Mercedes is doing it in Formula One and now it’s the turn
of Volkswagen to do in the FIA World Rally Championship. Before you wonder what
it’s all about, we are talking about the one-two victory. In Formula One, off
late it’s been Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg of Mercedes AMG Petronas.
For Volkswagen it was nothing less than its greatest
single victory in the history of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). In
extremely difficult conditions, Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) and
Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) celebrated a hard-fought one-two victory
in the Polo R WRC at the Rally Argentina. Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula
(N/FIN) completed the German factory team’s triumph by claiming fourth place.
According to a Volkswagen media release, crowds of
enthusiastic fans lined the route of SS 14, holding their breath as Latvala and
Ogier repeatedly fought it out to win the fifth round of the season. This win
thereby replaces the team’s previous milestone at the Rally Great Britain in
November 2013, when the three Volkswagen pairings secured first, second and
fifth place. As well as claiming impressive positions, the team did it in
style.
Mikkelsen also helped to make the event a resounding
success for Volkswagen by doggedly working his way up the leader board. Taking
first and second place further extends Volkswagen’s lead in the Manufacturers’
Championship. Following the Rally Argentina, the three Volkswagen duos are now
also at the top of the table in the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championship. The
event marked Jari-Matti Latvala’s tenth win in the World Rally Championship and
his third in Volkswagen’s colours.
Right from the word go, spectators were treated to a
thrilling duel for first place in Argentina – despite punishing external
conditions. The current World Champions, Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia,
got off to the better start, claiming the first two Special Stages. Then
Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila launched their counterattack during the
rally’s longest stage. The pair took the overall lead by putting in the best
time on the “Ascochinga–Agua de Oro” section, which is almost 52 kilometres
long. Before the first day’s rallying had finished, first place changed hands
twice more between Latvala and Ogier. Latvala dominated on Saturday and Sunday,
gaining the upper hand in the duel with eight wins to Ogier’s one over the two
days.
Following five of the season’s 13 rallies, the battle
between Ogier and Latvala is also dominating the battle for the WRC title. With
his win, Latvala closed the gap in the World Championship standings to 24
points.
Source: Volkswagen