PoloDriver

Two-time World Rally Champions Carlos Sainz and Luis Moya showed the prowess of the world-beating Polo R WRC at the weekend, when they and the car were taking part in the 2013 Rallylegend San Marino. The eleventh staging of the event, the Spaniards joined such illustrious names as Markku Alén, Didier Auriol, Miki Biasion, and Per Eklund to entertain 70,000 rally fans. As well as the championship-winning Polo R WRC (going by the registration plate, the same car that was on display at the recent IAA 2013 in Frankfurt), Volkswagen presented historical vehicles from its motorsport collection. Among those having an outing in the Italian-surrounded enclave microstate included the Mk 2 Group A WRC Golf, as well as a Golf G60. Other iconic vehicles at the event included an ex-Walter Röhrl Audi S1, and several Lancia Stratos, Delta Integrales and Group B 037s.

Suspension manufacturer Bilstein has released a damper upgrade for the Polo 9N, built from 2002-2005. Suitable for every variant and engine from the base-model 1.2 three-cylinder car to the 1.9 TDI and GTI versions, Bilstein sys that the B8 damper package ‘significantly enhances the dynamic abilities’ of the 9N’s chassis. The dampers work with both the OEM springs as well as any quality aftermarket replacements, and function well with lower ride heights. The B8 range is designed for drivers in search of more damping capability with improved handling and reduced squat and dive. Everyday ride comfort stays intact.

Each B8 unit is hand-finished in Bilstein’s German factory to surpass even the most stringent of OEM production standards, using the latest gas pressure technology and inverted monotube construction. The suspension manufacturer states that the kit ‘draws heavily from our motorsport heritage and are vastly superior to the twin-tube design fitted by most manufacturers’. Signed off by its own test drivers and engineers after dyno-analysis, the B8 dampers also boast a significantly greater service life than standard parts, as well as offering increased active safety. For more details and prices, visit www.bilstein.de.

[Source: vwtuningmag.com]

Australia’s National Roads and Motorists’ Association (NRMA) has awarded the Polo GTI and Jetta as two of the country’s most affordable cars. The most affordable cars to own in their respective classes, the Polo GTI came out top of the hot hatchback under $80,000 category. NRMA states that the small fast Volkswagen will set back drivers less than $170 per week, due to a fuel consumption of 6.5l/100km, which translates into an average weekly fuel bill of $32.56. NRMA compared Australia’s most comprehensive list of new vehicles in its Car Operating Cost survey. The ‘awards’ take into account the negotiated vehicle price, depreciation, opportunity interest, registration, comprehensive insurance, NRMA membership, maintenance and repairs, as well as fuel over a five-year period.

He didn’t have much to do. Volkswagen Motorsport driver Sébastien Ogier missed out on becoming the 2013 World Rally Champion* by one point at Rally Australia. So it was an easy task to score that important mark at the start of Rally France, but Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia went one better by snatching victory on the last day of the eleventh round of the 2013 WRC in Alsace. Made all the better by being the duo’s home event, Ogier was handed the baton of World Champion from outgoing champ Sébastien Loeb, the reigning master of WRC since 2004. In a bittersweet and disappointing curtain down on his WRC career, Loeb and his co-driver Daniel Elena crashed out during the final day of the event.

Volkswagen’s milestone victory in the FIA World Rally Championship (the first team to have won the drivers’ title in its maiden year) was sealed on the first stage of the event, the running of the Power Stage, in which bonus points are awarded to the fastest three cars. Finishing third, Ogier and Ingrassia could no longer be caught by second-placed Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul of Ford, so the celebrations began, before the first proper day of Rally France, and with two events of the 2013 season to go. With the drivers’ championship won, Ogier and Ingrassia were given free reign by Volkswagen to go out and win the rally, too.

The pair adopted a cautious approach on day one, ending the first 120.63km in fifth place. On day two, though, the pair upped the ante. The Frenchman won five of the seven special stages and were just 1.5 seconds rally leaders and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila. Going into the final day, two teams from Volkswagen and two from Citroën – including the mighty Loeb and Elena – were separated by just five seconds. Ogier and Ingrassia didn’t put a tyre wrong during the final day, upping the pace yet again, and overtaking Latvala to finish first, with the Finn completing the event on the bottom step of the podium.

‘That is definitely the most amazing rally weekend of my career: first the World Championship title and now victory at my home rally – absolutely fantastic! What an extremely difficult final day. This morning was so incredibly slippery, but my gravel crew did a fantastic job. I obviously feel for Sébastien Loeb, but he was going all out to win, and that sort of thing can happen in such difficult conditions. It could have happened to anyone today. Today is the highlight of our season, and I am overjoyed. I would like to thank my guys. We have done a great job all season. I am very proud of what we have achieved,’ said an ecstatic Ogier.

‘Congratulations to Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia. They were the best this weekend and fully deserved both their win and the World Championship title. They have proven this season that they are outstanding in all conditions and on all surfaces. I am very happy with third place. We produced a flawless display and were consistently quick. That gives me a lot of confidence for the forthcoming rallies. We achieved our goal of scoring important points in the manufacturers’ championship. The 2013 title is now within touching distance for the team,’ commented Latvala.

The two podium finishes garnered Volkswagen Motorsport 40 points towards the Manufacturers’ Championship, meaning it can now wrap up the title at the next event, Rally Spain on 27 October. Regardless of its opponents’ performance. The German outfit now leads the standings by 80 points thanks to Ogier’s seventh 2013 win and Latvala’s stellar performance in Alsace. Latvala’s brief was simple; to secure as many manufacturers’ championship points as possible. he and Anttila did just that, and led going into the final day of the event, despite torrential overnight rain. There was good news for the third Polo R WRC crew, too, as Andreas Mikkelsen and Paul Nagle finished inside the top 10, in seventh place.

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director was more than pleased with his team’s results: ‘The Rally France was a great success. On the one hand for rallying in general, and on the other hand for Volkswagen. It does not get any more exciting than the last four days. Ahead of the final day, any one of four drivers could have won. In the end, the new World Champions* – Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia – came out on top. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila scored valuable points towards the manufacturers’ championship. Volkswagen now has every chance of winning this title too in Spain. This weekend we claimed the title in the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championships, won the rally, and took a big step forward. There will definitely be some celebrating this evening.’

2013 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP, FRANCE: FINAL RESULTS

1 Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen: 2h 53m 07.6s

2 Daniel Sordo/Carlos del Barrio (E/E), Citroën: +12.2s

3 Jari-Matti Latvala/Miika Anttila (FIN/FIN), Volkswagen: +19.5s

4 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (B/B), Ford: +1m 14.1s

5 Evgeny Novikov/Ilka Minor (RUS/A), Ford: +3m 10.9s

2013 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP,

DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

1 Sébastien Ogier, 238

2 Thierry Neuville, 143

3 Jari-Matti Latvala, 125
4 Dani Sordo, 117

5 Mikko Hirvonen, 111

2013 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP,

MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

1 Volkswagen Motorsport, 339

2 Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT, 259

3 Qatar WRT, 157

4 Qatar M-Sport WRT, 156

5 Abu Dhabi Citroën Total WRT, 59

*Subject to confirmation by the FIA

Tyres can help to make or break a great drive. And when you’re on it, you need rubber you can trust. One such response could be Bridgestone‘s Adrenalin RE002 tyres. Need precision, stability, and control to enrich that driving experience? Of course you do, and to show bloggers from six different countries just how much more the Adrenalin RE002 adds to the driving experience, Bridgestone invited 60 writers to the Ascari Race Resort in Spain to try out the tyres for themselves. Though not from the driver’s seat. Oh no. They had to blog their thoughts, at 200km/h on a very wet track, while being thrown around by Bridgestone’s ace test drivers.

The results varied as you’d expect with seat time of less than five minutes each. As you can see from the video, some passengers had the ride of their lives, while others remained stony-faced – no doubt feeling a little in awe of the speed at which the test drivers piloted the Audi TTs around the circuit. One of the benefits, according to Bridgestone, of the Adrenalin RE002s is that it adds excitement to the driving experience, and that’s plainly clear, when looking at the passenger seat’s laptop comments.

The Adrenalin RE002’s unique asymmetric design and advanced construction enlarge the contact patch, translating a vehicle’s steering, accelerating and braking force with precision. The tyre’s excellent front-rear load balance also ensures predictable rear tracking to push the bounds of cornering response and manoeuvrability. You don’t need a private race track to yourself to get the most from the Adrenalin tyres  RE002, either; it’s equally at home in the city. Ready to bring exhiliration back to driving.

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