority yet, although I would obviously love to pick up some World Championship points.”

    Sébastien Ogier, Polo R WRC #8
    “The ‘Monte’ is a very special rally. After all, it is my home rally. However, the season-opener near my home will be an extraordinary experience for the entire team, as it is the first rally with the new Polo R WRC. We have been working towards this moment with Volkswagen for over a year. We can hardly wait to finally get started. However, it is difficult to judge how we will compare to the opposition, as we have not yet raced against the other teams under competitive conditions. Making your debut in a world championship with a completely new car is a big challenge, particularly as the other manufacturers have several years more experience than we do. For this reason we must be patient and concentrate at first on reaching the finish without any problems. Experience shows that this is anything but simple at the Rally Monte Carlo, as anything can happen at this event.”

    Volkswagen in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)

    The start in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) sees Volkswagen continue its successful history in motorsport. Volkswagen claimed overall victory at the Rally Dakar in 2009, 2010 and 2011 with the Race Touareg to claim a hat-trick of titles at the toughest marathon rally in the world. The Polo R WRC is the first World Rally Car to come out of Wolfsburg, with the manufacturer now entering its own works team at the pinnacle of rallying for the first time. This presents Volkswagen with the opportunity to prove itself in direct sporting competition on a global stage. No model is more suited to the challenge than the Polo, which is one of Volkswagen’s most internationally manufactured and distributed cars.

    Three questions for … Jost Capito

    If you could have chosen a rally for the Polo R WRC to make its debut at – would you have taken the Rally Monte Carlo?
    Jost Capito: “The Rally Monte Carlo is not only the most iconic rally on the World Championship calendar, but also the most difficult and complex. The surface alternates regularly between ice, snow, rain and dry asphalt, which can make the strategy difficult and tyre selection something of a lottery. We are obviously delighted that the Polo R WRC will make its debut at this highlight.”

    In Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala you have signed two very quick drivers. Who do you feel is the stronger?
    Jost Capito: “They are both equally strong. As a Scandinavian, Latvala grew up on gravel – however, he has made huge progress on asphalt in recent years. The same applies to Ogier, who also has what it takes to win on any surface. Both have seven WRC wins to their name. In the end it will come down to who performs best on the day to determine who is the quickest.”

    What goals does Volkswagen have for the 2013 season?
    Jost Capito: “We are aware that we will be up against strong opposition with decades of World Rally Championship experience. The Polo R WRC, on the other hand, is making its debut this year and the team also has a new look to it. As such, we have to set realistic goals. We want to make it onto the podium under our own steam in the second half of the year.”
     
    In numbers The World Rally Championship debut of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC: Nine

    Monte Carlo/France, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Finland, Greece, France and Mexico: in preparation for its outings in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Volkswagen tested the Polo R WRC in nine different countries on gravel, asphalt, snow and ice. The works team from Wolfsburg spent more than 100 test days optimising the Polo R WRC in 2012.

    FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Rally Monte Carlo – Schedule 

    Tuesday, 15 January 2013

    Shakedown P1 and P2 (Plateau de Lautagne), 120 min., 3.58 km, 08:00
    Shakedown P3 and Private (Plateau de Lautagne), 120 min., 3.58 km, 10:00
    Press conference (Parc des Expositions, Valence), 13:30
    Group photo with all WRC drivers (Parc des Expositions, Valence), 14:30

    Wednesday, 16 January 2013 

    (Connection, Special Stage, Connection)
    SS 01, Le Moulinon, 45.27 km, 37.10 km,09:03
    SS 02, Burzet, 30.15 km, 30.60 km, 92.10 km, 10:21
    Service A (Valence), 30 min., 12:46
    SS 03, Le Moulinon, 45.27 km, 37.10 km, 14:21
    SS 04, Burzet, 30.15 km, 30.60 km, 92.10 km, 15:39
    Flexi Service B (Valence), 45 min., 17:59
    Parc fermé (Valence), 21:30
    (334.78 km, 135.40 km, (Σ 471.18 km))

    Thursday, 17 January 2013

    (Connection, Special Stage, Connection)
    Service C (Valence), 15 min., 07:55
    SS 05, La Batie D’Andaure, 64.60 km, 19.08 km, 09:33
    SS 06, St Bonnet le Froid, 12.63 km, 25.45 km, 10:14
    SS 07, Lamastre, 42.80 km, 21.72 km, 33.71 km, 11:37
    Service D (Valence), 30 min., 12.57
    SS 08, La Batie D’Andaure, 64.60 km, 19.08 km, 14:50
    SS 09, St Bonnet le Froid, 12.63 km, 25.45 km, 15:31
    SS 10, Lamastre, 42.80 km, 21.72 km, 33.71 km, 16:54
    Flexi Service E (Valence), 45 min., 18:19
    Parc fermé (Valence), 22:00
    (308.42 km, 132.50 km, (Σ 440.92 km))

    Friday, 18 January 2013
    (Connection, Special Stage, Connection)
    Service F (Valence), 15 min., 07:50
    SS 11, St Jean en Royans, 46.29 km, 33.19 km, 65.59 km, 09:08
    Service G (Valance), 30 min., 11:23
    SS 12, St Nazaire le Desert, 74.90 km, 22.11 km, 13:31
    SS 13, Sisteron, 74.34 km, 36.70 km, 187.50 km, 15:29
    Parc fermé (Monaco), 19:32
    (449.24 km, 92.00 km, (Σ 541.24 km))

    Saturday, 19 January 2013
    (Connection, Special Stage, Connection)
    Service H (Monaco), 45+3 min., 13:15
    SS 14, Moulinet, 44.14 km, 23.54 km, 15:11
    SS 15, Lantosque, 6.72 km, 18.95 km, 15:54
    SS 16, Moulinet, 41.83 km, 23.54 km, 70.99 km, 17:12
    Service I (Monaco), 30+3 min., 19:17
    SS 17, Moulinet, 44.14 km, 23.54 km, 20:58
    SS 18, Lantosque, 6.72 km, 18.95 km, 21:41
    Service J (Monaco), 10+3 min., 22:56
    Parc fermé (Monaco), 23:09,
    (258.59 km, 108.52 km, (Σ 367.11 km))

    Sunday, 20 January 2013
    Presentation ceremony (Place du Palais Princier, Monaco), 11:00
    Press conference (Quai Antoine 1er, Monaco), 12:30

    FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Rally Monte Carlo – TV times

    Thursday, 17 January 2013
    05:30 ARD WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, preview
    13:00 ARD WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, preview
    17:30 Sport1 WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, preview

    Friday, 18 January 2013
    17:30 Sport 1 WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, highlights

    Saturday, 19 January 2013
    16:15 Sport 1 WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, highlights

    Sunday, 20 January 2013
    19:30 n-tv WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, PS – Das Automagazin
    18:30 Sport 1 WRC, Monte Carlo 2013

    Thursday, 24 January 2013
    19:05 n-tv WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, PS – Das Automagazin (repeat Friday/Sunday)

    ends

    Volkswagen Polo R WRC, Monaco presentation. Photo Volkswagen Motorsports Communication