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WRC: Volkswagen Motorsport Prepared for Rally Italy

  • Fourth, fifth and eighth for the three Polo R WRC in the Shakedown
  • Ogier/Ingrassia and Latvala/Anttila fastest Volkswagen duos with identical times

It is going to be a sizzler on Sardinia – Volkswagen’s preparations for the start of the Rally Italy ran smoothly in Thursday’s “free practice”. Ahead of round six of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) set identical times to finish fourth and fifth on the 4.33-kilometre shakedown. Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N) were eighth fastest in the third Polo R WRC.

The Rally Italy on Sardinia is one of the hottest WRC races of the year, with outside temperatures of over 30 degrees sending temperatures inside the World Rally Cars through the roof. As well as tackling some narrow, winding special stages, the drivers must also keep one eye on their material: one of the crucial factors at the sixth round of the World Rally Championship could be the way the drivers look after their tyres and brakes. The Rally Italy kicks off with the opening special stage in Cagliari on Thursday evening.

Quotes after the Shakedown at the Rally Italy

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“The Shakedown went well for us. The Polo R WRC is in great shape ahead of the Rally Italy. Julien and I are also perfectly prepared for one of the toughest rallies of the year. With temperatures currently over 30 degrees in the shade, it will certainly be extremely hot in the cockpit here on Sardinia. This means we will have to push ourselves to the limit physically. However, the route conditions are also very technical this time and far more challenging than last year. As always we will do our best and see how things turn out at the end.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“I am looking forward to the rally here on Sardinia and will try to take a relaxed approach, whilst at the same time focussing fully on the job in hand. I like the flair and the atmosphere. The temperatures are very summery. However, that is not the only reason it will be a hot affair. We prepared well for the Rally Italy in the Shakedown. It is very technical this year – even more than last year. There are a few really beautiful and challenging special stages. We found a good rhythm right from the start today – I am ready!”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“The shakedown was a mixture of many special stages that are typical of the rally on Sardinia. It was very dusty, which made it harder to see where we were going. There was a lot of loose gravel, which was swept off the road with each car that passed, thus improving grip. The times clearly illustrate the difference between the first, second and third runs. With this in mind, we will face an additional challenge as one of the first cars onto the route tomorrow and on Saturday. Furthermore, a lot of the scheduled stages are very tough on the car – some of them even more so than in Argentina. It will be anything but an easy rally for everyone. However, this certainly does not mean that I am not really looking forward to it.“

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“The Shakedown always provides the final opportunity to judge where you stand before a rally really gets going. We are very happy with the result here in Italy, as two of our Volkswagen drivers – Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala – clocked the same time and were only slightly behind our direct rivals. Andreas Mikkelsen was also in touch with the leaders and wasted no time in finding his rhythm. All three drivers and co-drivers adapted well to the very unique conditions they face at the rally on Sardinia. The long days on Friday and Saturday will show how valuable that is.”

FIA World Rally Championship (WRC),
Rally Italy – TV broadcast
Western Europe
Andorra (Canal +); Austria (ORF, Servus TV, Sport1, N-TV, LAOLA1.tv); Belgium (Canal +, RTBF); Denmark (Viasat); Europe (MOTORS TV); Finland (YLE, Nelonen); France (Canal +, France TV, Léquipe 21); Germany (Sport1, N-TV, Servus TV, LAOLA1.tv, Sky); Greece (OTE); Italy (RAI, Fox Sports, Dinamica); Ireland (BT Sport); Lichtenstein (N-TV, Sport1, Servus TV); Luxembourg (Canal +, N-TV, Servus TV, Sport1); Israel (Charlton); Monaco (Canal +, France TV, Léquipe 21); Netherlands (RTL7); Norway (VIASAT); Portugal (Sport TV, RTP); Slovakia (Sport 5); Spain (Canal +, TVE, TV3); Sweden (SVT); Switzerland (Canal +, N-TV, Sport1, Servus TV); Turkey (NTV); UK (BT Sport, itv4); Wales (S4C)
Eastern Europe
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan (Auto Plus); Bosnia and Herzigovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia (Arena TV); Czech Republic (Czech TV, Sport 5); Hungary (Sport1); Lithuania (Auto Plus, BTV, LNK); Poland (TVP); Romania (Dolce Sport); Ukraine (First Automotive Channel, Auto Plus)
Middle East and Africa
Angola, Cap Verde, Mozambique (Canal +, Sport TV, SuperSport); Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe (Canal +, SuperSport); Ethopia, Mauritania, Seychelles (Canal +); Lesotho, Liberia, Mayotte, Reunion, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, St Helena & Ascension, Sudan, Swaziland (SuperSport)
Asia Pacific
Australia (Fox Sports); American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Islands, Jarvis Island, Kingman Reef, Micronesia, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Norther Marianas, Palau, U.S. Virgin Islands, Wake Islands (MAV TV); China (PPTV); Indonesia (MNC); Japan (J Sports); Malaysia (Astro); New Zealand (Sky Sports, TV 3); Thailand (Truevision)
North and Latin America
Argentina, Uruguay (Channel 12, Fox Sports); Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago (MAV TV); Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela (Fox Sports); Mexico (Fox Sports, TV4); Paraguay (Fox Sports, Telefuturo), USA (MAV TV, Fox Sports)

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