Salomon Zugspitz UltratrailVolkswagen rally drivers Mikkelsen and Jæger complete 82 kilometres of the ultra-run
Packed schedule, part one: Andreas Mikkelsen and his co-driver Anders Jæger (N/N) took part in the Marathon Zugspitz Ultratrail, sponsored by Volkswagen Motorsport supplier Salomon. The two Norwegians, who are currently third overall in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), set off on Saturday to tackle the ultra-distance of 101.6 kilometres – in one go – around the Zugspitze, the highest peak in Germany. Mikkelsen and Jæger started out early in the morning from Grainau on a sodden and muddy route that would see them climb 5,412 kilometres. “That was a real challenge,” says Mikkelsen. “Unfortunately, Anders and I had to stop after 82 kilometres. Despite this, I am proud that we made it so far in these weather conditions. Although we did not manage the full 101.6 kilometres, the scenery was incredible. The first few kilometres were particularly great, when we ran with the front-runners.” For Mikkelsen and Jæger, the marathon was an extreme form of preparation – after all, they ran more than the 59.60 kilometres of special stage that await them and the Volkswagen Polo R WRC on the final day of the Rally Poland (30 June to 3 July). “I will now take a break from running,” says Mikkelsen.
FIA World Rally ChampionshipLatvala starts in Goodwood, the Ogier family enjoys spending time with its new member
Packed schedule, part two: Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN) has a busy week ahead of him. On Thursday, he and co-driver Miikka Anttila (FIN) will be in Poland to test the Polo R WRC for the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). In the evening, they head to Great Britain, where Latvala will be in action at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (25 to 26 June). Among other things, he will take VIP guests for rides in the Polo R WRC on the hillclimb route, in front of the grounds of Goodwood House near Chichester, in the south of England. Volkswagen representative Hans-Joachim Stuck (D) will also be behind the wheel at the cult event. On the 40th birthday of the GTI, he will drive the legendary 1976 Golf I GTI and the Golf GTI Clubsport S – with 310 hp, the strongest production GTI of all time. In contrast, Latvala’s team-mate Sébastien Ogier (F) is taking it easy and will not take part in either the test in Poland or the festival. He has a good excuse: the three-time world rally champion and his wife Andrea Kaiser-Ogier have become parents for the first time. Their son, Tim, was born on 13th June. He weighed 3,100 grams and was a proud 50 centimetres tall. “The little guy is keeping us on our toes,” says Ogier. “We would like to say a big thank you to the many people who have congratulated us! Andrea and I are overjoyed and are enjoying every moment with our son.” As well as Ogier’s team-mates and the entire Volkswagen team, many other drivers and WRC teams have also sent their congratulations to the new parents.
FIA World Rally ChampionshipFast and spectacular: Polo R WRC for 2017 impresses in special livery at test
A visual highlight, and much more beyond: the Polo R WRC for 2017 was successfully put through its paces in a spectacular black and white “zebra” design. Dieter Depping (D), test and development driver for Volkswagen Motorsport, completed about 150 kilometres of tests with the car for next season’s FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) on the military training ground in Baumholder (D). The two-time German rally championship, who was involved in the development of the first generation of Polo R WRC, worked through the test programme without any problems. Depping – like test driver Marcus Grönholm (FIN) and regular drivers Sébastien Ogier (F), Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN) and Andreas Mikkelsen (N) – is full of praise for the safe way that the 2017 rally Polo handles. The World Rally Cars for the new era will not only be 55 millimetres wider and 25 kilograms lighter than their predecessors, but will also feature larger diffusors, front splitters and rear wings thanks to the greater freedom afforded in the aerodynamic design of the car. In accordance with regulations, the 1.6-litre turbo engine in the Polo R WRC will still have an air restrictor, but the performance will increase from 318 to 380 hp. An electronic, centre differential improves traction.
Global RallycrossOne-two for Foust and Speed in Daytona
Tanner Foust and Scott Speed (both USA) completed a one-two at the third race weekend of the Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) in Daytona (USA). Foust, at the wheel of the Andretti Autosport Volkswagen Beetle GRC, crossed the finish line first in Sunday’s final, 1.9 seconds ahead of Speed. In the opening race on Saturday – the event in Daytona was another double-header – Foust and Speed came home seventh and ninth. However, the American duo bounced back emphatically on Sunday. “It’s just epic to come back one and two and it will be a well-deserved bit of champagne after this,” says Foust. “I’m really impressed by the Beetle GRC that this whole thing stayed together, because it took some hard hits.” Foust now has 205 points to his name and continues to top the overall standings. His lead over Steve Arpin (Ford/201) is now four points. Speed is fourth with 178 points. The next GRC weekend will take place from 2 to 3 July at the military base in MCAS New River, near Jacksonville (USA).
TCR International SeriesFightback in the Börde: Sixth place for Comini in Oschersleben
Top-ten results for the Volkswagen Golf TCR at the sixth race weekend of the TCR International Series: Stefano Comini (CH) of customer team Leopard Racing produced a magnificent fightback from the back of the field to finish as the best-placed Volkswagen driver in sixth place in race two in Oschersleben (D). Comini had collided with another car and dropped back through the field on the opening lap. Jean-Karl Vernay (F) was also involved in a crash on lap one. However, unlike his team-mate Comini, he was unable to continue and was forced to retire. Niklas Mackschin (D) of the Engstler Motorsport team was eighth, while team-mate Gary Sheehan (USA) came home eleventh. Victory went to Pepe Oriola (E, Seat). Race one in the Magdeburger Börde region of Germany saw Vernay finish sixth, making him the best-placed Volkswagen driver. Comini was once again involved in a collision on the opening lap, before crashing out on lap twelve. Davit Kajaia (GE) of the Engstler Motorsport team was eighth, Mackschin ninth. The race was won by Mat'o Homola (SK, Seat). Comini is fourth in the overall standings with 128 points. Vernay lies fifth with 115 points to his name. The Sochi Autodrom Grand Prix circuit in Russia hosts the next race weekend from 1 to 3 July.
TCR GermanyDenied victory on the final lap: third place for Zimmerman in Oschersleben
Podium still not enough: the third race weekend of the TCR Germany series saw Tim Zimmerman (D) finish third in his Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR in race two in Oschersleben (D). It looked for a long time as though the German from the Engstler Motorsport team was set for his first victory in the new touring car series, which is run by the ADAC automobile club. Zimmermann had led the race, but was overtaken on the final lap by eventual winner Josh Files (GB, Seat) and Bas Schouten (NL, Seat). “I did not expect Files to be on my inside as we came out of the chicane,” says Zimmermann. “But all of a sudden there he was on the inside, and then through he went. That was definitely my mistake. I am really disappointed.” Benjamin Leuchter (D) endured an unfortunate weekend. The German from the Racing One team fought back from 15th to fifth, before suffering a puncture on the final lap and dropping back to 14th. Leuchter started race one from last but one on the grid, but came through to finish as the best-placed Volkswagen driver in eighth. Victory in the opening race went to Dominik Fugel (D, Honda). Leuchter remains fifth overall with 62 points to his name and is still the best-placed driver of a Golf GTI TCR. Zimmermann lies seventh with 53 points. The next race weekend takes place from 22 to 24 July at the Red Bull Ring (A).
Volkswagen Vento Cup IndiaDodhiwala and Pal Singh win at season-opener
Ishaan Dodhiwala and Karminder Pal Singh (both IND) won the first two races of the season in the Volkswagen Vento Cup India in Coimbatore. Dodhiwala led from start to finish to take victory in race one at the circuit in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This was his maiden win in the Vento-Cup. In hot and humid conditions, with temperatures above 30 degrees, he held off the challenge of Pal Singh and Keith Desouza. Pal Singh was to have his moment in race two. Heavy rain transformed the track into an ice rink. Singh made the most of the conditions to come home ahead of Dodhiwala and Aditya Pawar in second and third place respectively. Chennai (IND) hosts the next round of the Volkswagen Vento Cup India from 15 to 17 July.
