Double podium for Volkswagen at the Rally Italy on Sardinia
Second place for Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), third for Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (F/F): Volkswagen scored valuable points in both the Drivers‘ and Manufacturers‘ Championship in the FIA World Rally Championship, courtesy of a double podium at the Rally Italy. World champions Ogier/Ingrassia and the Finnish Volkswagen duo also finished first and third on the Power Stage in Italy to pick up bonus points towards the world championship. With Poland set to host the next round of the world championship from 30 June to 03 July, Ogier leads the Drivers‘ Championship with 132 points, followed by Spain’s Dani Sordo (68 points, Hyundai) and Volkswagen team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen (67 points) from Norway. Latvala is currently sixth with 56 points. Volkswagen tops the standings in the Manufacturers‘ Championship with 178 points, ahead of Hyundai (108) and Ford (90).
FIA World Rallycross ChampionshipKristoffersson narrowly misses out on the final in Norway
The fifth round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship saw Johan Kristofferson (S) narrowly miss out on a place in the final in the Norwegian town of Hell. Kristoffersson, at the wheel of the Volkswagen Polo RX Supercar, fell back to fourth place on the very last lap of the semi-final. Up to that point, the Volkswagen RX Sweden driver had been running second, but still had to take his “Joker Lap”. Only the first three in each of the semi-finals are guaranteed a place in the final. Despite what was generally a positive race weekend, Kristoffersson lost his lead in the world championship and now lies fourth with 83 points. Anton Marklund, in the second Volkswagen Polo RX Supercar, is 13th overall with 34 points, having failed to make it into the semi-final. The next round is a home outing for the Volkswagen RX Sweden team in Höljes (S) from 01 to 03 July.TCR Asia
One-two for the Golf GTI TCR in Thailand
Andy Yan (CN) and the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR enjoyed a perfect weekend in the TCR Asia. The driver from team Engstler Motorsport won both races at the second race weekend of the season. Kevin Tse (CN) rounded off an outstanding result for the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR. The driver from the Work Motorsport team finished runner-up in the closing race at the Buriram United International Circuit in Thailand to complete a one-two for the Golf GTI TCR. Tse climbed into a tie for second place in the overall standings on 52 points on the back of this fine result. The man who dominated the weekend is also the championship leader. A perfect haul of 55 points took Yan’s tally for the season to 94. Team Engstler Motorsport also holds a commanding lead with 133 points to its name after two race weekends. The Shanghai International Circuit (CN) will host the next round of races from 19 to 21 August.
Volkswagen Racing Cup UK
Thrilling duel: House holds off Thompson
Phil House (GB) defeated Bobby Thompson (GB) in a thrilling battle to win race six of the Volkswagen Racing Cup UK. House, who started the race from pole position in his Scirocco, spent much of the race fending off attacks from House in his Polo. In the end, just 0.75 seconds separated the two cars after a captivating race, which was made all the more dramatic by heavy rain. “The track conditions were extremely tricky. They were perhaps the worst opening laps of my career. It was crazy how much water was on the track. Bobby (Thompson) was extremely quick. He was on my heels the entire time, but it was a clean and fair race,” said House. The second race of the weekend fell victim to the poor weather. Rain made it impossible to start the race, making House the weekend’s only winner. Thompson now leads House by just six points in the overall standings.
Volkswagen Fun Cup UK
Deott and Roberts claim first win of the season in Snetterton
Farquini Deott (I) and Graham Roberts (GB) claimed their first win of the season in the Volkswagen Fun Cup UK in Snetterton. The Italian/British duo from the JPR-UVio team overcame the ever-changing track conditions to cross the finish line ahead of a strong field after six hours of racing at the iconic, 3.123-kilometre circuit in the southwest of England. The Volkswagen Fun Cup UK now takes a short summer break before it returns with round four – a four-hour race in the Mecca of British motorsport, Silverstone.
Volkswagen Fun Cup France
Team TFE wins the twelve-hour race in Magny-Cours
Eight hours poised to pounce eventually paid off for the TFE team. The fifth race weekend of the Volkswagen Fun Cup France saw the French quartet of Clément and Laurent Dub, Paul Corduan and Gregory Sevais win the twelve-hour race in Magny-Cours (F). With the weather causing unsettled track conditions at the ex-Formula One circuit, the TFE team spent two thirds of the race hot on the heels of the leading car. They then pounced to take victory when the leaders hit a slower car. Second place went to the Forzamargo team, while DNS Racing finished third. A real marathon awaits the Fun Cup teams at the next round of the season, in the form of the 25 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (B) from 07 to 10 July.
Next up:
18/06–19/06/2016Global Rallycross, Daytona Beach (USA)
17/06–19/06/2016TCR International Series, Oschersleben (D)
17/06–19/06/2016TCR Germany, Oschersleben (D)
17/06–19/06/2016Volkswagen Vento Cup India, Coimbatore (IND)
18/06–19/06/2016British Touring Car Championship, Croft Circuit (GB)
