Here we go: World Rally Champion Ogier tops qualifying in Wales
The first 25 kilometres of special stage are scheduled for tonight.
Photo by: Ford Motor Company
Volkswagen opened the Rally Great Britain with an outstanding qualifying result, as the weather gave competitors and fans alike a taste of things to come.
Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) and Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN) were fourth and ninth fastest. “We could not really have hoped for a much better start to the Rally Great Britain,” said Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “And it could not be more typical: gale-force winds and pouring rain are typical of Wales.
Making such a promising start to this WRC classic, with first, fourth and ninth in qualifying, rally whets the appetite. The first 25 kilometres of special stage are scheduled for tonight. Having already won all the World Championship titles for Volkswagen, our drivers can approach them without any tactical considerations. We are looking forward to some great rallying.”
World Champions (*) are coming home: internal party in Hannover
From the Rally Great Britain, the Volkswagen Motorsport team will head straight back to Germany, where it will celebrate the end of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in style. The three driver/co-driver pairings, on-site and test teams, partners and all the employees at the motorsport facility in Hannover are invited to an internal party in Hannover. Members of the Board of Volkswagen will also attend the event on 22nd November.
Out with the old season, in with the new – No time for Volkswagen to take a breather
While the season may reach its conclusion this weekend in Wales, this in no way heralds a relaxing winter break. The Volkswagen team will have no time to catch their breath after the Rally Great Britain. The logistics team must be ready on Tuesday to receive the overseas containers returning from their ‘round trip’, which took in Mexico, Argentina and Australia.
These containers must be emptied, prepared and reloaded immediately. Some of them will be in action again as soon as the Rally Monte Carlo in mid-January – as the service park for the iconic “Monte” is moving from Gap to Monte Carlo and must be equipped twice.
The test team also has a number of tasks to complete before the start of the season. The Polo R WRC must undergo extensive tests on asphalt, ice and snow. Furthermore, the mechanics will already start assembling the cars for the Rally Monte Carlo during the week after the Rally Great Britain.
(*) Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA.
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