Volkswagen Motorsport

Last updated
Volkswagen Motorsport
Volkswagen logo.png
Full nameVolkswagen Motorsport
Base Flag of Germany.svg Hannover, Germany
Team principal(s) Flag of Germany.svg Jost Capito
Technical director Flag of Germany.svg Willy Rampf
Drivers Flag of Finland.svg Jari-Matti Latvala
Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier
Flag of Norway.svg Andreas Mikkelsen
Co-drivers Flag of Finland.svg Miikka Anttila
Flag of France.svg Julien Ingrassia
Flag of Norway.svg Anders Jæger
Chassis Volkswagen Polo R WRC
Tyres M Michelin
World Rally Championship history
Debut 2013 Monte Carlo Rally
Last event 2016 Rally Australia
Manufacturers' Championships 4 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
Drivers' Championships 4 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
Rally wins44

The Volkswagen Motorsport was a works rally team of the German car manufacturer Volkswagen, who competed in the World Rally Championship (WRC) and Dakar Rally.

Contents

The team started competing in WRC in 1978 and used different specs of Volkswagen Golfs before leaving the sport in 1990. Volkswagen competed at the Dakar Rally from 2003 to 2011, claiming three overall wins. The team made its WRC comeback in 2011 Rally Finland with a pair of Škoda Fabia S2000s, and competed with the Volkswagen Polo R WRC from the start of the 2013 World Rally Championship season to the end of the 2016 World Rally Championship season.

At the end of the 2016 season, Volkswagen Motorsport decided to withdraw from the FIA World Rally Championship. [1]

History

Dakar (2003–2011)

In 2003, Volkswagen entered the Tarek 2WD buggy at the Dakar Rally, with Stéphane Henrard placing 6th outright. The Race Touareg 1 was introduced in 2004, when Bruno Saby finished 6th. In 2005, Jutta Kleinschmidt finished in 3rd overall. With the Race Touareg 2, Giniel de Villiers finished in 2nd place overall in 2006. In 2007, Mark Miller finished 4th overall. Volkswagen won the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Dakar Rally, the latter with the Race Touareg 3, with drivers De Villiers, Carlos Sainz and Nasser Al-Attiyah.

2011–2012

In 2011 Volkswagen competed with seven different drivers in four rallies (Rally Finland, Rallye Deutschland, Rally Catalunya and Wales Rally GB). German Christian Riedemann was the only driver competing in two rallies.

In November 2011, the team revealed they have made a multi-year contract with the French rally star Sébastien Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia.

For 2012 season, Volkswagen Motorsport continued developing their Polo R World Rally Car and they also completed a full WRC-campaign (except New Zealand) with a pair of Škoda Fabias. Sébastien Ogier drove it in every round of the campaign, while the second car was shared between Andreas Mikkelsen and Kevin Abbring. The team had a third car in their home rally Germany driven by Sepp Wiegand.

The season included some highlights, including Sébastien Ogier's unexpected special stage win in Sardinia. Ogier's fifth place in Sardinia also remains the best ever overall finish for a S2000 car in World Rally Championship. [2] Also important to mention that Mikkelsen was the first ever S2000 driver to score Power Stage points, which he did during 2012 Rallye Deutschland by finishing 3rd on the penultimate stage.

In October, Volkswagen Motorsport announced that they have signed Jari-Matti Latvala with his co-driver Miikka Anttila to join Ogier and Ingrassia to drive Volkswagen Polo R WRC for 2013 season. [3]

2013

Andreas Mikkelsen driving a Volkswagen Polo R WRC at the 2013 Rally de Portugal. Andreas Mikkelsen - WRC Portugal 2013 (8647047945).jpg
Andreas Mikkelsen driving a Volkswagen Polo R WRC at the 2013 Rally de Portugal.

Volkswagen Motorsport entered as a fully-fledged manufacturer team in 2013. Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala started the season, whilst Andreas Mikkelsen joined the championship at the fourth round in Portugal. Mikkelsen and his new co-driver Mikko Markkula were registered under a second manufacturer team, known as “Volkswagen Motorsport II” so as to give them as much time as possible testing the Polo R WRC. [4]

The 2013 season started with Rallye Monte-Carlo. Volkswagen entered the rally with two cars, Latvala/Anttila and Ogier/Ingrassia. Ogier started their campaign with a dream start by winning the very first stage of the season, and the first of Volkswagen Polo R WRC. [5] Ogier won one more stage and finished the rally in second place, nearly two minutes behind the winner Sébastien Loeb. Jari-Matti Latvala's rally ended in last evening of the rally when he hit the wall in slippery conditions.

The team took its first WRC victory in their second rally with the World Rally Car, when Sébastien Ogier dominated the Rally Sweden being fastest in half of the stages of the rally. [6] Jari-Matti Latvala finished fourth, and also scored his first stage win with the team.

Ogier continued his dominance at the next event in Rally Mexico, giving the team its second victory in a row. Ogier won 16 out of 23 stages and lead the rally from the second stage till the finish. Latvala hit a rock in SS2 and after restarting in Day 2 he eventually finished outside of the points. That meant Volkswagen was still 6 points behind Citroën in Manufacturers' standings before moving on to Rally de Portugal. [7]

2014

2015

2016

2016 would turn out to be another successful year for the team; as they collected their fourth consecutive manufacturers’ championship, and Sébastien Ogier claimed his fourth consecutive drivers’ championship.

Just days after the 2016 Wales Rally GB, Volkswagen announced that they would be pulling out of the WRC at the end of the 2016 season. This came as a surprise to many fans and journalists, as the team and their drivers had already been conducting major development and testing work on the new 2017 Polo, based on the new generation WRC cars. Although no direct reason was given for the teams’ withdrawal, it was widely speculated to be a result of Volkswagen’s recent emissions scandal.

2018

Volkswagen Motorsport is scheduled to make a return to the World Rally Championship with an R5 version of the Volkswagen Polo GTI. The car will make its debut at the 2018 Rally Catalunya, with entries for both Petter Solberg and Eric Camilli. [8]

2019

In November 2019, Volkswagen announced that, consistent with its shift in focus to emphasize the manufacturing of electric vehicles, it would end all motorsport programmes that do not involve electric vehicles. [9]

Complete WRC results

WRC victories

No.SeasonRallyDriverCo-driverCar
1 1987 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg 19ème Rallye Côte d'Ivoire Flag of Sweden.svg Kenneth Eriksson Flag of Germany.svg Peter Diekmann Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V
2 2013 Flag of Sweden.svg 61st Rally Sweden Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien Ingrassia Volkswagen Polo R WRC
3 Flag of Mexico.svg 27º Rally México Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
4 Flag of Portugal.svg 47º Rally de Portugal Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
5 Flag of Greece.svg 59th Acropolis Rally Flag of Finland.svg Jari-Matti Latvala Flag of Finland.svg Miikka Anttila Volkswagen Polo R WRC
6 Flag of Italy.svg 10º Rally Italia Sardegna Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
7 Flag of Finland.svg 63rd Rally Finland Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg 22nd Rally Australia Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
9 Flag of France.svg Rallye de France – Alsace 2013 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
10 Flag of Spain.svg 49º Rally Catalunya Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 69th Wales Rally GB Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
12 2014 Flag of Monaco.svg 82ème Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
13 Flag of Sweden.svg 62nd Rally Sweden Flag of Finland.svg Jari-Matti Latvala Flag of Finland.svg Miikka AnttilaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
14 Flag of Mexico.svg 28º Rally México Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
15 Flag of Portugal.svg 48º Rally de Portugal Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
16 Flag of Argentina.svg 34° Rally Argentina Flag of Finland.svg Jari-Matti Latvala Flag of Finland.svg Miikka AnttilaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
17 Flag of Italy.svg 11º Rally Italia Sardegna Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
18 Flag of Poland.svg 71st Rally Poland Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
19 Flag of Finland.svg 64th Rally Finland Flag of Finland.svg Jari-Matti Latvala Flag of Finland.svg Miikka AnttilaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
20 Flag of Australia (converted).svg 23rd Rally Australia Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
21 Flag of France.svg Rallye de France – Alsace 2014 Flag of Finland.svg Jari-Matti Latvala Flag of Finland.svg Miikka AnttilaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
22 Flag of Spain.svg 50º Rally Catalunya Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
23 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 70th Wales Rally GB Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
24 2015 Flag of Monaco.svg 83ème Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
25 Flag of Sweden.svg 63rd Rally Sweden Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
26 Flag of Mexico.svg 29° Rally Guanajuato México Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
27 Flag of Portugal.svg 49° Vodafone Rally de Portugal Flag of Finland.svg Jari-Matti Latvala Flag of Finland.svg Miikka AnttilaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
28 Flag of Italy.svg 12° Rally d'italia Sardegna Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
29 Flag of Poland.svg 72nd LOTOS Rally Poland Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
30 Flag of Finland.svg 65th Rally Finland Flag of Finland.svg Jari-Matti Latvala Flag of Finland.svg Miikka AnttilaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
31 Flag of Germany.svg 33. ADAC Rallye Deutschland Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
32 Flag of Australia (converted).svg 24th Coates Hire Rally Australia Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
33 Flag of France.svg 58ème Tour de Corse – Rallye de France Flag of Finland.svg Jari-Matti Latvala Flag of Finland.svg Miikka AnttilaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
34 Flag of Spain.svg 51º Rally Catalunya Flag of Norway.svg Andreas Mikkelsen Flag of Norway.svg Ola Fløene Volkswagen Polo R WRC
35 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 71st Wales Rally GB Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
36 2016 Flag of Monaco.svg 84ème Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
37 Flag of Sweden.svg 64th Rally Sweden Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
38 Flag of Mexico.svg 30º Rally Guanajuato México Flag of Finland.svg Jari-Matti Latvala Flag of Finland.svg Miikka AnttilaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
39 Flag of Poland.svg 73rd Rally Poland Flag of Norway.svg Andreas Mikkelsen Flag of Norway.svg Anders Jæger Volkswagen Polo R WRC
40 Flag of Germany.svg 34. ADAC Rallye Deutschland Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
41 Flag of France.svg 59ème Tour de Corse – Rallye de France Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
42 Flag of Spain.svg 52º Rally RACC Catalunya – Costa Daurada Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
43 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 72nd Wales Rally GB Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of France.svg Julien IngrassiaVolkswagen Polo R WRC
44 Flag of Australia (converted).svg 25th Rally Australia Flag of Norway.svg Andreas Mikkelsen Flag of Norway.svg Anders JægerVolkswagen Polo R WRC

Dakar Rally results

YearClassNoDriverCo-DriverPositionStages won
2003 Cars215 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Stéphane Henrard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bobby Willis6th1
203 Flag of Germany.svg Jutta Kleinschmidt Flag of Italy.svg Fabrizia Pons 8th0
2004 204 Flag of Germany.svg Jutta Kleinschmidt Flag of Italy.svg Fabrizia Pons 21st1
224 Flag of France.svg Bruno Saby Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matthew Stevenson6th0
2005 307 Flag of France.svg Bruno Saby Flag of France.svg Michel Périn 5th2
310 Flag of Germany.svg Jutta Kleinschmidt Flag of Italy.svg Fabrizia Pons 3rd1
313 Flag of Finland.svg Juha Kankkunen Flag of Finland.svg Juha RepoDNF0
317 Flag of the United States.svg Robby Gordon Flag of Germany.svg Dirk von Zitzewitz 12th2
2006 301 Flag of France.svg Bruno Saby Flag of France.svg Michel Périn 8th0
303 Flag of Germany.svg Jutta Kleinschmidt Flag of Italy.svg Fabrizia Pons DNF0
305 Flag of South Africa.svg Giniel de Villiers Flag of Sweden.svg Tina Thörner 2nd1
307 Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz Flag of Germany.svg Andreas Schulz11th4
309 Flag of the United States.svg Mark Miller Flag of Germany.svg Dirk von Zitzewitz 5th0
2007 301 Flag of South Africa.svg Giniel de Villiers Flag of Germany.svg Dirk von Zitzewitz 11th4
303 Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz Flag of France.svg Michel Périn 9th5
305 Flag of the United States.svg Mark Miller Flag of South Africa.svg Ralph Pitchford4th0
308 Flag of Finland.svg Ari Vatanen Flag of Italy.svg Fabrizia Pons DNF0
2008 Event cancelled – replaced by the 2008 Central Europe Rally
2009 Cars301 Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz Flag of France.svg Michel Périn DNF6
305 Flag of South Africa.svg Giniel de Villiers Flag of Germany.svg Dirk von Zitzewitz 1st4
307 Flag of Germany.svg Dieter Depping Flag of Germany.svg Timo Gottschalk 6th0
308 Flag of the United States.svg Mark Miller Flag of South Africa.svg Ralph Pitchford2nd0
2010 300 Flag of South Africa.svg Giniel de Villiers Flag of Germany.svg Dirk von Zitzewitz 7th0
303 Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz Flag of France.svg Michel Périn 1st2
305 Flag of the United States.svg Mark Miller Flag of South Africa.svg Ralph Pitchford3rd4
306 Flag of Qatar.svg Nasser Al-Attiyah Flag of Germany.svg Timo Gottschalk 2nd4
2011 300 Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz Flag of Spain.svg Lucas Cruz 3rd7
302 Flag of Qatar.svg Nasser Al-Attiyah Flag of Germany.svg Timo Gottschalk 1st4
304 Flag of the United States.svg Mark Miller Flag of South Africa.svg Ralph Pitchford6th0
308 Flag of South Africa.svg Giniel de Villiers Flag of Germany.svg Dirk von Zitzewitz 2nd1

See also

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References

  1. WRC. "VOLKSWAGEN IS TO WITHDRAW FROM THE FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE END OF THE CURRENT SEASON AND TURN ITS RALLYING FOCUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A POLO R5 CAR FOR CUSTOMER USE" . Retrieved 2 Nov 2016.
  2. "Volkswagen driver Sébastien Ogier surprises WRC rivals". vw-motorsport.de. 21 October 2012. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  3. "Volkswagen signs Jari-Matti Latvala". vw-motorsport.de. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. "Volkswagen registers second team for Mikkelsen". WRC.com. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  5. "SS1: Ogier claims maiden stage win for Volkswagen". WRC.com. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  6. "WRC wrap: Ogier triumphs on snow". WRC.com. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  7. "WRC wrap: Ogier reigns supreme". WRC.com. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  8. "Solberg joins VW line-up for debut of WRC2 Polo GTI R5 car in Spain". autosport.com. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  9. "Volkswagen to cease all non-electric motorsport programmes". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2019-11-23.