MAGAZINE: Wales Rally GB 2013 Special

Check out our FREE Wales Rally GB special of Road Magazine – featuring the tale of VW's total dominance in this historic, gritty gravel event and the 2013 season (unbelievably their 1st in WRC!), a local WRC2 win by Elfyn Evans' M-Sport Ford, Citroen's many rolls, Olympian Amy Williams & TV's Tony Jardine's ace class win and a report from the new 'RallyFest' stages, and more. This epic event – when it was the iconic Lombard RAC, then Network Q – is what made me a petrolhead, motoring journalist and lifelong rally fan. Standing stage-side as a young boy, obligatory bobble hat on and armed with an airhorn, I witnessed the legendary Group B cult cars – 205 T16, Delta Integrale, Audi Quattro – spit flames and gravel, wastegates chattering: I was hooked. I adored that era of rallying, but I’m not all misty-eyed. The event, the cars and the world of rallying got faster and evolved and I moved with it – always enjoying the unique, special sport. But, in recent years, our only UK WRC round – Wales Rally GB – lost its way, the crowds, and the buzz that went with them. I’m not sure, but it may have even come close to losing WRC favour too: A tragedy. Cue a re-think, a revitalisation of this historic, amazing, challenging event. And boy, did MSA Chairman, Alan Gow and all the Wales Rally GB team work wonders this year – new North Wales base, night stages, the introduction of family-friendly “RallyFest” stages, lively ceremonial start/finish, pop concerts... the lot. And, best of all, 196-miles of some of the best, most challenging, technical, slippery, tricky and epochal special stages in the world – Hafren, Sweet Lamb, Myherin, Gartheiniog, Dyfi... names that sing louder than a male voice choir to rally fans the world over. The event re-brand – and targeted, hard work of the PR and social media team – not only created what is essentially a new Wales Rally GB event, but it did something even more magical... it brought the crowds back, and with it the uniquely Welsh forest flavour. And the WRC and national drivers didn’t disappoint... as you can read here in our Wales Rally GB special.

VIDEO: Wales Rally GB Amazing In-Car

It was an absolutely belting classic Wales Rally GB and massive congratulations to the organisers for re-vamping the event, which attracted HUGE crowds and saw some amazing rallying action – dominated, as throughout 2013, by VW in their inaugural WRC season, who rounded off their record-breaking, historic year with a 1-2 podium with Sebastian Ogier and Yari Matti-Latvala. Incredible. We will be publishing a Wales Rally GB special very soon in Road Magazine, with all the thrills, spills and rally aches – but meantime, why not enjoy one of the stars of 2013... the impossible cool Andreas Mikkelsen in his VW Polo R WRC on one of the best, fastest, most slippery an tricky gravel stages of the event – SS12, Gartheiniog. Nine minutes of flat out, ballsy rally driving to showcase just how amazing that Polo R is, and why Wales Rally GB is so special and unique! And rising star Andreas' raw talent and speed.

VIDEO: VW Polo R, Ogier, Ingrassia & Volkswagen Motorsport Make WRC History

Bobble hats off to VW. With the indispensable help of WRC-God, Carols Sainz, the team has done the unthinkable/unbelievable/unrepeatable – winning the WRC drivers (Seabastian Ogier), co-drivers (Julien Ingrassia) and manufacturers (VW Motorsport) championships, by a country mile in Rally Spain last weekend. And what a great event the WRC's only mixed surface (fast, wide, slippery tarmac and loose gravel) event turned out to be – opening with night stages, huge crowds, a roundabout donut section of one stage and some fabulous driving through the dust. In the end, Yari-Matti had no luck (but more than Dani Sordo & Andreas Mikkelsen) and Ogier had it all. Enjoy the round-up video. Putting VW's inaugural WRC season into perspective for a moment... no one in the 40 year history of WRC has ever accomplished such highs or dominance on all surfaces, or is likely to again. For what it's worth, Road salutes your unreal achievement Team VW – and with a car that looked, sounded and obviously went a load better than the competition too. Bravo! And now the 2013 WRC titles are neatly wrapped up, Wales Rally GB will be a gloves-off, no-holes-barred, maximum attack, guts and glory war. Can't wait! Bring it on!

VIDEO: Getting In The Mood For Wales Rally GB. You going?

Get your tickets here. See you there!

NEWS: VW Motorsport & Sébastien Ogier Make WRC History En France

In what was surely one of the most thrilling and close-fought WRC events in recent years, WRC Rally France secured local heroes Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia their first WRC championship title and has surely crowned the most successful WRC debut car ever – VW's Polo R WRC as victor, with an 80 point lead in the manufacturers' championship, with seven wins under their belt. Amazing season debut I think you will agree...?
It was clear Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia would be crowned the new World Champions in the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championships after the opening stage of the Rally France: Following the result of the Power Stage, in which bonus points are on offer to the first three cars, Ogier/Ingrassia could no longer be caught at the top of the overall standings by their last remaining rivals, Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Ford). As such, Ogier/Ingrassia dethroned record World Champions Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroën) at their home rally to claim the title for the first time in their careers – with Loeb adding further insult to injury, crashing out of the event... after recording his 900th special stage win, stamping his imortaility on the sport forever.
Then event also threw up another first: never in the history of the WRC had a driver/co-driver pairing won the World Championship at the first attempt with a manufacturer making its debut in the World Rally Championship. VW has made history.
Volkswagen Board Member for Technical Development, Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser, and his predecessor Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, father of Volkswagen’s WRC project and Audi Board Member for Technical Development since July, were in Strasbourg to witness the moment the title was won. “This is an incredibly emotional moment for me,” said Dr. Neusser. “I am pleased to be here today to see Sébastien Ogier claim the first title for Volkswagen in our debut year in the World Rally Championship. I would like to thank the outstanding team, which has performed perfectly all year.”
“I am proud that our WRC project, which we launched over two years ago, has already yielded a title today,” said Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg. “I am particularly pleased that Volkswagen has become the first manufacturer in the history of the World Rally Championship to claim its maiden WRC title in its debut season. In my current role as Audi Board Member, I would also like to congratulate the entire Volkswagen team on behalf of Audi. With Audi winning the DTM on last weekend and the WRC title this weekend, this is the perfect end to what, for me personally, has been my most successful week in motorsport to date. I would like to thank the team behind this success from the bottom of my heart. They have done an outstanding job.”
With the Drivers’ Championship in the bag, Sébastien Ogier was given permission by Volkswagen to go all out to win his home rally. Day one as World Champions saw Ogier/Ingrassia take a cautious approach to the Rally France, coming home fifth overall at the end of the first 120.63 kilometres. However, Saturday was all about the World Champions: Ogier/Ingrassia won five of the seven special stages. In doing so, the Volkswagen pair climbed to within 1.5 seconds of their team-mates at the top of the overall standings, Latvala/Anttila. Going into the final day, four pairs – two for Volkswagen and two for Citroën – were separated by just five seconds. An ideal situation for both Volkswagen duos with regard to the Manufacturers’ Championship.
The big step towards the Manufacturers’ title followed on Sunday: first and third – Volkswagen scored 40 points towards the Manufacturers’ Championship, meaning they can now wrap up the title at the next round in Spain, regardless of what their opponents do.
Meanwhile, "Mr Reliable" Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila lined up at the eleventh WRC rally of the season charged with the task of securing as many points as possible towards the Manufacturers’ Championship. Right from the word go, the Finnish duo played their role perfectly: they led going into the final day of the rally, which had been made particularly difficult by heavy rain overnight. Steering clear of any risks, the pair went on to finish third overall. In total, Latvala/Anttila claimed top-three finishes on twelve of the 20 special stages.

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #8 said: “That is definitely the most amazing rally weekend of my career: first the World Championship title and now victory at my home rally – absolutely fantastic! What an extremely difficult final day. This morning was so incredibly slippery, but my gravel crew did a fantastic job. I obviously feel for Sébastien Loeb, but he was going all out to win, and that sort of thing can happen in such difficult conditions. It could have happened to anyone today. Today is the highlight of our season, and I am absolutely overjoyed. I would like to thank my guys. We  have done a great job all season. I am really proud of what we have achieved.”

Victory at the Rally France saw Sébastien Ogier bring an end to Citroën’s long winning run on asphalt. Citroën’s asphalt era began 2,961 days ago with success for Loeb/Elena at the 2005 Rally Germany. Before today, the last non-Citroën driver to win a purely asphalt round of the World Rally Championship was Markko Märtin (Ford) at the 2004 Rally Spain. Volkswagen so far has eight wins to its name in 2013: seven for Ogier/Ingrassia, and one for Latvala/Anttila.

And talented WRC newcomer, Andreas Mikkelsen/Paul Nagle (N/IRL) ended their asphalt debut with the Polo R WRC in seventh place. The Rally France was a learning process for both driver and co-driver. After a strong start, a shower cost the pair a better position on Friday. On Saturday, Mikkelsen/Nagle struggled with the set-up of their 315-hp World Rally Car. In particularly difficult conditions on Sunday, Mikkelsen/Nagle improved to seventh place. The pair finished in the top five on four special stages.
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #7 said: “Congratulations to Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia. They were the best this weekend and fully deserved both their win and the World Championship title. They have proven this season that they are outstanding in all conditions and on all surfaces. I am very happy with third place. We produced a flawless display and were consistently quick. That gives me a lot of confidence for the forthcoming rallies. We achieved our goal of scoring important points in the Manufacturers’ Championship. The title is now within touching distance for the team. The poor run over the last three rallies was difficult, and I am glad to have come out the other end. It is a shame for that Sébastien Loeb crashed out on his last rally. However, that in no way detracts from all his incredible performances in recent years.”
Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9 added: “The Rally France was my first asphalt rally with the Polo R WRC. We certainly could not assume that we would immediately be up there with the front-runners. However, I was expecting a little bit more. However, we now know what we have to work on in order to come back stronger in the future. I particularly learned a thing or two about the set-up of the car. We had to be patient, particularly on Saturday, in order to get the best of our material. In the end, it was all about gaining as much experience as possible in difficult conditions. Sunday was much better for us, when the road conditions were particularly hard to judge.”
Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director added: “The Rally France was a great success. On the one hand for rallying in general, and on the other hand for Volkswagen. It does not get any more exciting than the last four days. Ahead of the final day, any one of four drivers could have won. In the end, the new World Champions* – Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia – came out on top. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila scored valuable points towards the Manufacturers’ Championship.  Volkswagen now has every chance of winning this title too in Spain. As Volkswagen Motorsport Director, you cannot ask for more. This weekend we claimed the title in the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championships, won the rally, and took a big step forward. There will be some celebrating this evening.”

As a foot note, to highlight the Polo R WRC's immense achievement in its innaugural season, after Rally France finished and 200 WRC special stages had passed in the 2013 season, the Volkswagen Polo R WRC had 119 stage wins to its name. In achieving this outstanding record, Volkswagen showed a love of milestones: Sébastien Ogier won the World Rally Car from Wolfsburg’s 50th (Mexico) and 100^th (Greece) special stages, while the 150th (Germany) went to Jari-Matti Latvala. And the Finn narrowly missed out on another stage win by just 0.6 seconds on the Polo R WRC’s 200^th stage.

FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Rally France – final results
1. Sébastien Ogier/Julian Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen	2h 53m 07.6s
2. Daniel Sordo/Carlos del Barrio (E/E), Citroën	+ 12.2s
3. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miika Anttila (FIN/FIN), Volkswagen	+ 19.5s
4. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (B/B), Ford	+ 1m 14.1s
5. Evgeny Novikov/Ilka Minor (RUS/A), Ford	+ 3m 10.9s
6. Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen (FIN/FIN), Citroën	+ 3m 37.7s
7. Andreas Mikkelesen/Paul Nagle (N/IRL), Volkswagen	+ 4m 04.2s
8. Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson (N/S), Ford	+ 4m 35.2s
9. Robert Kubica/Maciej Baran (PL/PL), Citroën	+ 9m 31.4s
10. Romain Dumas/Denis Giraudet (F/F), Ford	+ 11m 55.8s
FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Rally France – Power Stage results
1. Daniel Sordo/Carlos del Barrio (E/E), Citroën	3m 20.8s
2. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (B/B), Ford	+ 0.7s
3. Sébastien Ogier/Julian Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen	+ 0.8s

FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), points standings*
Drivers’ classification
1. Sébastien Ogier, 238 points; 2. Thierry Neuville, 143; 3. Jari-Matti Latvala, 125;
4. Daniel Sordo, 117; 5. Mikko Hirvonen, 111; 6. Mads Østberg, 81; 6. Sébastien Loeb, 68; 8. Evgeny Novikov, 57; 9. Martin Prokop, 49; 10. Andreas Mikkelsen, 40.

Manufacturers’ classification
1. Volkswagen Motorsport, 339 points, 2. Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT, 259 Punkte;
3. Qatar WRT, 157; 4. Qatar M-Sport WRT, 156; 5. Abu Dhabi Citroën Total WRT, 59;
6. Jipocar Czech National Team, 51; 7. Volkswagen Motorsport II, 40; 8. Lotos WRC Team, 20.

Roll on Wales Rally GB, where we will be reporting live from the event.

NEWS: Wales Rally GB Entries Now Open With New 4, 3 & 2 Day Entries From £600!

Entries for the only-UK-based WRC round – Wales Rally GB 14-17th November – are now open, offering new full (four day), three day and two day entries, from its new North Wales base at Deeside – from £600! 

And, to further encourage more local faces to enter the stella event, and take on the WRC giants, there's a great chance for amateurs to compete in the FIA World Rally Championship, special discounts for local competitors, with all entries accepted on a first come, first served basis... so get involved!
As previously announced, rally crews are being offered three different options to pit their skills against the sport’s elite on this year’s revitalised Wales Rally GB (14-17 November) now based in north Wales:
1. More ambitious entrants can tackle the full four-day WRC event featuring 196-miles of timed sections starting in Snowdonia after dark on Thursday evening. To encourage local teams to gain World Championship experience in the legendary Welsh forests, the organisers are offering a significantly discounted entry fee reduced (£1500 from £2598) for crews where both driver and co-driver hold an MSA competition licence and a British passport.
And for those looking for a slightly shorter challenge, there’s a choice between two different National events. 

2. The three-day National Rally includes no fewer than 11 of the 13 Wales Rally GB stages starting on Friday with challenging tests in Hafren, Sweet Lamb and Myherin. 

3. And the shorter two-day National Rally commences on Saturday morning and shares the same route as the on-going three-day event – this includes the two exciting new RallyFest stages at Chirk Castle and Kinmel Park as well as the historic Great Orme. Adding to the high octane World Championship atmosphere and ambience, teams contesting the National Rallies will be based at the new WRC Service Park in Deeside and finishers will receive their trophies on the newly designed, high-profile WRC Start/Finish Podium in Llandudno on Sunday afternoon.
Wales Rally GB say: "As well as giving amateurs a fantastic opportunity to compete on the same classic stages as the top stars from the FIA World Rally Championship, the two National Rallies offer great value for money. The three-day event includes 114 miles of competitive stages for an entry fee of just £900 while the 72-mile, two-day alternative is priced at £600. Categories for historic and FIA classes are available all with their own awards. A generous Guest Pass package is provided that includes four guest passes that allow access to the whole event. Competitors are also being offered a dedicated low cost hospitality facility to entertain crew, family, friends and sponsors within the Deeside Service Park."
And reported Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of rally organiser International Motor Sports added: "The comprehensive changes we’ve made to Wales Rally GB have been met with widespread enthusiasm from competitors and fans, so we are expecting lots of interest from potential entrants. 

"There are not many sports where amateurs can compete alongside world champions – rallying is special in that respect and we are keen to encourage as many teams as possible to maximise this great opportunity to be part of the high-profile WRC show. What’s more all three alternatives being offered offer great value for money plus the chance to compete on some of the world’s best gravel stages.” 

There are a limited number of entries available for the two National Rallies and initial priority – on a first come first served basis – will be given to those entering the three-day event. The final closing date is Friday 1 November and competitors can enter on-line via the ‘competitors’ navigation on the official www.walesrallygb.com website.

Great value way to take on the likes of Yari-Mati, Mikko, Sebastian, Kris and all the top names, cars and teams in WRC... and make history, for great value entry fees. GO FOR IT!

 

NEWS: VW Motorsport WRC Dominance In Portugal

VW Motorsport have done it again – continuing their incredible inaugural WRC season in the new (Carlos Sainz developed) VW Polo R WRC – with a win on the tricky gravel of Portugal (WRC round four and the second gravel event), thanks to Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia's dominant 58-second victory.
Team mates, Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila also got onto the podium, coming in third (behind Citroen's Mikko Hirvonen). And Andreas Mikkelsen and Mikko Markkula completed the awesome team performance for Volkswagen – with sixth place on their competitive debut in the Polo R WRC. Sébastien Ogier has now extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship, courtesy of his third win of the season, by over 50 points. And VW Motorsport are top of the manufacturers standings: Dream stuff.
Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg (Member of the Board of Management for the Volkswagen brand), said: "It was great to be present at such a magnificent success. I was very impressed by the manner in which the team earned this success, and how delighted they were by it. It is just fantastic to see how well the entire team is working together. This provides great backing for our drivers, who did an extraordinary job."
The second gravel rally of the season really put man and machine to the test. The conditions, with narrow, winding passages on rough, stony surfaces alternating with fast sections taken at full throttle, were the toughest encountered so far this season. Illness meant Sébastien Ogier was below strength going into the fourth rally of the year, but the Frenchman still held a slender lead at the end of day one. He extended his advantage at the top of the standings with four stage wins on Saturday, and retained his grip on the lead right through to the finish. The World Championship leader did have a bit of a shock at the start of the final day: the connector between the front and rear axles, which allows the handbrake to be used in tight hairpins, temporarily refused to close, causing him to lose time. A short service later, however, the number 8 Polo R WRC was back to full strength as it set off on the remaining stages.
Jari-Matti Latvala also had a worrying moment on Sunday: the driveshaft on the front-right of the car broke, forcing Latvala to tackle the 52.30-kilometre Almodovar stage – the longest on the rally – with just rear-wheel drive. Latvala consequently had to surrender second place overall, but superbly overcame the hindrance to hold off Evgeny Novikov (Ford) and earn his place on the podium.
A test of strategy: tyre selection secures victory on “Power Stage”
Even early on in the rally, Volkswagen’s top two drivers were already looking to save their tyres for the closing “Power Stage”. Additional points towards the Drivers’ Championship were up for grabs for those crews finishing first, second and third on the 52.30 kilometre special stage. And it proved to be a good decision. Starting on fresh Michelin tyres, the Volkswagen drivers were able to launch one last attack at the end of the rally: Sébastien Ogier picked up the three bonus points for clocking the fastest time on the “Power Stage”, while team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala earned one extra point for his third place.
A test of teamwork: Volkswagen service ensures podium finishes
The service played a key role at the Rally Portugal. The Volkswagen mechanics in the Service Park at the “Estádio Algarve” had a total of five time slots – of 15, 30 or 45 minutes – in which to repair the three Polo R WRCs. Given the tough conditions in Portugal, this barely gave the mechanics and engineers sufficient time, in which to replace worn parts and check the technology, which really took some punishment over the course of the four days. The 58-man Volkswagen team did an outstanding job, consistently sending the 315 hp four-wheel drive powerhouse from Wolfsburg back onto the stages in perfect condition.
A test for the newcomers: impressive start for Mikkelsen and Markkula
Andreas Mikkelsen and his co-driver Mikko Markkula, made a great start at the wheel of the third Polo R WRC, which was making its first outing of the season. Mikkelsen did exactly what the team had asked of him, gaining valuable experience in the World Rally Car under competitive conditions and crowning his reliability with sixth place overall and eighth World Championship points.
Quotes on day three of the Rally Portugal
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #7 said: "I am very happy and satisfied to stand on the podium for the first time for Volkswagen. We had a difficult start to the season, but our run of bad luck has finally come to an end. I feel really at home in the Polo R WRC now, and think that we will soon be able to do even better. The rally was a tough test for driver and car, as the route had suffered some serious erosion over the winter. The hard ground and many stones really put the car through its paces. Driver and co-driver had to be fully focussed and have perfect pace notes in order to get the car safely through the stages. Our mechanics did a perfect job of replacing the broken driveshaft on Sunday. As always, they were totally dependable – thank you. That all gives me a lot of encouragement ahead of the coming rallies, and I am already looking forward to Argentina in three weeks."
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #8 said: "Unbelievable. What a rollercoaster ride here in Portugal! I am overjoyed with the win. First the illness, then the brutal stages, which really push a rally car to the very limit. When we had the problem with the power transmission on this morning’s opening stage, I thought: ‘That’s it Séb. The rally is over.’ Fortunately we made it to the service and the guys did a fantastic job there. I think we really deserved the win. The rally was extremely demanding and difficult, for the car, the entire team, and particularly for me. When I arrived in Portugal on Monday evening, I was not certain whether I would be able to start. I was always tired and my energy reserves were completely empty. I was largely able to blank it out whilst I was driving, as the body is running on adrenalin then – but I certainly did not feel top fit. Fortunately my condition improved considerably over the last two days. I will now try to get as much rest and regain as much strength as possible in time for Argentina."
And Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9 said: "I learned something on every single metre of my first rally with the Polo R WRC. My goal was to gain as much experience as possible. I have come away with a lot of ideas as to how we can improve in the future. With the Polo R WRC, everything is a lot quicker than I am used to in Super-2000 cars. My pace notes were too detailed, particularly on fast sections. It was too much for Mikko to read them out, and for me to process them. We will work on that. The aerodynamics on the Polo R WRC are especially impressive. The cornering speeds are extremely high. As such, I am not yet using the full potential of the car in those corners we take in fourth, fifth or sixth gear. I just didn’t want to take any risks. All in all, however, I am very happy with my debut for Volkswagen. I received great support from the team, and would like to thank them for that.”
Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“The Rally Portugal was a real test for the team, the Polo R WRC and the drivers. It was the first typical gravel rally of the season, and was also one of the most demanding on the calendar so far. We saw at the start of the rally that the Polo R WRC and its rivals at Ford and Citroën are on a par with each other. First, third and sixth is an outstanding team result, for which we have the class of our drivers to thank. A huge compliment goes to the engineers and mechanics, who did a magnificent job and secured our third victory, despite a few teething problems with this brand-new car. I am proud of the entire team. In terms of pace, we are among the front-runners and appear to be able to force our rivals to make mistakes, without making any ourselves. With that in mind, we might just have to change our goals for the season."
Quite an incredible, unstoppable start to the WRC season. Amazing stuff. We can't wait to see the VW fly at Wales Rally GB 14th November. You going?


Full results from Rally Portugal

1. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen	4:07:38.7 hrs.
2. Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen (FIN/FIN), Citroën	+ 58.2 sec.
3. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), Volkswagen	+ 4:04.5 min.
4. Evgeny Novikov/Ilka Minor (RUS/A), Ford	+ 5:27.7 min.
5. Nasser Al-Attiyah/Giovanni Bernacchini (Q/I), Ford	+ 7:43.5 min.
6. Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN), Volkswagen	+ 9:39.8 min.
7. Martin Prokop/Michal Ernst (CZ/CZ), Ford	+ 15:04.2 min.
8. Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson (N/S), Ford	+ 15:43.6 min.
9. Khalid Al Qassimi/Scott Martin (UAE/GB), Citroën	+ 15:56.9 min.
10. Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN), Škoda	+ 16:21.0 min.

NEWS: VW Motorsport Ready For Rally Sweden

After their amazing WRC debut in Monte Carlo last month, VW Motorsport head to Rally Sweden (7-10 February) this week, looking for another podium, on the only true snow rally of the year. Get your spiked tyres and snow boots ready folks!  

At the wheel of the all-new 315-hp (232 kW) Polo R WRC will once again be Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) – the latter team looking to use those years of snow rallying expertise to take the home Scandinavian advantage. Only Sebastian Loeb ios the only no-Scandinavian to win the event, in 2006. 

The rally, with its headquarters in Karlstad and Service Park in Hagfors, represents a gruelling test for the drivers and the team’s technology: the rally cars are consistently pushed to their very limits, despite temperatures plummeting to between 10 and 20 degrees below freezing. The icy cold is no obstacle for the enthusiastic fans, however: armed with tents and camp fires, which they erect along the side of the route, they defy the conditions to cheer the wild drifts and huge jumps produced by their rally heroes. Another feature of the event is that the route for this iconic rally also takes the teams over the border from Sweden into Norway. 

"After a good start to the season, the entire team now heads to the next challenge, the Rally Sweden, fully motivated and full of confidence. However, everyone in the team is well aware that the good result achieved in Monte Carlo is not yet a true indication of where we lie compared to the opposition," said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. "The Rally Sweden is totally unique. The speed on the ice and snow is very high. This is only possible with extreme studded tyres, which are only used once a year. However, every rally is a test for the team. The processes in Monte Carlo recently were top-class. We want to follow on from this in Sweden and to continue developing from rally to rally."
Initial forecasts are predicting temperatures of –10° Celsius for the weekend of 7 to 10 February. This will provide a stern test for the team at the nine scheduled services, and will put man and material through its paces during the 338.91 timed kilometres awaiting the Polo R WRC.
After a spectator stage in Karlstad on Thursday, the rally heads into the Hagfors region on Friday, where Saturday’s special stages are held to the east of the city. Special stages along the border with Norway are scheduled for Saturday. The stages are all similar: largely lined by walls of snow, which the drivers “lean on” every so often, the route takes the competitors at high speeds through forests and past frozen lakes.
2012 winner, 2013 “powered by Volkswagen” Jari-Matti Latvala said: "I really like the Rally Sweden. The event requires a very quick and flowing driving style on Swedish forest roads. There is nothing to criticise about the event – with one exception: it can get very cold there, with temperatures reaching as low as minus 20 or even minus 30 degrees. Up to now I have driven 500 kilometres on snow in the Polo R WRC. However, we will slot in another test day on snow before the Rally Sweden. The car works very well in these conditions. I am already very happy with the way it feels to drive. I have fond memories of the Rally Sweden, such as my very first WRC victory in 2008 and, of course, my win there last year. My goal for this season is to finish in the top five."
Sébastien Ogier, Polo R WRC #8, who came second on his first rally with VW said: "The season could hardly have started better for us. Heading to Sweden with 18 points to our name is a very nice position to be in. This allows us to relax a little. However, we are now faced with a new rally. Let’s see what we are capable of on this surface. It is hard to predict what awaits us there. We will have to wait until after the first few special stages. I really like the Rally Sweden. If the snow conditions are good, it is really good fun driving there. The average speed is pretty high, and the grip on studded tyres is fantastic. I just love pulling off big drifts with a rally car on ice."

Did you know ...
... the Rally Sweden was first held in 1950 and will be staged for the 60th time in 2013? Since 1950, only three years have passed, in which the “Sweden” did not form part of the World Rally Championship: in 1974 it was cancelled due to the oil crisis, in 1990 due to poor weather, and in 2009 when the FIA rotation system meant it was not included on the calendar.
 

... the “poor weather” that prevented the 1990 Rally Sweden from taking place actually refers to it being too mild? Back then, there was too little snow to stage a real “Sweden”.

... the Rally Sweden is a real home event for Scandinavian drivers? Only once has the rally, which is the only race on the calendar that is always held on ice and snow, been won by a man from outside Sweden, Norway and Finland. In 2004, Sébastien Loeb and his co-driver Daniel Elena (F/MC, Citroën) were victorious.

... Volkswagen consultant Carlos Sainz boasts a remarkable successful record at the Rally Sweden, with just one thing missing: a win? “El Matador” finished runner-up in Sweden on four occasions between 1996 and 1999, and also stepped onto the podium after finishing third in 2001 and 2002.

... the Volkswagen team is excellently prepared for the icy temperatures at the Rally Sweden? Taking the approach that layers are the best way to combat the cold, the mandatory team attire includes an outdoor jacket with a fur hood, soft-shell jacket, thermal underlayer, pullover, and polo shirt or team shirt. The team’s shoes are also completely suitable for use in wintery conditions.

... the organisers of the Rally Sweden present the “Colin’s Crest Award” for the longest jump over a crest on the Vargåsen stage, in memory of Colin McRae? Previous winners since 2008: Khalid Al Qassimi (UAE), Marius Aasen (N), Ken Block (USA) and Ott Tänak (EST).

... Volkswagen is also the official car of the Rally Sweden?

... the Rally Sweden is the first event of the 2013 season to feature two spectator stages, known as Super Special Stages? The 1.9-kilometre “Färjestadstravet” stage in Karlstad will be held twice on a harness racing track.

The number for the Rally Sweden: 1,300: As at all the rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), the Volkswagen engineers can expect to be faced with a lot of analysis work at the Rally Sweden. Each car will record about 1,300 megabytes of sensor data at the “Sweden”. For comparison: that is the equivalent of about 230,000 A4 pages of pure text.

Current FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Standings
Drivers’ Championship
1. Sébastien Loeb, 25 points;
2. Sébastien Ogier, 18;
3. Dani Sordo, 15;
4. Mikko Hirvonen, 12;
5. Bryan Bouffier, 10;

2013 Manufacturers’ Championship
1. Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, 37;
2. Volkswagen Motorsport, 18;
3. Abu Dhabi Citroën Total World Rally Team, 15;
4. Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team, 10;
5. Lotos WRC Team, 8.

VIDEO: VW Motorsport Monte Carlo Rally Story

VW Motorsport tell the story of their incredible, historic podium place in their first ever WRC event – a very slippery, extremely tough Monte Carlo Rallye. Quite something, and set to bring new life to this year's championship. We reckon having Carlos Sainz on-board was a lot to do with the car being so good out of the blocks, not to detract from Mr Ogier's drive, or the rest of the team of course! But he is a God...

VIDEOS: Monte Carlo Rally 2013 Videos

Watch all the videos of the amazing 2013 WRC curtain raiser – Monte Carlo – including the amazing, auspicious VW Polo R WRC debut on our Facebook page. An hour very well spent this lunchtime I think you will agree...?

VIDEO: WRC Monte Carlo 2013 Round-up

What a Monte Carlo Rallye – four days, 16 ace special stages and 425.93Km of drama in classic, tricky Winter alpine conditions! And what an incredible start to the 2013 season – mainly thanks to the injection of excitement the arrival of VW Motorsport and Sebastian Ogier/Jari-Matti Latvala gave in the new VW Polo R WRC. It not only looked amazing, but did the business – setting out its stall with an incredible (Ogier) win on SS1 (in VW's first ever WRC event!), and staking claim to an amazing second place, with Ogier driving the doors off the new car, to come in behind the amazing Sebastian Loeb, taking his unreal 77th WRC victory and 7th Monte Carlo Rallye win, by 1m39s in his Citroen Total Abu Dhabi DS3. And Dani Sordo in his Citroen DS3 WRC was third. Incredible! Roll on the rest of 2013 and the WRC. 

After a great Sebastian fight for first on day one and two, the final day was loaded with drama too, ending up with two stage cancellations – after three of the top seven – Evgeny Novikov, Jari-Matti Latvala and Juho Hanninen – crashed out in very slippery, icy conditions on the legendary Col de Turini. And you can see Jari-Matti Latvala's spectacular shunt in the video above. Ouch!
The cool, calm, collected and uber-talented Loeb said to WRC: "I’m always happy when I win, and Monte-Carlo is one of the most exciting rallies I’ve done. This one was really, really difficult. The conditions were extreme compared to what we have usually and winning wasn’t easy."
And the amazing Sebastian Ogier said to WRC: "I’m so happy, it’s like a victory for me. I’m a competitor and I’ve never been happy to finish second but this weekend it was really the target, and to start the season like this is amazing. I’ve been waiting for one year, I’ve done so many tests and it was frustrating sometimes, and now here we are with the Polo on the pace already."
Bring on Rally Sweden, the only true snow event of the WRC year, February 7-10th. We only wish Loeb was up for the whole year, not just four events – giving him the chance of 10 WRC crowns. But, I guess he's already proved he is the best rally driver of all time... awesome. 

VIDEO: Volkswagen Polo R WRC All Set For Rallye Monte Carlo WRC Debut

Finally, after years of development, months, 20,000 miles and 100 days of testing by the VW Motorsport team and dream team drivers, Jari-Matti Latvala and Sébastien Ogier (with seven WRC wins in total), the wait is almost over – the epic, historic Rallye Monte Carlo starts at 9am on Wednesday 16th January on the 45.27Km's of SS01, Le Moulinon. And we can not wait.  

Here's some footage of the car being tested in classic damp, cold, icy, snowy Monte conditions late last year, and it's looking good we reckon. Very good. Sure, both car and team have a lot to do and learn to catch up/keep up with the likes of Citroen and Ford, but we reckon the Dakar-victorious VW Motorsport team are set to make waves with their brand new Polo R WRC. Watch this space!
This epic rally will mark Volkswagen’s first ever season in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) – in a brand new car with some 1,700 parts designed completely from scratch and 17 months of preparations, making its competitive debut. VW say: "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?"
"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 innovativeideas, 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."
Jari-Matti Latvala, Polo R WRC #7 driver said: "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 greatfun 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 driver, adds: "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."
Can VW Motorsport – responsible for wins on the epic Rally Dakar in 2009, 2010 and 2011 with the Race Touareg – make the Polo R WRC a winner from Wolfsburg?

Only time will tell. But we are really chuffed to see VW back in rallying and committed to WRC for the forseeable. It's great for the sport and sure to be good for the brand. We are hoping for a load of hot WRC-style road car spin-off specials to light up their range.
The Volkswagen Polo R WRC will compete in nine WRC rounds: Monte Carlo/France, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Finland, Greece, France and Mexico. So, best of luck to all the VW Motorsport team in the Monte. Hear how they get on here and on their Facebook page.

Three questions for ... Jost Capito
1. 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?
"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."

2. In Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala you have signed two very quick drivers. Who do you feel is the stronger?
"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?
"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."

VIDEO: 2013 Polo R WRC Jari-Matti Latvala

Only a couple more days until we shut the Road office down for the year, and what better way to celebrate the Winter wonderland than looking to one of next years sure-to-be-star-cars, the VW Polo R WRC. VW back in world rallying. Great! And here's Jari-Matti Latvala showing off what it's capable of in the snow. How good does it look? How good is it going here? And better still, how good does that wastegate chatter sound? Awesome. Bring on WRC 2013.