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FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Rally Monte Carlo

One-two-three! Volkswagen makes history at the Rally Monte Carlo



- Second generation Polo R WRC makes dream debut at the legendary Rally Monte Carlo

- Ogier/Ingrassia win, ahead of Latvala/Anttila and Mikkelsen/Fløene

- Volkswagen the fifth manufacturer ever to claim a one-two-three at the most iconic rally



Wolfsburg (24 January 2015). Volkswagen started the 2015 FIA World Rally Championship

(WRC) with a historic success. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka

Anttila (FIN/FIN) and Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N) claimed a one-two-three for the

Polo R WRC at the most iconic rally in the world. This makes Volkswagen only the fifth

manufacturer ever to have achieved this feat at the "Monte".



"A one-two-three at the Rally Monte Carlo is a fantastic performance from the entire

Volkswagen team, and I am very proud of our crew," said Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neußer,

Volkswagen Board Member for Technical Development. "To start the season in this manner

with a new car, and in such difficult conditions, far exceeds our expectations. The entire troop

worked in perfect harmony. Everyone was there for each other, everyone knew exactly what

he or she had to do, and Volkswagen ultimately deserved to win. This team is now deservedly

up there with the other big rally manufacturers."



Dream debut for the second generation Polo R WRC



The 2015 Rally Monte Carlo marked the first competitive outing for the new Polo R WRC, and

promptly became a success story. Ogier/Ingrassia and Latvala/Anttila were in the cockpit of

the second generation of the World Rally Car from Wolfsburg at the "Monte", while

Mikkelsen/Fløene will remain in the successful predecessor to the new car until the Rally

Portugal. The four-wheel drive powerhouse, which now generates an impressive 318 hp,

made a perfect debut: the new Polo R WRC finished first and second to outdo even the first

outing of the 2013 and 2014 Polo for the World Rally Championship.



Historic: Volkswagen joins elite group of rally legends



The one-two-three at the 2015 Rally Monte Carlo was Volkswagen's 23rd victory with the

Polo R WRC and the eleventh time the manufacturer has had more than one car on the

podium since it joined the series in 2013. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia climbed onto

the top step of the podium for the 25th time at the Rally Monte Carlo, and for the second year

in a row at the "Monte". This sees Ogier pull level with rally legend Colin McRae in the alltime

list of WRC wins. First, second and third at the 2015 "Monte" was also a historic onetwo-

three at the iconic rally – and only the sixth ever. Volkswagen became only the fifth

manufacturer since 1973 to record a "triple" in the "Monte" history books, and thus joins the

ranks of such legendary rally manufacturers as Renault-Alpine, Lancia, Audi and Citroën.



Typical "Monte" – Tyre gambles and diverse conditions



Dry asphalt with – by "Monte" standards – plenty of grip, black ice, snow and slush: the

teams at the 2015 Rally Monte Carlo were faced with all of the above. And the conditions

changed constantly from one kilometre to the next, making tyre selection particularly tricky.

Each crew had to select 30 Michelin competition tyres from the 82 at their disposal – eight

hard, 16 soft, 24 soft, ten winter tyres and 24 studded tyres.



Seb vs Seb – a thrilling duel, but over far too soon



For the first two days of the Rally Monte Carlo, fans were kept on the edge of their seats by

the duel raging between the two Sebs. Sébastien Ogier in the Polo R WRC and Sébastien Loeb

in a Citroën were embroiled in a thrilling battle for the lead. Ogier had moved into an eightsecond

lead at the halfway point of the rally when Loeb, making his WRC comeback, lost a

huge amount of time and dropped well down the overall standings. And so the prestigious

duel was curtailed, just as it was getting really interesting. No longer was the nine-time world

champion the number one threat to Sébastien Ogier, but his team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala

and Andreas Mikkelsen.



Personal bests – Latvala and Mikkelsen make dream starts to the new WRC season



Second place for Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila and third for Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene

were their best results to date at the Rally Monte Carlo. As such, they were also an

improvement on last year. Twelve months ago, Latvala/Anttila came home fifth and

Mikkelsen, with his co-driver at the time Mikko Markkula (FIN), seventh to finish the "Monte"

for the first time. Latvala/Anttila moved into second place on the seventh special stage, and

held onto the runner-up spot right through to the end of a rally held in typically difficult

"Monte" conditions. Mikkelsen/Fløene also climbed into third place on the very same stage.



500 special stages – an exceptional record



The closing Power Stage at the Rally Monte Carlo formed the 500th special stage for the

Volkswagen Polo R WRC in the World Rally Championship since its debut at the 2013

"Monte". Since then, the World Rally Car from Wolfsburg has established itself as the car with

the highest win ratio ever in the World Rally Championship. Not only have 85.2 per cent of all

possible victories gone to Wolfsburg, but Volkswagen has also won 347 of its 500 special

stages.



The icing on the cake: Power Stage yields bonus point for Jari-Matti Latvala



Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila enjoyed an almost perfect end to the Rally Monte Carlo.

They clocked the third fastest time on the closing Power Stage. With bonus points on offer to

the fastest three cars, the Finnish duo picked up another valuable point towards the World

Championship.



Quotes after day four of the Rally Monte Carlo



Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1

"What a fantastic start to the new season! I'm over the moon. Getting a win at the Rally

Monte Carlo is special for any driver, but words can't describe what a win here means to me –

this is my home. Friends, family and fans give me so much support and self-confidence here.

The atmosphere was magical. I'm grateful that I can give something back with my joy. This

83rd staging of the 'Monte' is one of the most difficult rallies I can remember, as far as the

conditions are concerned. Selecting the tyres was particularly difficult at the start. Then there

was the exciting battle with Sébastien Loeb, who was producing spectacular times on

Thursday. Big thanks go to our team and my ice spies. It goes without saying that I am also

delighted with the great overall result for Volkswagen; as long as I'm at the top, Jari-Matti

and Andreas are my favourite people to share the podium with."



Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2

"We couldn't have wished for a better start. Our aim right from the word go was to finish in

the top four, and we did better than that. I'm delighted. It's a weight off my mind since my

previous starts at the Rally Monte Carlo hadn't exactly been successful. The conditions

weren't easy and you had to compromise on speed to avoid making mistakes. After we had

built up a good lead early on, it was all about getting the overall result, and no longer about

setting the fastest times. The one-two-three is the best reward for the whole team, who put

so much effort and passion into developing the new Polo."



Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9

"That was obviously an outstanding start to the new season for the whole team. You don't

celebrate a one-two-three at the 'Monte' every day. I'm proud to have played a part. But I'm

also delighted that my own season has started so well. Before we set off I would have taken

any spot in the top five. Third place exceeds all my expectations. We'll celebrate this podium

result properly, that much is certain. The conditions at this 'Monte' were extremely difficult

and it was the first time that I have started here when there has been snow, ice and slippery

asphalt. Right from the start my focus was on finishing safely – and it paid off. I learned so

much and ended up with a lot. Quite simply, it was a dream start."



Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director

"What a fantastic result for Volkswagen, but particularly for our drivers. No rally is more

demanding than the 'Monte'. The human factor makes much more of a difference here than

at any of the other rallies. I'm particularly proud of Sébastien Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala and

Andreas Mikkelsen for giving Volkswagen the perfect start to the season by finishing first,

second and third. There was no shortage of rivals, or difficult conditions that needed a cool

head. I'm just as proud of the whole team, who worked together perfectly to send the Polo R

WRC back onto the special stages in perfect condition every day, as I am of the drivers and

co-drivers."



And then there was ...

... the second 'local' driver at the "Monte". By the time the service park had moved from Gap

(France) to Monaco, Andreas Mikkelsen became the driver with the shortest journey home.

The Volkswagen service area is located right on the dock at Quai Antoine 1er in the

principality – exactly the same address as that of Andreas Mikkelsen, who found himself no

more than fifty steps away from his flat during the service. However, Mikkelsen stayed in a

hotel with the rest of the team during the rally, leaving his flat free for friends and family.

Sébastien Ogier also enjoyed a trip home on day two of the rally, as the "Monte" took him

through his birthplace of Forest Saint Julien and within shouting distance of his parents'

house.