Volkswagen celebrates stunning 2013 with silverware

Last weekend Citroën was busy signing its drivers for 2014, but Volkswagen Motorsport had the rather more enviable task of attending the FIA’s annual trophy presentation night in Paris.

While there FIA President Jean Todt was kind enough to furnish Volkswagen with three trophies, one for the manufacturers’ title and one each for the championship winning driver, Sebastien Ogier, and his co-driver, Julien Ingrassia.

Ogier reminded us all of the obvious, taht nobody could have predicted such unprecedented success for Volkswagen this year.

“If anyone had told us before the start of the season that Julien and I would end the year with nine wins and the World Championship title, we would probably have sent them straight to the team doctor,” he said. “This is a dream come true for Julien and me, and we are both extremely proud and honoured to finally get our hands on the FIA trophies.”

Team boss, Jost Capito also shared a few words of gratitude for his Volkswagen Motorsport colleagues.

“Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine this kind of result in our first season in the World Rally Championship,” Capito reflected. “I would like to say a big thank you to everyone in the Volkswagen team. From the mechanics to the truck drivers, from the race engineers to the marketing department—the commitment shown by every single individual is what made the greatest success in Volkswagen’s motorsport history possible.

“And we must not forget that the Polo R WRC was not only quick from the word go, but also extremely reliable. Our three driver/co-driver pairings also produced outstanding performances. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, in particular, more than deserve their title in the Driver and Co-Driver Championship, with nine wins to their name this season.”

Great honour, grand celebration: World Championship trophies presented to Volkswagen

8 December 2013. A celebratory end to an incredible season: Volkswagen Board Member for Technical Development, Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neußer, and World Rally Champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia were in Paris to receive their FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) trophies. Making its debut in the World Championship with the 315-hp Polo R WRC this year, Volkswagen won every title at the pinnacle of rallying. FIA President Jean Todt was on hand to personally present the trophies to the Volkswagen team at the glamorous gala evening in Paris. Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel and World Endurance Champions Audi were also honoured in the spectacular “Cité du Cinéma” film studio belonging to star Hollywood director Luc Besson.

So how did Volkswagen end up taking the trophies back to Wolfsburg? Volkswagen secured the third title of its debut season at the twelfth of the 13 rallies in Spain: the driver/co-driver pairings of Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) and Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) presented Volkswagen with victory in the Manufacturers’ Championship. Never before had a manufacturer won this title in its first season. “We are very proud to have received all three FIA trophies on this glamorous evening,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine this kind of result in our first season in the World Rally Championship. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone in the Volkswagen team. From the mechanics to the truck drivers, from the race engineers to the marketing department – the commitment shown by every single individual is what made the greatest success in Volkswagen’s motorsport history possible. And we must not forget that the Polo R WRC was not only quick from the word go, but also extremely reliable. Our three driver/co-driver pairings also produced outstanding performances. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, in particular, more than deserve their title in the Driver and Co-Driver Championship, with nine wins to their name this season.”

The French duo of Ogier/Ingrassia had already wrapped up the title in the Driver and Co-Driver competition by October. In doing so, they succeeded record World Champions Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroën) who had won the WRC for the last nine years in a row. After a historic season, new World Rally Champion Ogier said: “I can look back on an incredible year. If anyone had told us before the start of the season that Julien and I would end the year with nine wins and the World Championship title, we would probably have sent them straight to the team doctor. This is a dream come true for Julien and me, and we are both extremely proud and honoured to finally get our hands on the FIA trophies.”