FIA World Rally ChampionshipWRC win number two for Mikkelsen
Andreas Mikkelsen (N) claimed the second rally victory of his career in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). The Norwegian and co-driver Anders Jæger (N) won round seven of the season, the Rally Poland, taking full advantage of a puncture suffered on the penultimate stage by Ott Tänak (EST, Ford), who was leading at the time. This win sees Mikkelsen climb into second place in the Drivers’ Championship. Team-mates Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (F/F) continue to top the overall standings. The French duo was once again hampered by having to open the route in Poland, and had to settle for sixth place. However, the three-time world champions did show just what they are capable of on the closing Power Stage, setting the fastest time and picking up three bonus points towards the Drivers’ Championship. The third Volkswagen duo, Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), finished fifth.
Global RallycrossVolkswagen driver Speed claims first win of the season
Scott Speed (USA) won round seven of the Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC). The reigning champion from the Andretti Autosport team claimed his first victory of the 2016 season at the MCAS New River military base, near Jacksonville (USA), on Saturday. Speed had only made it into the final through the “Last Chance Qualifier”. However, he made a fantastic start with the Volkswagen Beetle GRC, laying the foundation for his eventual victory. Speed’s team-mate Tanner Foust (USA) was eighth. Both Speed and Foust were among the top ten drivers to make it into the final round of the second event at this double-header. However, they both lost ground on the opening lap. Foust came home third, Speed fourth. Victory went to Patrik Sandell (S, Ford).
FIA World Rallycross ChampionshipBest result of the season for Volkswagen RX Sweden at their home race
Volkswagen RX Sweden missed out on a podium at their home round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship (WRX) in Höljes (S). However, the team did achieve its best result of the current season. After a strong start, Johan Kristoffersson (S), at the wheel of the 600-hp Volkswagen Polo RX Supercar, led going into day two and qualified for the final as one of the top six drivers. He was joined in the final by team-mate Anton Marklund (S), who caught the eye with the fastest time on Saturday and was in contention for a place on the podium for much of the final. In the end, he had to settle for fourth place, crossing the finish line one place ahead of Kristoffersson. After six of the season’s twelve WRX events, Kristofferson (106 points) is currently fifth in the overall standings. Marklund is 13th with 46 points.
TCR International SeriesVictory for Comini, podium for Vernay
Stefano Comini (CH) claimed another victory at the seventh race weekend of the TCR International Series in Sochi (RUS). This latest win puts him just one point behind leader Pep Oriola (E, Seat) in the overall standings. The Leopard Racing driver, at the wheel of the 330-hp Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR, came home ahead of Oriola and Gianni Morbidelli (I/Honda) in race one at the Grand Prix circuit on the Black Sea. Comini’s team-mate Jean-Karl Vernay (F) crossed the finish line in fifth place. Comini came home fifth in race two, while Vernay finished second to claim another podium. Victory went to local favourite Mikhail Grachev (Honda). Oriola tops the overall standings with 168 points, ahead of Comini (167) and James Nash (161/GB). Vernay is fourth with 146 points.
Next up:
08/07–10/07/2016TCR Portugal, Portimão (P)
09/07/2016GTI Challenge, Killarney Raceway (ZA)
08/07–09/07/2016Volkswagen Polo Cup Russia, Pskov (RUS)
09/07/2016Engen Volkswagen Cup South Africa, East London (ZA)
08/07–09/07/2016Volkswagen Racing Cup UK, Spa-Francorchamps (B)
07/07–10/07/2016Volkswagen Fun Cup Europe, Spa-Francorchamps (B), Spa 25 Hours
