Volkswagen Polo R WRC

Volkswagen Polo R WRC

Jari-Matti Latvala and co-driver Miika Anttila at the 32. ADAC Rallye Deutschland.
Category World Rally Car
Constructor Volkswagen Motorsport
Designer(s) Heinz-Jakob Neußer (Technical Director)[1]
Predecessor Škoda Fabia S2000 (2011—ongoing)[N 1]
Technical specifications[4]
Chassis Reinforced body with welded, multi-point roll cage built to FIA specifications
Suspension (front) MacPherson-type struts with ZF Friedrichshafen dampers
Suspension (rear) same as front
Length 3,976 mm (156.5 in)
Width 1,820 mm (72 in)
Height 1,356 mm (53.4 in)
Axle track 1,610 mm (63 in)
Wheelbase 2,480 mm (98 in)
Engine 1.6 L (98 cu in) bespoke Volkswagen straight-four engine, turbocharged with anti-lag system and 33 mm (1.3 in) air restrictor, transversally mounted
Transmission Bespoke Volkswagen 6-speed sequential manual transmission, transversally mounted with front and rear multi-plate limited-slip differential
Weight 1,200 kg (2,646 lb) before drivers or fuel
Fuel Customised controlled blend specified by FIA for all cars competing under World Rally Car regulations
Lubricants Castrol Edge
Tyres Michelin competition tyres:
46 cm (18 in) for tarmac events,
38 cm (15 in) for gravel rallies
Competition history
Notable entrants Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
Germany Volkswagen Motorsport II[N 2]
Notable drivers Finland Jari-Matti Latvala
Norway Andreas Mikkelsen
France Sébastien Ogier
Debut Monaco 81ème Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo
First win Sweden 61st Rally Sweden
Last win Mexico 30º Rally Guanajuato México
Last event Argentina 36º Rally Argentina
EntriesWinsPodiumsTitles
3932289
Constructors' Championships 2013, 2014, 2015 FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers
Drivers' Championships 2013, 2014, 2015 FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers

The Volkswagen Polo R WRC is a World Rally Car built and operated by Volkswagen Motorsport and based on the Volkswagen Polo for use in the World Rally Championship. The car, which made its debut at the start of the 2013 season, is built to the second generation of World Rally Car regulations that were introduced 2011, which are based upon the existing Super 2000 regulations, but powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine rather than the normally aspirated 2-litre engine found in Super 2000 cars.

The Polo R WRC marks Volkswagen's second entry into the World Rally Championship as a manufacturer. Volkswagen Motorsport had previously entered the Volkswagen Golf GTI and GTI 16V in rallies between 1983 and 1988,[6] while the company also made the Volkswagen Golf Mk3 and Mk4 available as a kit car to privateer entries during the Group A era from 1993 to 1997.[7]

The car was extremely successful from its debut, winning ten rallies in its first season, eleven in its second season and twelve in its third. Sébastien Ogier won consecutive FIA World Rally Championships for Drivers in 2013, 2014 and 2015,[8][9][10] whilst Volkswagen Motorsport secured the FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers in all three years.[11][12]

Competition history

Development (2011—12)

The road-going version of the Volkswagen Polo Mk5 (top) serves as the basis for the Polo R WRC (bottom).

The Polo R WRC was officially unveiled in May 2011, and spent the next eighteen months in testing, with two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz, Sébastien Ogier—who was recruited to the team from the Citroën World Rally Team at the end of the 2011 season—and Volkswagen's testing and development driver Dieter Depping carrying out development in Norway, Finland, Germany, Spain and Mexico to simulate the conditions the car would encounter in competition.[13] The testing phase was not without incident; the team signed Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala in October 2012,[14] but his first test in Mexico was cut short when he collided with a passenger car whilst travelling on public roads between stages. No-one was seriously injured in the crash, but the car was too damaged to continue testing.[15] Further testing also took place in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur to prepare the cars for the unique snow and tarmac roads used in the Monte Carlo Rally,[16] the first event of the 2013 season.[17]

Volkswagen's preparations for their return began in 2012, entering a Škoda Fabia S2000 throughout the season to gain experience running a team.

The car was originally intended to make its debut at the 2012 Rally d'Italia in Sardegna,[18] but these plans were abandoned in favour of continuing development, and the car was submitted to the FIA in November for homologation. Parallel to this, Volkswagen Motorsport entered two Škoda Fabias built to Super 2000 specifications in twelve rounds of the 2012 season—and a third car in the 2012 Rallye Deutschland—to develop experience in running a World Rally Championship team.[13] As the team was not competing with a World Rally Car, they were ineligible for championship points. The final build of the Polo R WRC was formally launched in December 2012 in Monaco.[19]

Competition début (2013)

Sébastien Ogier was the first driver to join Volkswagen Motorsport.
Jari-Matti Latvala left the Ford World Rally Team to drive for Volkswagen.
Andreas Mikkelsen was entered in a third Polo R WRC.

Two cars driven by Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala contested the full 2013 season of the World Rally Championship.[14][20] Andreas Mikkelsen competed part-time throughout 2013 in a third car that was entered under the name "Volkswagen Motorsport II".[5] Mikkelsen was entered separately to allow him an additional thirty days of testing for the year, rather than having to share the existing test quota for manufacturer teams with Ogier and Latvala.

In its debut season, the car scored six wins in its first eight rallies. After finishing second on the Rallye Monte Carlo,[21] Sébastien Ogier went on to win the rallies of Sweden,[22] Mexico,[23] and Portugal.[24] Jari-Matti Latvala scored his first win for Volkswagen in Greece.[25] Following concerns that the cost of moving to a new specification for the 2014 season would drive Ford and Citroën out of the category, Volkswagen successfully lobbied to keep the current car spec for another year.[26] Ogier continued his winning streak with victories in the Rally d'Italia Sardegna,[27] Rally of Finland,[28] and had the opportunity to secure the FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers at the Rally Deutschland. However, a mistake on the first leg forced him into retirement, and while he re-entered the following day under the Rally-2 regulations, doing so came with an automatic five-minute time penalty and Ogier finished seventeenth overall.[29] Despite this, Ogier won the rally's power stage, and as a result, would go on to score points in every round of the championship.[30]

Despite regularly winning tarmac, snow and gravel events, the Polo R WRC struggled to win in its home event, the Rally of Germany.

Ogier had another opportunity to win the title in Australia, but Qatar World Rally Team driver Thierry Neuville—by this point, the only driver still in mathematical contention for the championship—finished the rally second overall, forcing the title fight to go unresolved until the next round in France.[31] Ogier needed to out-score Neuville by just a single point to be declared the 2013 champion. He achieved on the first stage of the rally, which in a break with tradition, was run as the event's power stage.[8] Ogier went on to win the rally, and finished the season with two more wins in Spain,[32] where a second-place finish for team-mate Latvala was enough to secure the Manufacturers' title for Volkswagen,[11] and Wales, where Latvala against finished second.[33]

At the end of the season, the Polo R WRC had won ten of the thirteen rallies it entered, finished on the podium eight more times, and secured both the Drivers' and Manufacturers' championships at the first attempt.[8][11] In doing so, Ogier and Volkswagen broke Sébastien Loeb and Citroën's streak of nine consecutive World Drivers' and Manufacturers' Championship titles respectively.

Title defence (2014)

Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia at the 62nd Rally Sweden.

In anticipation of its title defence in 2014, development of the car continued through the 2013-2014 off-season, with the team introducing a series of performance updates to the car ahead of the 2014 Rallye Monte Carlo.[34] Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala remained with the team,[35] whilst Andreas Mikkelsen's programme was expanded to include all thirteen rounds of the championship,[36][37] but the team did not nominate him to score manufacturer points in Australia.

The car's domination continued, winning the first six rallies of the season. Ogier overcame difficult conditions to win in Monte Carlo by over a minute,[38] before going on to win in Mexico,[39] Portugal,[40] Italy,[41] and Poland,[42] while Jari-Matti Latvala claimed wins in Sweden, Argentina and Finland.[43][44][45] Andreas Mikkelsen scored his first podium at the World Championship level in Sweden,[43] followed by a second in Poland,[42] and finishing in the points in every rally. Latvala's win in Argentina, the ninth consecutive win by the Polo R WRC, broke the previous record of eight consecutive rally victories set by the Citroën DS3 WRC in 2011.

The Polo R WRC set a new record at the 64th Rally Finland, recording its twelfth consecutive win.

Ogier and Latvala had the opportunity to secure the 2014 World Championship for Manufacturers for Volkswagen in the Rally of Germany, but both of them crashed out of the event. With Mikkelsen finishing third overall—behind the Hyundai i20 WRCs of Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo—the Polo R WRC's record-breaking run came to an end after twelve rounds.[46] The team recovered to take a clean sweep of the podium in Australia, with Ogier winning ahead of Latvala to secure the manufacturers' title. Mikkelsen finished third overall, but was not registered to score manufacturer points.[12]

Ogier had the opportunity to secure his second consecutive drivers' title in France, but lost nine minutes on the first day of the event with a faulty gear selector and a time penalty.[47] Ogier was unable to recover and ultimately finished eleventh, allowing Latvala to take a full twenty-five points out of his championship lead with another win—the first of his career on tarmac—while Mikkelsen matched his career-best result of second place.[48] Despite his problems in France, Ogier entered the penultimate round in Spain with a twenty-seven point advantage over Latvala. Running first on the road, he was unhindered by thick dust that threatened to obscure the vision of his rivals, and he took a comfortable victory and his second consecutive World Championship.[9] Latvala finished the event second, with Mikkelsen struggling through the dust to seventh place. With his second World Championship title secured, Ogier went on to win the Wales Rally GB. Latvala and Mikkelsen struggled throughout, with Latvala finishing eighth and Mikkelsen retiring.

Second generation (2015)

Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene driving an updated Polo R WRC at the 49º Rally de Portugal.

The second generation of the Polo R WRC was put into development in early 2014, in anticipation of a 2015 debut, with an ongoing development schedule planned to take the second generation car through to the next revision of the technical regulations in 2017.[49] Two-time World Drivers' Champion Marcus Grönholm joined the team's expanded testing and development programme,[50] while the team retained Ogier, Latvala and Mikkelsen as their drivers.[51] The car was updated to include a brand-new gearbox and revised hydraulic system, a larger rear wing to generate more downforce, and substantial weight reduction, with over seventy-five percent of the car having been developed during the off-season.[52] Ogier and Latvala contested the entire season with the updated Polo, while Mikkelsen started the season with a car built to 2014 specifications before switching to the 2015 build ahead of the Rally of Portugal.

Volkswagen Motorsport took a clean sweep of the podium positions in the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally. Ogier won after an early battle with nine-time World Champion Sébastien Loeb—whose one-off guest appearance in a Citroën DS3 WRC came to an abrupt end when he crashed out on the second leg of the event—and recorded another win in Sweden despite losing several minutes in a spin and having to reclaim the rally lead from Mikkelsen. Ogier recorded another victory in Mexico, with Mikkelsen again on the podium. Latvala scored a podium in Monte Carlo, but was forced to retire in Sweden and finished seventeenth in Mexico,[53] prompting team principal Jost Capito to admit that his drivers' championship campaign was potentially over after just three rounds.

Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila set a new record for the fastest rally in the sport's history at the 65th Rally Finland.

After enduring a difficult Rally Argentina that saw Ogier finish outside the points and both Latvala and Mikkelsen retire, Volkswagen recovered to take a clean sweep of the podium in Portugal, led by Ogier. Ogier continued his form, winning the next two events in Italy and Poland, but faced stiff competition from Hyundai's Hayden Paddon and M-Sport driver Ott Tänak. After writing his 2015 title bid off following the Rally Poland, Latvala took his second win of the season in Finland—his third on the event, matching compatriot Juha Kankkunen's record—ahead of Ogier while Mikkelsen retired. In doing so, Latvala set a new record for the fastest rally in the sport's history, averaging 125.44 km/h (77.94 mph) over the event; by comparison, the previous record set by Sébastien Loeb during the 2012 running of the event was 122.89 km/h (76.36 mph).[54] The team secured its third one-two-three finish of the season at the next round in Germany, finally winning its home event on the third attempt, and in doing so, recorded at least one win at each individual event on the calendar. Ogier went on to win his third consecutive drivers' title at the next round in Australia, leading hom Latvala and Kris Meeke, with Mikkelsen in fourth.[10]

The championship returned to Corsica for the first time in seven years where the teams endured difficult conditions that saw several stages cancelled. Ogier suffered a gearbox problem that forced him to retire from the first leg of the rally while Latvala had to catch Elfyn Evans to secure victory.[55] Mikkelsen was third, having recovered from early difficulties of his own, while Ogier finished seventeenth overall, and the tenth driver eligible to score manufacturer points. Mikkelsen went on to take his maiden WRC victory in Spain when Sébastien Ogier crashed on the final stage, promoting Latvala to second in the process.[56] Ogier finished the year with his eleventh win of the season in Wales, with Mikkelsen in third.[57] Latvala crashed out on the opening leg of the rally and after restarting the next day, went on to finish fiftieth overall and was classified as the final driver eligible to score manufacturer points. Volkswagen Motorsport finished the season with twelve wins from thirteen rallies, while sister team Volkswagen Motorsport II were classified fifth in the final standings.

Continued dominance (2016)

Despite having made only minor changes to the car, and faced with the imminent departure of team principal Jost Capito to Formula One team McLaren,[58] Volkswagen Motorsport continued to dominate the 2016 season. Ogier won the opening two rounds in Monte Carlo and Sweden despite difficult conditions that saw several stages of the Rally Sweden route cancelled as rising temperatures saw the roads thaw out, making the studded snow tyres unusable.[59][60] Latvala, however, endured a string of mechanical failures and driver errors that saw him fail to score a single point in the opening rounds.[59][60] He took advantage of his road position to win Rally Mexico while Ogier finished second despite having been first on the road and sweeping loose gravel off the surface.[61] Andreas Mikkelsen remained in the third Polo R, but changed his co-driver for the season, enlisting Anders Jæger as Ola Fløene joined Mads Østberg at M-Sport. Mikkelsen and Jæger started their season with a podium in Monte Carlo and a points finish in Sweden before retiring in Mexico.[59][60][61]

Despite his victory in Mexico, Latvala's resurgence was short-lived as he crashed out of the lead of the next rally in Argentina when his suspension failed at high speed.[62] His accident promoted Ogier to second and Mikkelsen to third behind Hyundai's Hayden Paddon. Latvala rejoined the rally for the final day and was classified sixteenth overall, and the ninth driver eligible to score manufacturer points.[63]

Regulations overhaul (2017)

With the sport undergoing an overhaul of the technical regulations for the 2017 season,[64] Volkswagen developed the 2017-specification Polo R WRC throughout the 2016 season, with the development phase once again carried out by Marcus Grönholm.[65] The car was designed with a larger turbo restrictor, saw increases in the overhang of the front and rear bumpers, as well as larger door sills and a larger rear wing. The overall width of the car was increased, while 25 kg (55.1 lb) was cut from from the body shell, and a centre differential was added for the first time.[64][65]

Complete World Rally Championship results

Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia at the 72nd Rally Poland.

WRC championship titles

Year Title Competitor Entries Wins Podiums Points
2013 FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers France Sébastien Ogier 13 9 2 290
FIA World Rally Championship for Co-Drivers France Julien Ingrassia 13 9 2 290
FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers Germany Volkswagen Motorsport 26 10 8 425
2014 FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers France Sébastien Ogier 13 8 2 267
FIA World Rally Championship for Co-Drivers France Julien Ingrassia 13 8 2 267
FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers Germany Volkswagen Motorsport 26 12 6 447
2015 FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers France Sébastien Ogier 13 8 2 253
FIA World Rally Championship for Co-Drivers France Julien Ingrassia 13 8 2 253
FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers Germany Volkswagen Motorsport 26 11 6 413

WRC victories

Year No. Event Surface Driver Co-driver Entrant
2013 1 Sweden 61st Rally Sweden Snow France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
2 Mexico 27º Rally Guanajuato México Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
3 Portugal 47º Rally de Portugal Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
4 Greece 59th Acropolis Rally Gravel Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
5 Italy 10º Rally d'Italia Sardegna Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
6 Finland 63rd Rally Finland Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
7 Australia 22nd Rally Australia Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
8 France Rallye de France — Alsace 2013 Tarmac France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
9 Spain 49º RACC Rally Catalunya — Costa Dauruda Mixed France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
10 United Kingdom 69th Wales Rally GB Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
2014 11 Monaco 82ème Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo Mixed France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
12 Sweden 62nd Rally Sweden Snow Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
13 Mexico 28º Rally Guanajuato México Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
14 Portugal 48º Rally de Portugal Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
15 Argentina 34º Rally Argentina Gravel Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
16 Italy 11º Rally d'Italia Sardegna Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
17 Poland 71st Rally Poland Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
18 Finland 64th Rally Finland Gravel Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
19 Australia 23rd Rally Australia Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
20 France Rallye de France — Alsace 2014 Tarmac Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
21 Spain 50º RACC Rally Catalunya — Costa Dauruda Mixed France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
22 United Kingdom 70th Wales Rally GB Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
2015 23 Monaco 83ème Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo Mixed France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
24 Sweden 63rd Rally Sweden Snow France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
25 Mexico 29º Rally Guanajuato México Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
26 Portugal 49º Rally de Portugal Gravel Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
27 Italy 12º Rally d'Italia Sardegna Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
28 Poland 72nd Rally Poland Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
29 Finland 65th Rally Finland Gravel Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
30 Germany 33. ADAC Rallye Deutschland Tarmac France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
31 Australia 24th Rally Australia Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
32 France 58ème Tour de Corse — Rallye de France Tarmac Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
33 Spain 51º RACC Rally Catalunya — Costa Dauruda Mixed Norway Andreas Mikkelsen Norway Ola Fløene Germany Volkswagen Motorsport II
34 United Kingdom 71st Wales Rally GB Gravel France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
2016 35 Monaco 84ème Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo Mixed France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
36 Sweden 64th Rally Sweden Snow France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia Germany Volkswagen Motorsport
37 Mexico 30º Rally Guanajuato México Gravel Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila Germany Volkswagen Motorsport

In detail

(key)

Year Entrant Driver Co-driver Rounds Points WCM
pos.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
2013 Germany Volkswagen Motorsport Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila MCO
DNF		 SWE
4		 MEX
10		 PRT
3		 ARG
3		 GRE
1		 ITA
3		 FIN
7		 DEU
5		 AUS
4		 FRA
3		 ESP
2		 GBR
2		 425 1st
France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia MCO
2		 SWE
1		 MEX
1		 PRT
1		 ARG
2		 GRE
10		 ITA
1		 FIN
1		 DEU
10		 AUS
1		 FRA
1		 ESP
1		 GBR
1
Germany Volkswagen Motorsport II Norway Andreas Mikkelsen Finland Mikko Markkula MCO SWE MEX PRT
5		 ARG
8		 GRE
4		 ITA
DNF		 FIN
NC‡		 DEU
WD		 AUS FRA ESP
DNF		 GBR
5		 50 7th
Republic of Ireland Paul Nagle MCO SWE MEX PRT ARG GRE ITA FIN DEU AUS
6		 FRA
7		 ESP GBR
2014 Germany Volkswagen Motorsport Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila MCO
4		 SWE
1		 MEX
2		 PRT
8		 ARG
1		 ITA
3		 POL
5		 FIN
1		 DEU
DNF		 AUS
2		 FRA
1		 ESP
2		 GBR
7		 447 1st
France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia MCO
1		 SWE
5		 MEX
1		 PRT
1		 ARG
2		 ITA
1		 POL
1		 FIN
2		 DEU
DNF		 AUS
1		 FRA
11		 ESP
1		 GBR
1
Germany Volkswagen Motorsport II Norway Andreas Mikkelsen Finland Mikko Markkula MCO
6		 SWE
2		 MEX
9		 PRT
4		 ARG
4		 ITA POL FIN DEU AUS FRA ESP GBR 133 5th
Norway Ola Fløene MCO SWE MEX PRT ARG ITA
4		 POL
2		 FIN
4		 DEU
3		 AUS
NC‡ 		FRA
2		 ESP
7		 GBR
DNF
2015 Germany Volkswagen Motorsport Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila MCO
2		 SWE
DNF		 MEX
7		 ARG
DNF		 PRT
1		 ITA
6		 POL
5		 FIN
1		 DEU
2		 AUS
2		 FRA
1		 ESP
2		 GBR
10		 413 1st
France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia MCO
1		 SWE
1		 MEX
1		 ARG
8		 PRT
2		 ITA
1		 POL
1		 FIN
2		 DEU
1		 AUS
1		 FRA
10		 ESP
DNF		 GBR
1
Germany Volkswagen Motorsport II Norway Andreas Mikkelsen Norway Ola Fløene MCO
NC‡ 		SWE
3		 MEX
NC‡		 ARG
DNF		 PRT
3		 ITA
10		 POL
2		 FIN
DNF		 DEU
3		 AUS
4		 FRA
3		 ESP
1		 GBR
3		 131 5th
2016 Germany Volkswagen Motorsport Finland Jari-Matti Latvala Finland Miikka Anttila MCO
DNF		 SWE
8		 MEX
1		 ARG
9		 PRT ITA POL FIN DEU CHN FRA ESP GBR AUS 117dagger 1stdagger
France Sébastien Ogier France Julien Ingrassia MCO
1		 SWE
1		 MEX
2		 ARG
2		 PRT ITA POL FIN DEU CHN FRA ESP GBR AUS
Germany Volkswagen Motorsport II Norway Andreas Mikkelsen Norway Anders Jæger MCO
3		 SWE
4		 MEX
Ret		 ARG
3		 PRT ITA POL FIN DEU CHN FRA ESP GBR AUS 45dagger 5thdagger

Notes:

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The Škoda Fabia S2000 remained in use following the introduction of the Polo R WRC, competing in the World Rally Championship-2 under Group R regulations and in the European Rally Championship under Super 2000 rules.[2][3]
  2. ↑ Volkswagen Motorsport II is operated by parent team Volkswagen Motorsport, but is structured as a separate team for points-scoring purposes.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Volkswagen extends WRC programme to 2019". WRC.com (WRC Promoter GmbH). 10 June 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Škoda Motorsport in 2013: Esapekka Lappi, WRC-2 and preparations for the future". skoda-auto.com (Škoda Auto). 30 November 2012.
  3. ↑ "Final Entrylist 30. Jännerrallye 2013 ERC" (PDF). Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Technical specifications". volkswagen-motorsport.com. Volkswagen Motorsport. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  5. 1 2 Evans, David (8 December 2012). "Mikkelsen confirmed for third VW". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  6. ↑ Williams, David; Davenport, John; McMaster, Colin (2000) [2000]. "Group A: 1987—1997". In Klein, Reinhardt. Rally Cars. Köln: Könemann. p. 420. ISBN 3-8290-4625-1.
  7. ↑ Williams, David; Davenport, John; McMaster, Colin (2000) [2000]. "Kit Cars". In Klein, Reinhardt. Rally Cars. Köln: Könemann. p. 529. ISBN 3-8290-4625-1.
  8. 1 2 3 "Sordo's stage win seals Ogier's title". WRC.com. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Ogier clinches WRC title with victory". racer.com. 26 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Sebastien Ogier claims third straight WRC crown". Speedcafe.com. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 "Capito's Delight after Title Double". WRC.com (WRC Promoter GmbH). Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  12. 1 2 Howard, Tom (14 September 2014). "Ogier fends off Latvala to clinch Rally Australia". SpeedCafe.com. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  13. 1 2 "The Making Of — the development and the test programme of the Polo R WRC". volkswagen-motorposrt.com. Volkswagen Motorsport. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  14. 1 2 Evans, David (17 October 2012). "Volkswagen confirms Latvala for 2013". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  15. ↑ Evans, David (30 November 2012). "Jari-Matti Latvala road accident halts Volkswagen's Mexico WRC test". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  16. ↑ "Essais Prés-Monte Carlo 2013 Polo WRC Sébastien Ogier" [Sébastien Ogier tests the Polo WRC for the 2013 Monte Carlo Rally]. Global Rally Chain (in French). YouTube. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  17. ↑ Evans, David (28 September 2012). "Rally GB to conclude the 2013 WRC season". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  18. ↑ Evans, David (12 July 2012). "WRC Polo set for Rally d'Italia debut". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  19. ↑ Evans, David (8 December 2012). "VW targets podium in first WRC year". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  20. ↑ Weeks, James (23 November 2011). "Ogier joins Volkswagen WRC programme". motorstv.com (Motors TV). Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  21. ↑ Evans, David (19 January 2013). "Monte Carlo Rally: Loeb wins as final stages cancelled". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "Ogier brings first WRC win for VW at Rally Sweden". Speedcafe.com. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  23. ↑ "Ogier secures Mexico victory". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). 11 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  24. ↑ "Ogier wraps up third straight win". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). 14 April 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  25. ↑ "Latvala seals first VW win in Greece". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). 2 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  26. ↑ Burrows, Gus (20 June 2013). "Volkswagen halt 2014 development to ensure WRC future". SpeedCafe.com. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  27. ↑ Evand, David (22 June 2013). "Ogier claims fourth victory of 2013". autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  28. ↑ Beer, Matt (3 August 2013). "WRC Finland: Ogier claims comfortable win, Neuville snatches second". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  29. ↑ "Germany WRC: Sebastien Ogier loses lead after Friday off". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). 23 August 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  30. ↑ "Germany WRC: Dani Sordo beats Thierry Neuville to first victory". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). 25 August 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  31. ↑ Beer, Matt (15 September 2013). "WRC Australia: Sebastien Ogier wins but must wait for title". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  32. ↑ "WRC Spain: Ogier takes dramatic victory after comeback". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). 27 October 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  33. ↑ Anderson, Ben (17 November 2013). "Rally GB: Sebastien Ogier ends VW's dominant year with victory". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  34. ↑ "Volkswagen ready for battle". WRC.com. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  35. ↑ "Jari-Matti Latvala not expecting to be Sebastien Ogier's number two". David Evans. Autosport.com. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  36. ↑ "Rallye Monte Carlo 2014 Entry List" (PDF). ACM.mc. Automobile Club Monte Carlo. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  37. ↑ "2014 Rally Sweden Entry List" (PDF). rallysweden.com. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  38. ↑ "Monte Carlo Day Three Update #4". WRC.com. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  39. ↑ Mitchell, Scott (9 March 2014). "Rally Mexico: Sebastien Ogier wins in dominant Volkswagen 1-2". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  40. ↑ "Fourth Portugal win for Ogier". WRC.com. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  41. ↑ "Sebastien Ogier wins in Italy". Speedcafe.com. 8 June 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  42. 1 2 "WRC Poland: Sebastien Ogier clinches Rally Poland victory". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). 29 June 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  43. 1 2 Evans, David (8 February 2014). "Jari-Matti Latvala clinches win in VW one-two". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  44. ↑ "Latvala wins Argentina". WRC.com. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  45. ↑ "WRC Finland: Latvala resists VW team-mate Ogier to claim home win". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). 3 August 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  46. ↑ "Rally Germany: Neuville and Hyundai take maiden win". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). 24 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  47. ↑ "WRC: Latvala holds lead into day two". racer.com. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  48. ↑ "Latvala breaks tarmac duck with French win". Speedcafe.com. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  49. ↑ Evans, David (18 March 2014). "VW plan early debut for 2015 Polo World Rally Car". Autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  50. ↑ "Grönholm takes VW test role". WRC.com. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  51. ↑ "VW keeps Ogier, Latvala, Mikkelsen in 2015 World Rally Championship". Autosport.ccom (Haymarket Publications). 23 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  52. ↑ "Volkswagen uncovers its 2015 WRC fighter". Speedcafe.com. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  53. ↑ "Sébastien Ogier continues perfect WRC start". SpeedCafe.com. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  54. ↑ "Latvala wins fastest WRC rally ever". speedcafe.com. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  55. ↑ "Latvala wins Tour de Corse". speedcafe.com. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  56. ↑ "Mikkelsen takes dramatic win in Spain". speedcafe.com. 25 October 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  57. ↑ "Ogier takes emotional win at Wales Rally GB". speedcafe.com. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  58. ↑ "McLaren Formula 1 - McLaren prepares for increased growth with key new appointments". www.mclaren.com. McLaren. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  59. 1 2 3 "Sebastien Ogier secures Monte victory". speedcafe.com. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  60. 1 2 3 "Hayden Paddon claims historic result in Sweden". speedcafe.com. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  61. 1 2 "Latvala revives WRC title bid with Mexico win". speedcafe.com. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  62. ↑ "Paddon on the verge of WRC victory in Argentina". speedcafe.com. 24 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  63. ↑ "Hayden Paddon takes stunning Rally Argentina victory". speedcafe.com. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  64. 1 2 "WRC cars to become more aggressive in 2017". speedcafe.com. 11 July 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  65. 1 2 Evans, David (12 April 2016). "Volkswagen reveals its 2017 World Rally Car for new WRC rules". autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 12 April 2016.

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