H Volkswagen Motorsport παρουσίασε χθες το απόγευμα στο Μονακό τα σχέδιά της για τη σεζόν 2013 στο Παγκόσμιο Πρωτάθλημα Ράλι, του ο οποίος ο πρώτος αγώνας θα διεξαχθεί το τριήμερο 17-20 Ιανουαρίου στους δρόμους του Πριγκιπάτου του Μονακό, στο Μόντε Κάρλο.
H Volkswagen παρουσίασε και την τελική έκδοση του αγωνιστικού Polo R WRC το οποίο είναι βαμμένο στα χρώματα του κύριου χορηγού της, της Red Bull. O αγωνιστικός επικεφαλής της γερμανικής ομάδας θα είναι ο γνωστός μας από την επιτυχημένη πορεία του στη Ford, Jost Capito, με τη φιλοδοξία τους να είναι να παλέψουν για την πρώτη θέση από τον πρώτο κιόλας αγώνα, με στόχο φυσικά το πρωτάθλημα μέσα.
Οι οδηγοί θα είναι ο Jari-Matti Latvala με συνοδηγό τον Μika Antilla, ο Sebastien Ogier με συνοδηγό τον Julien Ingrassia και τέλος ο Andreas Mikkelsen που στο δεξί bucket θα κάθεται ο Μikko Markkula.
Επίσης, παρόντες στη συνέντευξη Τύπου έδωσαν ο Βέλγος υπεύθυνος για το συντονισμό του ανταγωνισμό στην VW Motorsport WRC, Sven Smeets, ο Γάλλος ηθοποιός FX. Demaison, ο Carlos Sainz μαζί τον Luis Moya, οι παλιές δόξες του φιλανδικού Ράλι Juha Kankkunen και Markku Alen, ο βετεράνος Βέλγος οδηγός Jacky Ickx κ.α.
Σε ότι αφορά το Polo R WRC μηχανικά φορά έναν νέο 1.600αρη TSI κινητήρα άμεσου ψεκασμού απόδοσης 315 ίππων στις 6.250 σ.α.λ με 425 Nm ροπής στις 5.000 σ.α.λ που συνδυάζεται με ένα 6-τάχυτο αυτόματο σειριακό κιβώτιο. Η κίνηση στέλνεται σε όλους τους τροχούς και λόγω περιορισμών της FIA αποδίδει 300 άλογα.
Στις ασφάλτινες διαδρομές θα φορά ζάντες 18″ ενώ στα χωμάτινα και στα χιονισμένα θα φορά ζάντες διαστάσεων 15″. Έχει διαστάσεις 3,976 μέτρα μήκος, 1,820 μέτρα πλάτος και 1,356 μέτρα μήκος με μεταξόνιο 2,480 μέτρα και μετατρόχιο 1,610 μέτρα. Ζυγίζει 1.200 κιλά, όσο ορίζουν οι κανονισμοί της FIA. Τα 0-100 χλμ/ώρα τα κάνει σε 3,9 δευτερόλεπτα ενώ έχει τελική ταχύτητα περίπου 200 χλμ/ώρα, ανάλογα με την κλιμάκωση του κιβωτίου.
Περισσότερες πληροφορίες μπορείς να βρεις στο δελτίο τύπου που ακολουθεί.
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[Πηγή: Volkswagen]
[learn_more caption=”Δελτίο Τύπου”]
FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Presentation in Monte Carlo (MC)
Double world premiere: the Volkswagen Polo R WRC in Monaco
Wolfsburg, 08 December 2012. Two Polo R WRCs, two world premieres: as of 2013,
Volkswagen will line up in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), starting with the
iconic Rally Monte Carlo (15–20 January). The driving crews, the final design of the 315-hp
rally Polo and its sporty production counterpart were presented to about 250 guests and
journalists in Monaco today. A good five weeks before its first competitive outing at the
same location, the Polo R WRC developed for the World Rally Championship rolled over a
symbolic starting ramp to huge applause in front of the famous Monte Carlo Casino,
signifying the start of a new era for Volkswagen in motorsport. A few minutes previously,
the street version of the Polo R WRC had also been unveiled.
“The launch of the Polo R WRC, which is now ready and raring to go, heralds a new era in
motorsport for Volkswagen: the FIA World Rally Championship offers Volkswagen the
opportunity to prove its sporty qualities in an environment, in which our cars have always
been at home: on real streets,” says Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of
Management responsible for development. “In doing so, we are not using extraordinary
prototypes, but a Polo based on the standard production car. This proximity to the product
and customer played an important role in our decision to commit to this form of global
motorsport.”
“Volkswagen has prepared intensively for the World Rally Championship, and every single
member of the team can hardly wait to finally get stuck into the competition with the Polo R
WRC,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “The World Rally Championship
is a new challenge for us, and one that we are confronting with a host of good ideas and a
strong team. Whether Sébastien Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala, Andreas Mikkelsen or the team
in the background, we have first-class personnel on board. 17 months of intensive
development, testing and a lot of innovation have gone into the Polo R WRC. For what it’s
worth, the Polo is also, in my eyes, a beautiful and spectacular rally car.”
Impressive driver/co-driver pairings for the World Rally Championship
A select driving line-up: Sébastien Ogier together with co-driver Julien Ingrassia (both
France), and Jari-Matti Latvala and his co-driver Miikka Anttila (both Finland) will line up for
Volkswagen with the Polo R WRC in the 2013 World Rally Championship. Ogier/Ingrassia
and Latvala/Anttila will start the season on equal footing. Both have seven World Rally
Championship race wins to their name. “After over a year and a half of preparations, I can
hardly wait to pull up to the start of the ‘Monte’ with the Polo R WRC and see where we
stand compared to the opposition,” says Sébastien Ogier, who was signed by Volkswagen
in November 2011 and for whom the ‘Monte’ represents a home rally. His team-mate Jari-
Matti Latvala, who finished third in the World Championship this year and is new to the
Volkswagen team, adds: “For me, Volkswagen is the best option as I strive to close in on
my personal goal: the World Championship title. The team has impressed me with its
determination and the pleasant way in which everyone treats each other. Every individual
is absolutely committed to helping the whole team be successful. I am really excited about
the Monte.”
As of the Rally Portugal, the fourth round of the World Championship calendar,
Volkswagen plans to run a third car. At the wheel will be two-time Intercontinental Rally
Challenge (RC) champion, Volkswagen Junior driver Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway, new codriver:
Mikko Markkula, Finland). “Volkswagen is a very goal-oriented team, which has
developed beyond measure during the preparations for the World Rally Championship,”
says Mikkelsen. “The team left nothing to chance during the ‘Dakar’ project, and
demonstrated the right approach to motorsport. I can learn a lot here and achieve a lot in
the future.”
As such, Volkswagen has assembled a driving squad that boasts both experience and
ambition: at 28, 27 and 23 years of age, Ogier, Latvala and Mikkelsen are not only among
the youngest, but also the fastest drivers on the rally scene.
Start of a new era for Volkswagen in motorsport
An XXL challenge: the searing heat of Central America on the one hand, the icy
temperatures of Scandinavia on the other – the FIA World Rally Championship not only
combines climatic extremes in one motorsport world championship, but also throws up a
diverse range of different surfaces, all of which must be taken into consideration when
developing a car for the World Rally Championship. The surfaces range from asphalt,
gravel, mud and scree to ice and snow. The series is held in high esteem: alongside
Formula One, the World Rally Championship is regarded as one of the most important
global series in automobile racing. Together with the Le Mans 24 Hours, the “Indy 500”
and the Monaco Grand Prix, the Rally Monte Carlo is one of the most famous motorsport
events in the world.
Strong partners: R GmbH, Red Bull, Castrol and Michelin define the image
Volkswagen R GmbH lends its name to the Polo R WRC. The company is responsible
within Volkswagen for the manufacture of exclusive, sporty cars, with an emphasis on
performance, fittings and quality. The brand has demonstrated its close relationship with
motorsport since 2010: R GmbH was also a title patron from the launch of the Volkswagen
Scirocco R-Cup. Next phase of a close partnership: the large Red Bull logos on the Polo R
WRC not only represent a sponsorship agreement, but an intense cooperation between
Volkswagen and the energy drink manufacturer. Volkswagen and Red Bull share the same
philosophy when it comes to the marketing and positioning of the sport – and have done
for several years: the bulls were also a prominent feature on three victorious Race
Touaregs during the “Dakar” project. Red Bull juniors “powered by Volkswagen” also line
up in various Formula 3 racing series. Castrol is another long-term partner of Volkswagen
in motorsport: after joint projects like the Rally Dakar, Nürburgring 24 Hours and Formula
3, the renowned British manufacturer of automobile lubricants is now also taking the next
big step together with Volkswagen. As Tyre Partner, Volkswagen Motorsport works closely
with Michelin – the French manufacturer has an enormous wealth of experience in the
World Rally Championship.
World premiere number two: the street version of the Polo R WRC
Together with the Polo R WRC (315 hp, 0–100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, 1,200 kg) for the
World Rally Championship, Volkswagen also presented the production counterpart and
namesake of the rally car in Monaco: the Polo R WRC Street. The civilian version of the
rally beast possesses an imposing exterior, with its white paint job, blue/grey stripes,
WRC-style bumpers and 18-inch alloy rims. Under the bonnet, the Polo R WRC boasts a
powerful drive train: the 2.0-litre TSI engine generates 162 kW (220 hp), produces 350 Nm
of torque and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds. The Polo R WRC Street
goes on sale on 11 December 2012, with the first cars delivered in September 2013.
FIA World Rally Championship – Introduction
2013 pace notes: Volkswagen presents its WRC line-up
Wolfsburg, 08 December 2012. 2 plus, right. Cut. 2013. Flat out. – The next chapter in the
successful history of Volkswagen Motorsport is culminating in a new, adrenalin-fuelled
challenge. This season, Volkswagen will make its debut in the FIA World Rally
Championship (WRC). Gravel, asphalt, ice and snow – the World Rally Championship is
the most demanding test of technology and driving ability in motorsport, and one the
Wolfsburg-based automobile manufacturer will face for the first time with the Polo R WRC
and a strong team at the Rally Monte Carlo from 15 to 20 January. About one month
before the start of the 2013 season, Volkswagen presents the fully-developed Polo R WRC
in Monaco – together with its production counterpart, the Polo R WRC of the same name.
“We are making our debut in the World Rally Championship with the Polo R WRC in 2013,
while our rivals already have two year’s experience with the regulations that came into
force in 2011,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “Volkswagen made a
conscious decision to take on this new challenge with a squad bolstered in specific areas.
WRC rallies are new territory for the team, while the Polo R WRC has basically been
redeveloped from scratch and features many innovative ideas. Our goal is to achieve
podium finishes in our first year.”
Strong driver/co-driver partnerships for the World Rally Championship
A select driving line-up: Sébastien Ogier – together with co-driver Julien Ingrassia (both
France) – and Jari-Matti Latvala and his co-driver Miikka Anttila (both Finland) will line up
with the Polo R WRC for Volkswagen in the 2013 World Rally Championship.
Ogier/Ingrassia and Latvala/Anttila start the season on equal footing. Both have seven
World Rally Championship victories to their name. As of the Rally Portugal, the fourth
round on the World Championship calendar, Volkswagen plans to hand outings in a third
Polo R WRC to its junior driver Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway, co-driver: Mikko Markkula,
Finland), who won the title in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) in 2011 and 2012.
As such, Volkswagen has assembled a squad of drivers that boasts both experience and
youth. At 28, 27 and 23 years of age, Ogier, Latvala and Mikkelsen are among the best
drivers of the rally scene.
Start of a new era for Volkswagen in motorsport
After three “Dakar” victories in a row (2009, 1010 and 2011), Volkswagen has turned to the
FIA World Rally Championship for a new challenge at the top of professional motorsport.
Production-based rally car instead of a thoroughbred off-road prototype – the global
commitment with the Polo R WRC represents a paradigm shift in Volkswagen’s alignment.
Despite this – or precisely because of this – Volkswagen has fallen back on a vast wealth
of experience in its preparations for the World Rally Championship. The know-how
acquired in terms of reliability and quality assurance from the “Dakar” project were
incorporated, as was the experience gained from the development of racing engines,
which were designed to be used by Volkswagen in Formula 3.
Diverse conditions pose sporting challenge
orrid heat of South America on the one hand, icy Scandinavian temperatures on the
other – the FIA World Rally Championship not only combines climatic extremes in one
motorsport series, but also features a diverse range of surfaces, which must be taken into
consideration when developing a car for the World Rally Championship. The scope of
surfaces encountered in the WRC ranges from gravel, mud and shingle to ice and snow.
The global aspect of the World Rally Championship also represents a complex challenge
when it comes to logistics. Here, Volkswagen can call on a wealth of experience gained in
previous top-level projects. The result is an efficient system: the supply of the team in the
World Rally Championship is divided into European and overseas rallies, with some
material and spare parts being taken on the round trip, while others are transported directly
to the required destination.
Strong partners: R GmbH, Red Bull, Castrol and Michelin define image
Volkswagen R GmbH lends its name to the Polo R WRC. The company is responsible
within Volkswagen for the manufacture of contemporary, sporty cars that push the
boundaries in terms of performance, equipment and quality. The brand has demonstrated
its close relationship with motorsport since 2010: R GmbH was also a title patron from the
launch of the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup.
Next phase of a close partnership: the large Red Bull logos on the Polo R WRC not only
represent a sponsorship agreement, but an intense cooperation between Volkswagen and
the energy drink manufacturer. Volkswagen and Red Bull share the same philosophy when
it comes to the marketing and positioning of the sport – and have done for several years:
the bulls were also a prominent feature on three victorious Race Touaregs during the
“Dakar” project. Red Bull juniors “powered by Volkswagen” also line up in various Formula
3 racing series.
Volkswagen also has Castrol and Michelin on board, with the two companies supporting
the World Rally Championship project from Wolfsburg. In 2013, the successful
partnerships will now take the next step together – the World Rally Championship.
World premiere number two: the road-going version of the Polo R WRC
As well as the Polo R WRC developed for the World Rally Championship, Volkswagen will
also present the production counterpart of the same name in Monaco: the Polo R WRC
Street. The civilian version of the rally beast possesses an imposing exterior, with its white
paint job, blue/grey stripes, WRC-style bumpers and 18-inch alloy rims. Under the bonnet,
the Polo R WRC boasts a powerful drive train: the 2.0-litre TSI engine generates 162 kW
(220 hp), produces 350 Nm of torque and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds.
The Polo R WRC Street goes on sale on 11th December 2012, with the first cars delivered
in September 2013.
FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) – Technology
Elite athlete with all-rounder qualities: the Polo R WRC
Wolfsburg, 08 December 2012. Developing a competitive car for the FIA World Rally
Championship (WRC) is an extremely complex task. One minute it is crouched low on
smooth asphalt, the next it is travelling sideways on ice and snow, then it is tearing over
rough gravel on tiptoes – then you have searing heat at one event and icy cold at the next.
No other type of international motorsport offers such a wide range of climatic conditions
and different surfaces. The cars in the World Rally Championship must overcome all these
obstacles. Take this fine example of the flexibility that must be demonstrated by the car’s
concept: there is a difference of about 100 mm between the ground clearance for gravel
and asphalt. The chassis and engine must be as efficient as physically possible in the
multitude of different conditions. Strong enough to take the strain, light enough to
guarantee the necessary performance.
Step by step: the continuous and systematic development of the Polo R WRC
The Volkswagen engineers applied a minimalist approach during the 17-month
development of the Polo R WRC, which was based on the production Polo, from which the
basic chassis was used. Every single component was subjected to numerous tests to
determine the dimensions and weight, and was continuously improved over the course of
the one and a half year development period. A strict schedule was adhered to, in order to
ensure the homologated Polo R WRC was ready to be launched in time for the 2013
season: after the launch of the concept car in May 2011, Volkswagen initially tested a socalled
0 car as a component carrier, which completed its roll-out in the vineyards around
Trier in autumn 2011. At the wheel of the concept car were Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg,
Member of the Board of Management responsible for development, and rally legend
Carlos Sainz.
The computer-assisted simulation of the first concept for the actual Polo R WRC began at
the same time. The Volkswagen engineers then produced their own very special
Christmas present: the first Polo R WRC was delivered to the foyer at Volkswagen
Motorsport on Christmas Eve 2011. The roll-out followed at the Volkswagen test track in
Ehra-Lessien in January 2012. Initial tests were also performed in Sweden and Spain.
From March onwards, the technicians performed constant modifications to the Polo R
WRC. This included work on issues such as chassis kinematics and the lightweight
construction of the car. The assembly of this improved version of the Polo R WRC, which
will line up at the 2013 Rally Monte Carlo,ultimately began in September 2012.
A love of detail: development steps “powered by Wolfsburg”
Every single component on the Polo R WRC underwent a series of fundamental processes
on its way to attaining the “ready to race” status. First up was the theory: the parametric
design process on CAD (computer aided design) systems is verified by computer-aided
simulations (e.g. CFD – computer fluid dynamics) and tested in practice in wind tunnels
and the Volkswagen Group’s altitude environmental test chamber. Only then did the
extensive test drives follow. The resources available in Wolfsburg play a key role in
designing and testing the chassis. Volkswagen’s Design department made a significant
contribution with valuable development work focussing on crash tests and safety. Tests on
the car in wet conditions were also made possible by the engineers at the headquarters in
Wolfsburg.
“Experience plays a major role when developing the chassis,” said François-Xavier
Demaison, Technical Project Manager WRC. “The know-how acquired in previous years
allows you to take short cuts without going through a long simulation and test phase that
would otherwise be necessary. This is the case, for example, when it comes to ground
clearance, kinematics, suspension or the configuration of the differential. For example, you
can spend many kilometres slowly adjusting the dimensions of the undercarriage until you
find the optimal configuration. It saves an awful lot of time if you already know how strong
you need to make a part.”
ult, under the guidance of Volkswagen Motorsport, is a high-tech jigsaw consisting
of about 3,000 pieces, of which 1,360 were designed from scratch for use in motorsport –
not including the engine and gearbox.
Nothing left to chance: state-of-the-art engine development
When designing the Polo R WRC’s engine, which consists of around 300 individual parts,
Volkswagen took a completely different approach to that used in the development of the
chassis. The result is the 315-hp, 1.6-litre engine. The automated interplay between CAD
design and simultaneous simulation using CFD processes led, among other things, to the
optimal design of the intake ports. Volkswagen took a strictly analytical approach to
decisions for or against various concepts within the strict regulations of the World Rally
Championship.
Over the course of the development process, the Engine Development department at
Volkswagen Motorsport tested all the options permitted by the regulations and simulated
their dependence on each other. “To a very large degree, the engine for the World Rally
Championship has been designed using electronically-aided development methods, in
order to ensure that the right decisions were made,” said Dr. Donatus Wichelhaus, Head of
Engine Development at Volkswagen Motorsport. “The cooperation of our colleagues in
Volkswagen’s Production and Research departments was invaluable here. They were of
great assistance, particularly in the automated development steps during the design phase
– such as those used for the intake geometry.”
Throughout the entire process, Dr. Wichelhaus’s team of engineers checked a wide range
of different solutions. Two different stroke/bore ratios, three different cylinder head
concepts, nine different intake port geometries, countless injector variants, and two
different valve diameters were checked, with the best solutions selected for the final
engine. This general approach resulted in a largely problem-free engine development,
which produced impressive test results right from the outset. The so-called anti-lag system
to reduce turbo lag received particular praise from the Volkswagen drivers during testing.
FIA World Rally Championship – Technical specifications
Volkswagen Polo R WRC
Engine
- Type Straight-four engine with turbocharger and intercooling,
- transversally mounted in front of the front axle
- Displacement 1,600 cc
- Power output 232 kW (315 hp) at 6,250 rpm
- Torque 425 Nm at 5,000 rpm
- Air restrictor 33 mm (FIA regulation)
- Engine control unit Bosch
Power transmission
- Gearbox Sequential, six-speed racing gear box, transversally mounted
- Final drive Permanent four-wheel drive with fixed drive between the front
- and rear axles, multi-plate limited-slip differentials, front and rear
- Clutch Hydraulically actuated double-disk sintered metal clutch
Chassis/suspension
- Front/rear McPherson struts, dampers from ZF
- Suspension travel approx. 180 mm on tarmac, approx. 275 mm on gravel
- Steering Servo-assisted rack and pinion steering
- Braking system Ventilated disc brakes (front Ø 355 mm on tarmac; front and
- rear Ø 300 mm on gravel) aluminium brake callipers (four
- callipers, front and rear)
- Wheels Size 8 x 18 inch for tarmac, 7 x 15 inch for gravel
- Tyres Michelin competition tyres
Chassis/bodywork
- Build FIA-conformant reinforced steel body
- Dimensions and weight
- Length/width/height 3,976/1,820/1,356 mm
- Track width 1,610 mm
- Wheelbase 2,480 mm
- Minimum weight 1,200 kg
Performance
- Acceleration 0–100 km/h in approx. 3.9 seconds
- Top speed Up to approx. 200 km/h (depending on gear ratio)
FIA World Rally Championship – The series
The World Rally Championship: the pinnacle of rallying
Wolfsburg, 08 December 2012. Europe, Central America, South America and Australia –
the FIA World Rally Championship is exactly that: a true world championship. Alongside
Formula One, the World Rally Championship is regarded as one of the most prestigious
and popular racing series run by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) in the
world.
Also known as the WRC (World Rally Championship) since 1997, the racing series
founded in 1973 lives up to its title as the pinnacle of rallying. It is here that this motorsport
genre’s powerful, 300-hp cars go head to head, and where the most talented drivers and
co-drivers assemble year in, year out to determine just who is the number one in their
business. Nowhere are the standards and levels of prestige higher.
Unlike in circuit racing, the teams in the World Rally Championship mut come to terms
with a diverse range of surfaces: an ever-changing combination of asphalt, snow, ice, mud
and gravel. Both the driver and co-driver, and the material at their disposal, are put to the
ultimate test – whether in the icy cold of Sweden or the scorching heat of Mexico and
Greece.
Manufacturers have been contesting World Rally Championships every year since 1973,
while the Drivers’ Championship first came into existence in 1979. Over the years, the
formats of the various rallies have evolved into what is now a predominantly standard
format. A WRC event now consists of between 15 and 25 special stages, which are held
over three to five days. As a rule, the total distance covered at a World Championship rally
is well over 1,000 kilometres, whereby the teams are timed over at least 300 of these. The
remaining distance consists of the transport stages between the individual special stages.
The points system: as in Formula One – plus bonus points for the “Power Stage”
The driver with the lowest accumulated time over the course of all the special stages is the
winner, and is awarded 25 points towards the World Championship. As in Formula One,
the drivers from runner-up down to tenth place receive points in the following format: 18,
15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 point. The three fastest teams on the so-called “Power Stage” –
a particularly spectacular stage – also receive an additional 3, 2 and 1 World
Championship point. The driver with the most points come the end of the season is
crowned World Champion. The same format applies to the co-driver and manufacturer
competitions.
The WRC has class – actually, it has eleven classes Cars in up to eleven different classes compete in the World Championship, with World Championship titles awarded in four categories:
The World Rally Cars (WRC), including the new Polo R WRC, represent the elite of the
World Rally Championship. They have the most powerful engines and have been the
subject of the most extensive racing-based developments compared to their production
counterparts.
WRC-2 also falls into this class. This will replace the previous SWRC (S2000) class as of
2013. This category of car also boasts thoroughbred rally cars, but they have significantly
less power than the World Rally Cars. Four-wheel drive is permitted here, but the cars
must be run far more economically than the WRC cars. WRC-2 cars are mainly reserved
for private teams in the World Rally Championship.
Even more similar to production cars than the WRC-2 cars are those vehicles in the newly
introduced WRC-3 category, which takes the place of the previous Production Car World
Rally Championship (PWRC) in 2013. Cars with two-wheel drive are also represented
here.
The FIA Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC), which went under the name of the
WRC Academy Cup for the last two years, makes its comeback in 2013. The drivers in this
junior category must be 25 or under and compete against each other in standard R2-class
vehicles. Incidentally, the Volkswagen Motorsport team has a former World Junior
Champion in its ranks, in the form of Sébastien Ogier. The Frenchman won the world
championship for rookies in 2008, alongside his co-driver Julien Ingrassia.
From the “Monte”, to Sardinia, and on to Wales – the 2013 calendar
Between January and November, the World Rally Championship will combine 13 of the
most iconic and demanding rallies in the world. It all gets underway with the oldest rally in
the world: the legendary Rally Monte Carlo, which has been held in the French Maritime
Alps around the principality of Monaco since 1911. Volkswagen Motorsport’s home event
is the Rally Germany in August, at which the field will start their 1,200-kilometre tour of the
countryside around Trier.
2013 FIA World Rally Championship calendar
17/01–20/01 Rally Monte Carlo
08/02–10/02 Rally Sweden
08/03–10/03 Rally Mexico
12/04–14/04 Rally Portugal
03/05–05/05 Rally Argentina
31/05–02/06 Rally Greece
21/06–23/06 Rally Italy
02/08–04/08 Rally Finland
23/08–25/08 Rally Germany*
13/09–15/09 Rally Australia
04/10–06/10 Rally France
25/10–27/10 Rally Spain
15/11–17/11 Rally Great Britain
* Subject to FIA World Motor Sport Council approval.
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