Volkswagen heads to “Bella Italia” with the wind in its sails

The Volkswagen duos have the most successful WRC event in the team’s history behind them. As such, World Championship leaders Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), their closest rivals in the overall standings, Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N), and Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), fresh from their victory last time out, go into the Rally Italy with high hopes of adding another victory to Volkswagen’s impressive collection.

The sixth round of the WRC season, which this year takes place from 11 to 14 June 2015 and marks the halfway point in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), has been held on Sardinia since 2004. It poses a major test for man and machine, with such classics as the “Monte Lerno” special stage and the notorious “Micky’s Jump”, which is so popular among fans and drivers alike.

On Saturday, the elite of the international rally scene will also face the longest day of rallying of the season so far – featuring 212.83 of the rally’s 394.63 kilometres against the clock. The three Volkswagen duos of Ogier/Ingrassia, Mikkelsen/Fløene and Latvala/Anttila do battle for points and positions armed with three identical Polo R WRCs – as they did at the recent Rally Portugal, when Volkswagen celebrated its best result in WRC history with a one-two-three in both the overall standings and on the Power Stage.

“You cannot go into a rally with more confidence than we have at the moment,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “The maximum points haul in Portugal has given us a real boost and all three drivers – Sébastien Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen – all have what it takes to win in Italy. However, it will certainly not be a stroll in the park. The route conditions on Sardinia are difficult and change from one car to the next. On top of that you have the opposition, who will be more determined than ever to make our life difficult after the one-two-three in Portugal.“

Moments of the year in 2013 and 2014 – Volkswagen with fond memories of Italy

Volkswagen has won the Rally Italy two years in a row – in 2013 and 2014. However, the sporting success is not the only thing to stir up positive memories. The world-famous “Micky’s Jump” is not only a crowd puller, a moment guaranteed to send shivers down even the hardiest of spines, and the picture-postcard image of the Rally Italy – Sébastien Ogier’s jump on this crest in 2013 was also officially crowned the “FIA Motorsport Moment of the Year”.

Fast forward twelve months and another vivid memory springs to mind: in 2014, the drivers, co-drivers and team management followed the podium ceremony by leaping into the harbour at Alghero to celebrate Ogier’s second victory in Italy. Not everyone went in of their own accord but, even without an official title, this was the fun moment of 2014 for the Volkswagen team.

Flying on Monte Lerno – Micky’s Jump and the longest day of rallying of the season

One of the most spectacular jumps on the WRC calendar, plus Tifosi aplenty: Micky’s Jump is one of the highlights of the rally scene. The World Rally Cars approach this crest at about 100 kilometres per hour. The drivers brake briefly coming into a right-hander directly before Micky’s Jump – the rest is “hang time” and, thanks to the road falling away after the crest, a flight of up to 40 metres.

By the time the rally drivers and co-drivers pass this notorious spot, their powers of concentration have already really been put to the test. The 42-kilometre “Monte Lerno” special stage – the longest of the 2015 Rally Italy – brings the curtain down on Saturday’s afternoon loop. The longest day of the season features 212.83 kilometres of special stage, which is more than half of the entire rally.

But Thursday, Friday and Sunday are not to be trifled with either. The 2.5-kilometre “Città Di Cagliari” spectator stage kicks off proceedings and follows the ceremonial start in Cagliari on Thursday evening. The going really gets tough on Friday morning, when “Grighine Sud” requires the competitors to change their rhythm continuously over 26.31 kilometres against the clock.

However, the sporting highlight comes in the form ofSunday’s “Cala Flumini” special stage, whose 11.77 kilometres form the closing Power Stage when the participants tackle it for a second time. Here, bonus points towards the World Championship are up for grabs for the fastest three drivers and co-drivers.

La dolce vita – Ogier/Ingrassia and their love of Italy

The success curve consistently points upwards: double world champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia share an inner affection for the Rally Italy. The champs triumphed on Sardinia in 2013 and 2014 and are undefeated here with the Polo R WRC. And they arrive with high hopes again in 2015 – after three wins and a second place in the first five rallies of the season, Ogier/Ingrassia top the overall standings with a 42-point lead over their team-mates Mikkelsen/Fløene.

As such, the world champions from 2013 and 2014 have a greater lead than the opposition could possibly make up within one single rally. The maximum points haul in the World Rally Championship is 28 points, which is only possible with both victory and the fastest time on the Power Stage.

What was, and what could be: Mikkelsen and Fløene one year after the “reunion”

13 rallies back at each other’s side, with number 14 to follow: it is precisely one rally season since Andreas Mikkelsen and his co-driver Ola Fløene were reunited. Mikkelsen had previously lined up alongside Mikko Markkula for Volkswagen in the World Rally Championship. The Norwegian followed up his first podium with Markkula at the 2014 Rally Sweden with a further eight top-three finishes with Fløene since the Rally Italy in 2014.

The all-Norwegian pairing also has a further three points finishes to its name, meaning Mikkelsen and Fløene have only left two of the 13 rallies they have started together in the Polo R WRC empty-handed. Mikkelsen/Fløene were “upgraded” to the second generation of the Polo R WRC for the recent Rally Portugal, and immediately felt right at home in the new car.

Third place, their fourth of the season, was the successful result of the “maiden voyage”. Their remarkable consistency has seen Mikkelsen/Fløene promoted to the role of number one rivals to Ogier/Ingrassia and the Norwegians are currently second in the overall standings. However, the big coup still eludes them: a maiden race win.

Riding the wave of success – Latvala/Anttila super motivated for WRC fightback

Have Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila finally cracked it? After three scoreless rallies in a row Latvala/Anttila returned to winning ways in the World Rally Championship with victory at the most recent rally in Portugal. In doing so, the 2014 runners-up in the WRC climbed four positions into fifth in the overall standings.

They may already trail World Championship leaders Ogier/Ingrassia by 59 points, but their great dream of winning the World Championship title is still in their own hands. In Portugal, Latvala/Anttila made clever use of their advantageous starting position before calling on all their experience to manage the lead they had established through to the finish and claim their first win of the season, the 13th of their career, and their sixth with Volkswagen.

Round figures – milestones coming up for Volkswagen

Volkswagen is set to pass several milestones at the Rally Italy. One such figure is the 30,000 kilometres of special stage since joining the series with the Polo R WRC. The joint milometer for the cars from Wolfsburg currently stands at 29,188.44 kilometres. If everything goes to plan, Sébastien Ogier is on the brink of claiming his 40th podium.

Andreas Mikkelsen, meanwhile, is gunning for his tenth top-three finish in the World Rally Championship in Italy. The Rally Italy also marks the first time that the three Volkswagen duos will have the 400th stage win for the Polo R WRC (currently: 392) in their sights. Jari-Matti Latvala is also not far from the big 400. He needs another twelve stage wins to pass this next milestone. Another ten for Sébastien Ogier will take the champion’s tally to 350 stage wins.

Quotes ahead of the Rally Italy

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“As far as I am concerned, the Rally Italy is one of the best rallies on the WRC calendar. I have always improved with every outing there in the past, and have won for the last two years. The special stages are enjoyable, the countryside is beautiful, the atmosphere is superb – it is an all-round great rally. This year there will be a number of new special stages and we are faced with a total distance of over 1,500 kilometres – the longest rally of the season so far. As such, the demands placed on your physical fitness and stamina are greater than usual – particularly given the high temperatures in the car. My goal is obviously to win again this year, but the opposition will not make it easy. The tension is no less than usual – but neither is my fighting spirit. I will fight right to the end and am already looking forward to a dip in the harbour with my colleagues after the rally, should we win. After such a hot weekend, that is definitely the best way to cool down. However, you have to earn it first.“

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“I have a score to settle with the Rally Italy. In both of the past two years, a puncture has prevented me from possibly going on to win – I finished third on both occasions. I would obviously like to win this time. My starting position should work in our favour: I start what is probably the longest rally of the year from fifth. The days are incredibly long and the 400 kilometres of special stage take us along narrow roads right next to picturesque cliffs. However, I love to drive in Sardinia. What many people don’t realise is that this rally is actually easier to drive than it looks, as far as the layout is concerned. This means we are really able to put our foot down. Victory at the Rally Portugal was unimaginably important for me. It took an awful lot of pressure off my shoulders. After three rallies without scoring any points, you start to doubt yourself a bit. I would like to say a big thank you to my mental coach, Christoph Treier. He told me: ‘Trust yourself. Trust your speed’. I did that – and will do it again at the Rally Italy.“

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“I have finished third four times so far this season. I would like to follow on from these performances at the Rally Italy and definitely want to finish in the top five – preferably even higher. The Rally Portugal went superbly for me and I immediately fell in love with my new Polo R WRC. The new transmission means the car virtually drives itself – this car is made for me. I am in good form and the team is doing a first-class job. For this reason, I am optimistic of getting a good result. Ola and I have been back together in the car for exactly a year. We have a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’, which I find it hard to describe. We have blind faith in each other – plus, Ola has really helped me to develop.”

Three questions for … Crew Chief Ralf Arneke

You have just celebrated your 25th anniversary with the company. How did you actually get started at Volkswagen Motorsport and what part of your job has changed most during that time?
Ralf Arneke: “I started out as a mechanic and did that job for several years. In 1998 I was then made Chief Mechanic. In 1999 and 2000 we ran two Golf IV kit cars in the British Rally Championship – so I was involved at that time. Back then we had far fewer opportunities (budget) for testing than was necessary later, for example, for the Rally Dakar or for the World Rally Championship nowadays. We also contested far fewer than 13 rallies per year, which is common practice today. From 2004 I was Chief Mechanic again for Jutta Kleinschmidt’s Race Touareg at the Rally Dakar. Jutta finished third with the Race Touareg 1, making it the first diesel-powered vehicle to make it onto the podium at the Rally Dakar. The thing that has changed most over all those years is that I do a lot more of my job from my desk. Since the days of the Rally Dakar, Volkswagen Motorsport has become increasingly professional in the way it has dealt with quality assurance. Since these scrupulous checks have been introduced, there have hardly been any technical faults.“

How did you celebrate your anniversary at the company?
Ralf Arneke: “We had a small get-together with our management, during which I was given a nice present. A book about South Africa. I went there last winter for a well-deserved holiday and this book allows me to recall some of the many beautiful moments, which is obviously great. It is a fascinating country.“

The Rally Argentina was far from ideal from a Volkswagen point of view. However, this must only have made the one-two-three and top three positions on the Power Stage at the Rally Portugal taste all the sweeter. Do you believe Volkswagen will continue the success story of the past two and a half years?
Ralf Arneke: “The opposition is very strong this year, and has closed the gap to us with various modifications to their cars. However, I think our big plus point is the drivers, as we have the best rally drivers out there at the moment. However, the work our entire team here in Hannover puts into preparing for every single rally is also a very important factor in the success. Our drivers can depend one hundred per cent on every single member of the team doing their job to the very best of their ability. That is an outstanding basis, of which we can be hugely proud as a team. Without this, such victories and podiums would not be possible. We obviously hope things will continue this way.“

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