Volkswagen and Hyundai evenly matched in Shakedown
Latvala/Anttila second, Ogier/Ingrassia third, Mikkelsen/Jæger fifth
Back in the rhythm after a six-week spring break: Volkswagen returned to action in determined fashion with top times in the Shakedown at the Rally Argentina.
Volkswagen set the second and third-fastest times in “free practice” ahead of round four of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) were the best duo in the Polo R WRC on the 6.01-kilometre special stage on the outskirts of the rally centre in Carlos Paz.
Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) were just slower in third place, while Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jæger (N/N) were fifth fastest. The top six – three Volkswagens and three Hyundai – were separated by less than five seconds.
Volkswagen has the opportunity to make World Rally Championship history in Argentina. After twelve wins in a row, a 13th consecutive success would now set a new record. This would be the first time that a manufacturer in pinnacle of international rallying would have gone a complete year – once around the world – undefeated.
However, Volkswagen must first overcome one of the toughest rallies on the calendar, in the Rally Argentina: coarse, eroded routes and many water crossings await Ogier, Latvala and Mikkelsen. The rally action kicks off on Thursday evening with a short opening stage in CĂłrdoba city centre, before Friday’s route features the demanding gravel roads of the Sierras de CĂłrdoba.Â
Quotes after the Shakedown at the Rally Argentina
SĂ©bastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
“The Shakedown went very well. My crew, led by my race engineer Jan de Jongh, has set the Polo up perfectly for the Rally Argentina. I am pleased that the wait is finally over. After the long break, I have almost forgotten how it feels in a rally car. The goal for Julien and me is clear: we want to win the Rally Argentina, and the chances are not so bad. It has rained a lot here in recent weeks, resulting in good conditions for Julien and me.”
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
“I am very happy with my Shakedown. The 6-kilometre lap was great fun. The Polo R WRC feels superb, and we seem to have gone for the right set-up. The starting position in Argentina will not have such a big influence as last time out in Mexico. Despite this, it could be an advantage, particularly on Saturday. The six-week break was long enough. I am glad we are back racing again.”
Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
“A first-class Shakedown for us. The key was to find our competitive rhythm again after the long break – and we did that. The times were okay and the basic set-up for the Rally Argentina was also right. Pretty much all the guys had to do to the Polo was to give it a bit of a clean. All in all, I am happy and looking forward to the coming days, although it promises to be really rough out there on the stages.”
Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
“We have a big job ahead of us here in Argentina. First of all, we want to improve on last year’s performance here – preferably by putting the icing on the cake with a victory to extend our winning run. We have won 19 of the last 20 rallies, twelve of them in a row. As such, our goal can be nothing less than another victory. However, everyone in the team will have to work hard to achieve this. The Rally Argentina is one of the most demanding on the calendar for man and machine. Furthermore, our opponents will not make life easy for us. That made it all the more important for us to be on the ball from the word go after the six-week break. Today’s times showed that we are just that. We are ready.
