Sebastien Ogier wins 2013 Rally Portugal

Illness and mechanical gremlins could not stop the increasingly rapid Sebastien Ogier juggernaut from claiming victory at Rally Portugal last weekend.

The Volkswagen driver made it a threepeat of rally wins, adding to his success in Sweden and Mexico. And in a sign that things could be about to get worse for Volkswagen’s rivals Jari-Matti Latvala showed signs he is finally coming to grips with the Polo R WRC as well.

Ogier won the rally by almost a minute from Citroën’s Mikko Hirvonen. Latvala was third, his first podium for Volkswagen, and only a temporary issue with a broken driveshaft prevented him from contributing to the team’s first 1–2 result in the WRC.

Further images and detail from Volkswagen can be seen below.

Rally Portugal: Third win of the season for Volkswagen’s Ogier

14 April 2013

Triumph on the Algarve, two Volkswagen drivers on the podium: Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia (F/F) have won the Rally Portugal ahead of Mikko Hirvonen (Citroën) and their Volkswagen team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN). Under the watchful eye of Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg (Member of the Board of Management for the Volkswagen brand), Andreas Mikkelsen and Mikko Markkula (N/FIN) completed a very good team performance for Volkswagen with sixth place on their competitive debut in the Polo R WRC. “It was great to be present at such a magnificent success,” said Dr. Hackenberg, who is responsible for technical development. “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 fine team performance at the fourth round of this season’s FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) sees Volkswagen move to the top of the Manufacturers’ Championship. Sébastien Ogier also extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship, courtesy of his third win of the season.

A test of technology: both man and machine pushed to the limit

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
“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
“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.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“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.”

And then there was …

… a debut for Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg. The Member of the Board of Management for the Volkswagen brand is responsible for technical development and, as such, for motorsport, and had been present in South America at the start of three “Dakar” victories for Volkswagen. However, a busy schedule meant the passionate racer, who has driven for Volkswagen at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife on more than one occasion, had previously been unable to make it to a presentation ceremony at one of the company’s biggest successes in international motorsport to date. He experienced that emotional moment for the first time today at the Rally Portugal: Dr. Hackenberg was presented with the trophy for the winning manufacturer in front of the “Estádio Algarve”.

FIA World Rally Championship (WRC),
Rally Portugal – final result

1. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen 4h 07m 38.7s
2. Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen (FIN/FIN), Citroën + 58.2s
3. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), Volkswagen + 4m 04.5s
4. Evgeny Novikov/Ilka Minor (RUS/A), Ford + 5m 27.7s
5. Nasser Al-Attiyah/Giovanni Bernacchini (Q/I), Ford + 7m 43.5s
6. Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN), Volkswagen + 9m 39.8s
7. Martin Prokop/Michal Ernst (CZ/CZ), Ford + 15m 04.2s
8. Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson (N/S), Ford + 15m 43.6s

FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Rally Portugal – result powerstage

1. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen 32m 39.7s
2. Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson (N/S), Ford + 3.3s
3. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), Volkswagen + 4.9s

FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), points standings
Drivers’ championship

1. Sébastien Ogier – 102
2. Mikko Hirvonen – 48
3. Sébastien Loeb – 43
4. Mads Østberg – 32
5. Jari-Matti Latvala – 31
6. Dani Sordo – 27
7. Thierry Neuville – 25
8. Martin Prokop – 20
8. Nasser Al-Attiyah – 20

Manufacturers’ championship

1. Volkswagen Motorsport – 121
2. Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT – 107
3. Qatar M-Sport WRT – 55
4. Qatar WRT – 36
5. Abu Dhabi Citroën Total WRT – 27