Foust starts new season with a brace of wins
The Andretti Autosport team enjoyed a perfect start to the season in the Global Rallycross Championship (GRC). Tanner Foust (USA) won twice in the Volkswagen Beetle GRC at the opening round in Phoenix (USA). The doubleheader saw two GRC races held on the same weekend. In Saturday’s opening race, Foust came through to defeat Patrik Sandell (S/Ford) and compatriot Brian Deegan (Ford) in the final. Foust’s team-mate Scott Speed (USA) was fifth. The second race, on Sunday, went even better for the Andretti guys: Foust again crossed the finish line first, but was this time followed by Speed in second place to present the team with a one-two. Third place went to Sweden’s Sebastian Eriksson (Ford). “That was a perfect start to the season for Volkswagen,” said two-time GRC champion Foust. “However, we will be racing on very different tracks this season, some of which will play to the opposition’s strengths. It is going to be really exciting.” Foust tops the overall standings with 125 points, followed by Speed (100) and Sandell (94). The next round of the Global Rallycross Championship takes places on 18 June in Dallas, Texas.
FIA World Rally ChampionshipVolkswagen scores valuable points in title race
The three Volkswagen duos of Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Antilla (Fin/Fin) and Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jæger (N/N) scored valuable points at round five of the World Rally Championship (WRC) in Portugal, as they look to defend their titles in the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships. World champion Sébastien Ogier finished third to extend his lead at the top of the championship, as his closest rival going into the rally, Hayden Paddon (Hyundai), crashed out. The Frenchman’s team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen has now emerged as Ogier’s closest rival. Together with co-driver Anders Jaeger, the Norwegian produced a stunning fightback to clinch second place. This result catapults Mikkelsen into second place in the world championship. Jari-Matti Latvala finished sixth to complete a strong team result for Volkswagen, although the Finn had to guide his Volkswagen Polo R WRC through the demanding routes around Porto without power steering on Friday afternoon. Victory at the Rally Portugal went to Citroën’s Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (GB/IRL).
TCR International SeriesVictory for the Golf GTI TCR: Comini triumphs in San Marino
The Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR remains on course for success. After the triple success in Spa three weeks ago, the next success for the 330-hp racing car from Wolfsburg followed at round four of the TCR International Series in Imola (RSM). Stefano Comini (CH) of Volkswagen customer team Leopard Racing won the first of two races at the former Formula One circuit. And there was more good news in Italy: third place went to Davit Kajaia (GE) of the Volkswagen customer team Engstler, also with the Golf GTI TCR. “It was a perfect race. Victory is important for me, in terms of the championship. I won the title last year, and hope I can repeat that feat this year,” said an overjoyed Comini, who finished third in race two to score more valuable points in the race for the title. The Swiss driver picked up 40 points in total at the weekend. This was enough to see him climb into second place overall, behind Pepe Oriola (SEAT). The second-best driver in the championship for a Volkswagen customer team is Jean-Karl Vernay (F) of Leopard Racing. The Frenchman finished fourth in race two in Imola.
FIA Formula 3 European ChampionshipVolkswagen youngster Kari claims next podium finish
Niko Kari (FIN) claimed the next podium finish for Volkswagen customer team Motopark Racing at round four of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in Spielberg (A). Only Lance Stroll (CDN) and George Russell (GB) finished ahead of the Finnish driver in the second of three races. Kari’s second podium of the season earned him valuable points in the battle to end the year as the number one rookie. He is currently fifth in this competition with 125 points. Team-mate Joel Eriksson (S) is even better placed in the race for the junior title. The young Swede picked up 30 points over the course of the weekend and is currently second overall in the rookie standings. The weekend at the Red Bull Ring was overshadowed by a serious crash in the opening race, which involved two drivers from the Carlin Volkswagen customer team, Zhi Cong Li (CDN) and Ryan Tveter (USA). Both drivers were taken to a nearby hospital and the race was subsequently abandoned. Victory went to Callum Ilot (GB). Sunday’s final race was once again won by Stroll, who also leads the championship. The best-placed driver for a Volkswagen customer team is Eriksson (76) in seventh. One place and two points behind Eriksson is Sérgio Sette Câmara (BRA, Motopark), who finished twelfth, eighth and fourth in Austria.
TCR BeneluxImpressive debut from Belgian duo De Leval/Van der Poele
The Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR narrowly missed out on a place on the podium more than once at the opening round of the TCR Benelux series in Spa, Belgium. Belgian duo Romain de Leval/Alexis Van de Poele of Volkswagen customer team Delahaye finished fourth in three of the four races. In doing so, they scored valuable points towards the overall standings. After the first race weekend of the season, the two Belgians are third in the championship with 66 points and lead the junior class. Kevin Balthazar/Fred Bouvy (B/B) of Volkswagen customer team Milo Racing also impressed. They finished fifth in two races and sixth in one. This puts them seventh overall with 28 points. The championship leaders after the opening round are Stéphane Lemeret/Tiago Monteiro (B/P) in their Honda Civic, who won race one. The remaining victories at the former Formula One circuit went to brothers Edouard and Guillaume Mondron (B) in a SEAT Leon, and Renaud Kuppens (B), who won races three and four in a Honda Civic.
Volkswagen Fun Cup FranceBaticonfort wins eight-hour race in Le Mans
Victory clinched on the final lap: Defi Baticonfort was successful on the fourth race weekend of the Volkswagen Fun Cup France. The team, with drivers Pascal Amant/Julien Menart/Julien Suzanna (all F), won the eight-hour race in Le Mans (F) with an overtaking manoeuvre on the final lap, which saw them leapfrog ahead of Zosh Groupe Dirob and its drivers Didier Robin/Arnold Robin/Maxime Robin/Jean René Defournoux (all F). The AC Motorsport team of Arnaud Quédé/Stéphane Perrin/Martin Leburton (all F) came home third. An exciting and eventful race, with eight safety car phases, developed in wet conditions on the famous racetrack in the northwest of France. This was the second victory in a row for Defi Baticonfort: the team was also successful at the last race weekend in Dijon-Prenois, which was also a wet affair. The next round will take place on 11 June in Magny-Cours.
Next up:
27/05–29/05/2016FIA World Rallycross Championship, Lydden Hill (GB) 26/05–29/05/201624 Hours Nürburgring, Nürburgring (D) 28/05–30/05/2016Volkswagen Racing Cup UK, Oulton Park (GB) 28/05–30/05/2016Volkswagen Fun Cup Belgium, Zandvoort (NL)
