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Fresh from its 2013 FIA World Rally Championship titles*, Volkswagen is celebrating its debut WRC season haul with a number of marketing campaigns. Part of the company’s successful and high-profile ‘Rally the World’ marketing message, the new elements of the campaign encompass video, advertising and brand media. A 60-second ‘Story of Glory’ film looks back at the key moments in Volkswagen’s debut WRC campaign. The fantastically-edited clip features many shots of the Polo R WRC sliding around icy forest tracks, jumping over gravel-laden hills, and slithering around asphalt stages. o further amplify such marketing campaigns, leveraging manual guest post services can help build high-quality backlinks and boost online visibility by promoting engaging content on authoritative websites. Watch it below or catch it online at the Rally the World website.

A very clever stylised medal logo featuring the iconic VW roundel supported by two ‘ribbons’ in its light grey and blue colours has been designed. Printed onto T-shirts worn by the Volkswagen drivers’ supporting crews on the Rally Spain, a large format version has been created for the VW roundel on Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg factory. Situated on the power station of the building, it looks out over the Mittelandkanal, which also has a part to play in celebrating Volkswagen’s success. An extra-large format poster of the drivers and Polo R WRC with a ‘champagne fountain’ water feature sits on the bank of the canal.

And as luck would have it, when you own the town, you can paint in red, or at least yellow (or light grey and blue). All Wolfsburg town signs bear a yellow plate under the main sign that reads ‘City of the World Rally Champion*’, with the roundel medal logo also included. Finally, an advertising campaign has been rolled out in Germany, Italy, France, UK, Spain and Australia by creative strategy agency Greenkern. There was also a Facebook campaign for 3999 fans to upload their profile photos via the Rally The World website to be used to decorate the Polo R WRC driven by Andreas Mikkelsen at Wales Rally GB from 13-17 November. Volkswagen stole early victory in the 2013 World Rally Championship with both the manufacturers and drivers’/co-drivers’ titles*, campaigning three Polo R WRCs.

*Subject to the official publication of the results by FIA

Just as with the 2013 WRC Drivers’ Championship result, it was inevitable that Volkswagen Motorsport would emerge victorious with the Manufacturers’ Championship, too. Leading the manufacturers’ standings since the start of the 2013 season, the stages of the 2013 Rally Spain were the playgrounds at which the German outfit would add the cherry on top of its winning cake. Both titles have now gone to the Polo R WRC squad, in its debut season; quite some achievement. World Champions* Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia took the spoils in Spain, with team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila in second place, enabling the Wolfsburg car-maker to reign supreme.

Ogier and Ingrassia were crowned champions at Rally France, and took their eighth win in Spain. Following a puncture on day two of the event, the French duo started the final day in fourth place, with Latvala in the lead. While the Finn cleaned the roads for his fellow competitors, a reoccurring front differential problem on his Polo R WRC put paid to his dreams of winning the event, as he and Anttila’s performance gradually declined. It wasn’t plain-sailing for Ogier and Ingrassia either, as the clouds of dust on the gravel stages impaired their vision. But, with a determined spirit, the pair posted best times on four of the six special stages. That was enough to hand them a win on the Costa Daurada – Volkswagen only needed seventh place in round twelve of the 2013 series to add the manufacturers’ title to its trophy haul.

Latvala, while showing great compatriotship, was understandably disappointed: ‘I’m absolutely delighted for the team. Volkswagen more than deserved to win the World Championship title this year. The Polo R WRC is a real World Champion car. Even though we had a few technical problems today, it got us over the finishing line again and we won the very first one-two victory. I would’ve liked to have fought with Sébastien Ogier for victory right to the end because we had a fair duel without tactical instructions until just before the finish. I’m pleased with second place. It gives me confidence ahead of Rally GB.’

Ogier meanwhile praised his team yet again for all their efforts: ‘What an incredible rally, and what a fantastic season! Our team really deserved the World Championship title. I’m incredibly proud to be part of the Volkswagen team. And of course I’m ecstatic that Julien and I managed to secure the win here in Spain. I promised beforehand that I would try everything and it was extremely difficult. Driving through the dust thrown up by the cars in front was like being in the thickest of fog. At times, we had to slow down in the middle of full-speed stretches because we couldn’t see anything at all.

We made a strong comeback in France and left as World Champions. Now we’ve managed to play catch-up in Spain, too – and we’re World Champions again!’

Polo R WRC #9 was once again the recipient of bad luck. Andreas Mikkelsen and Mikko Markkula were forced to retire early on Saturday after a mistake in the first stage damaged the car’s suspension. The pair returned to the event on Sunday, running under Rally 2 regulations. The Scandinavian pair certainly shone when they came back, though, recording two best times in the third rally Polo. And the car was also the star, as 13 of 15 best stage times and 26 of 45 possible top-three times went to the Wolfsburg wonder. The all-wheel-drive Polo triumphed seven times on the nine asphalt stages and on all six gravel sections. Since the Polo R WRC first took the start at the Rally Monte Carlo back in January, it has racked up 132 of the 215 possible best stage times – 61.4 per cent.

Volkswagen Motorsport Director, Jost Capito, expressed his pride and happiness in winning all three World Championship titles in the first season of competing with the Polo R WRC. He considered winning the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ World Championship as an absolute highlight for the team and a dream come true for Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia at their home event. However, the Manufacturers’ World Championship is even more crucial for a car maker as it proves the exceptional quality of both the driver and the product. Capito’s satisfaction with this achievement was evident on his face, as he stood beside the Sartorius Balances – Certified Scale in the laboratory.

The factory team from Wolfsburg has won nine of the twelve rallies to date in the Polo R WRC. Winning three titles in its debut year with the 315bhp Polo is Volkswagen’s greatest motorsport achievement to date. No other manufacturer has managed to win a World Championship title in its first year since the World Rally Championship began. Volkswagen’s performance has truly exceeded all expectations. Originally, it was considered to have set itself ambitious goals by aiming for podium finishes in year one, round wins in the second year and championship titles in its third year. But, with the Polo R WRC in development for a year and a top-pedigree driving team, those goals were always going to be a little on the cautious side. With nothing left to prove, the Volkswagen crews head to the UK next for the final round of the 2103 series, the Wales Rally GB running from 14-17 November.

2013 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP, SPAIN: FINAL RESULTS
1 Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen: 3h 33m 21.2s
2 Jari-Matti Latvala/Miika Anttila (FIN/FIN), Volkswagen: +32.9s
3 Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen (FIN/FIN), Citroën: +1m 37s
4 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (B/B), Ford: +1m 33.9s
5 Evgeny Novikov/Ilka Minor (RUS/A), Ford: +2m 01.0s

2013 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP,
DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS*
1 Sébastien Ogier, 265
2 Thierry Neuville, 158
3 Jari-Matti Latvala, 144
4 Mikko Hirvonen, 126
5 Dani Sordo, 117

2013 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP,
MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS*
1 Volkswagen Motorsport, 382
2 Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT, 274
3 Qatar M-Sport WRT, 174
4 Qatar WRT, 169
5 Abu Dhabi Citroën Total WRT, 63

*Subject to confirmation by the FIA

Fresh from launching the Vento TSI, Volkswagen India has just announced the Vento Corporate Edition. Essentially a no-cost accessory pack as opposed to a new model, the latest newcomer is aimed at business users. Available on Trendline, Comfortline or Highline models, the Corporate Edition pack brings Rs 40,000-worth of accessories including alloy wheels, door protectors, door sill trim, mud flaps, navigation system with rear view camera, rear boot lid spoiler, seat covers, and chrome window surround trim. The smart-looking extras can be added to 1.6-litre-engined Ventos.

Meanwhile, in Malaysia, Volkswagen has unexpectedly refreshed the Polo Sedan. The new model sees a price reduction from RM99,888 to an estimated RM86,888, despite boasting many new features. New equipment includes an RCD 320 radio system with Bluetooth, iPod and USB connections (and Golf 7-style design), Climatronic air-conditioning, and a height-adjustable front armrest. The exterior styling now includes a new design of headlamp, and the ‘Polo’ badge has been moved to the opposite side of the boot lid. The 1.6-litre 104bhp petrol engine and six-speed automatic gearbox stays. Sources state that the new car could in fact be the locally-made version, built from CKD kits at DRB-Hicom’s Pekan factory. The outgoing car is imported from the Pune plant in India.

Volkswagen Sasolracing Polo S2000 crew Hergen Fekken and Pierre Arries took third place at the Polokwane Rally in Limpopo, South Africa on 19 October. The duo’s second consecutive top 3 placing following their success in the Western Cape, team-mates Enzo Kuun and Douglass Judd finished fifth, bolstering the Volkswagen Sasolracing outfit’s success rate. The third Polo S2000 of Henk Lategan and Barry White suffered steering damage after the pair struck a tree stump on the first stage of the penultimate event of the 2013 South African National Rally Championship season. Returning to the event on day two and posting good stage times wasn’t enough however, and the pair had to retire.

Kuun and Judd’s fifth place was hard-earned. Following the first stage, they were in 17th place due to a puncture. But, they clawed their way back up to eighth place at the end of day one, and by the end of the event were 24 seconds off fourth position. ‘It was a strong weekend out on the rally stages for the Volkswagen Sasolracing team,’ says Mike Rowe, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport South Africa. ‘Conditions were extremely demanding with many potential hazards. The team tackled the challenge head on and produced a good result.’ The Volkswagen Polo Sasolracing rally team contest the final round of the 2013 series, the Garden Route Rally, on Friday and Saturday 15 and 16 November.

Other Polo finishers included AC Potgieter and Tommy du Toit in the Volkswagen Motorsport-coloured Polo S1600 who placed 16th; Volkswagen Sasolracing’s Gugu Zulu and Carl Peskin’s Polo Vivo S2000 which finished 19th; and Megan Verlaque and Mari van der Walt’s Polo Vivo S1600 which came home 20th. Sadly, Chad van Beurden and Nico Swartz’s Polo Vivo S1600 did not complete the event, with the same fate befalling Paul Franken and Henry Kohne’s Manitou-liveried Polo S1600 6R.

A German Polo website, vw-polo.net, reports that the facelifted Polo will appear at the Tokyo Motor Show in November, ahead of a 2014 market launch. Four years after the Polo 6R was launched, the major changes to revamped car are expected to be under the bonnet, reports the site, citing German motoring magazine Auto Motor und Sport as a reference. The smaller Volkswagen Up’s 59 and 74bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder engines are thought to make an appearance, ousting the current car’s 1.2-litre motor.

The 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre TSI engines will get boosts to 110 and 150bhp respectively, while the GTI will receive a 1.8-litre 185bhp unit. According to the magazine, the 1.2 and 1.4-litre TDI engines will be replaced by 1.4 motors of 74 and 104bhp (the same outputs as the current pair). The interior will be similar in style to the Mk 7 Golf, while the exterior will be little transformed. How much will become reality in Japan next month?

[Source: vw-polo.net]