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Volkswagen Motorsport International Newsletter

With Volkswagen participating in so many forms of Motorsport around the world, it’s often difficult to keep track of their performance. Luckily for us, Volkswagen Motorsport goes through the trouble of rounding up all of the key information from their various race series, and puts it all in one press release. Let’s get started.

FIA World Rally Championship
FIA-WRC-2015
Ogier joined by Viktoria Rebensburg as co-driver in the Polo R WRC

Giant slalom ace meets ski instructor – German skiing star Viktoria Rebensburg met up with two-time world rally champion Sébastien Ogier (F) during preparations for the Rally Germany. The test in the vineyards around Brauneberg provided Ogier with the ideal opportunity to show the 25-year-old his own asphalt piste – a somewhat unusual surface for the lady who finished runner-up in the giant slalom in last year’s World Championship. Rebensburg and Ogier had plenty to discuss – after all, the Frenchman is a qualified ski instructor and enjoys taking to the slopes. Rebensburg won the giant slalom at the 2010 Olympics, was twice crowned overall World Cup winner (2010/11 and 2011/12), and finished runner-up in the same event in this year’s World Championship. She and the rest of the German skiing team will fly to Chile at the start of the week to prepare for their season, while Ogier and the Volkswagen team tackle the Rally Germany (20 to 23 August). Having spent the afternoon together, Red Bull athlete Rebensburg joined Ogier in the passenger seat of his Polo R WRC, and the reigning WRC champion put his foot down and put the tyres to the test. Motorsport enthusiast Rebensburg was also thrilled to be given an introduction to the cockpit of the 318-hp Polo by Ogier’s co-driver Julien Ingrassia (F). The meeting also provided a welcome break for Ogier, who is in the midst of preparations for Volkswagen’s home rally.

Rally Germany Show Programme
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Revolverheld set to rock the Rally Germany on the Volkswagen Stage

The Rally Germany (10 to 23 August) is going to be a loud one – and not just thanks to the World Rally Cars on the special stages in and around Trier. German band Revolverheld have been confirmed to play at round nine of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). The four musicians from Hamburg will perform an exclusive live concert on the central Volkswagen Stage, between the special stages at the “Arena Panzerplatte”, located on the Baumholder military training ground, at 14:00 on Saturday 22 August. During the break between special stages 13 (“Panzerplatte Long 1”) and 14 (“Grafschaft 2”), the popular group, led by singer Johannes Strate, will rock the stage with such hits as “Das kann uns keiner nehmen”, “Ich lass für Dich das Licht an” and “Lass uns gehen” from their latest album “Immer in Bewegung”. And the best thing: the concert is free for all visitors to the Rally Germany with a valid ticket for the event. As well as the Rally Pass, which is available for 69 Euros and is valid for all four days of the event, fans can also purchase a single ticket for the stages at the “Arena Panzerplatte”. These tickets can be purchased on-site at the designated spectator areas for 20 Euros.

Global Rallycross
rbgrcdc
Foust and Speed fifth and seventh in the capital

The Andretti Motorsport team claimed two top-ten finishes at the seventh Global Rallycross event of the season. Tanner Foust (USA) finished fifth in the Volkswagen Beetle GRC in Washington (USA), while team-mate Scott Speed (USA) was seventh. Foust had to overcome some difficulties en route to the final, having collided with a rival car in a preliminary round on Saturday morning. “I am a bit disappointed with the result, but we will now do some testing and then see what we can achieve at the next round in Los Angeles,” said Foust. Andretti driver Speed clocked the fastest lap of 47.075 seconds in practice, demonstrating the potential of the Beetle GRC. In the end, however, the 32-year-old had to settle for seventh place. “We had some good, consistent laps during practice, but things did not go in our favour after that,” said Speed. The three-time X Games gold medallist had previously announced that he will continue to line up for the Andretti Motorsport team for the next two seasons. First up, however, is the next round of the GRC season. The lights will turn to green in Los Angeles (USA) on 12 September.

South African Rally Championship
SARC
Podium for Fekken/Arries, four Volkswagen duos in the top ten

As at the previous rally in Port Elizabeth, four Volkswagen Polos finished in the top ten at round five of the South African Rally Championship. The best-placed Volkswagen duo in Cullinan/Tshwane (ZA) was Hergen Fekken/Pierre Arries in third place. At the end of the ten special stages, the two South Africans finished 36.7 seconds behind winners Leeroy Poulter/Elvéne Coetzee (ZA/ZA, Toyota). Fourth place went to Volkswagen drivers Gugulethu Zulu/Hilton Auffrey (ZA/ZA), while Thilo Himmel/Armand du Toit (NAM/ZA) were fifth. Henk Lategan/Barry White (ZA/ZA) were initially unlucky: the duo were forced to retire on Friday with a damaged oil sump. However, Lategan/White hit back on Saturday, winning three special stages to finish eighth overall. The next rally will take place in the South African capital Cape Town from 18 to 19 September.

The post Volkswagen Motorsport International Newsletter appeared first on VWVortex.



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