MOTORSPORT
VW Confirms 2013 WRC Campaign
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n the eve of Rally d’Italia Sardegna, car manufacturing giant Volkswagen has confirmed that it will enter the World Rally Championship in 2013, competing with the Polo R WRC. The German outfit will contest the full 2013 season, but it won’t compete competitively before then. In order to give the team’s staff experience of competing on rallies, it will enter events this year with Skoda Fabia S2000s (VW being Skoda’s parent brand), although specific rallies and drivers have not yet been announced. With Citroen, Ford and MINI currently participating in the WRC, the number of manufacturers contesting the series in 2013 will rise to four. Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the VW Board, said that the new regulations inspired VW to commit to a WRC programme. “Intelligent downsizing is important to us,” he said, which reflects both Volkswagen’s approach to performance motoring with the road-going Polo R and the regulation 1.6-litre turbo engines of the new-look WRC. On the subject of drivers, Hackenberg denied rumours linking 2003 World Champion Petter Solberg with the team: “None of the drivers who have been rumoured [to have been signed] have been approached.” Luca de Meo, VW’s Director of Marketing, explains that the global nature of the WRC fits with the brand’s ambitions for the Polo road car. “We have ambitions
of making the Polo the best small car in the world. The Polo is a global product and the WRC is a global platform; 13 rallies, four continents, broadcast in 80 countries and 500 million enthusiasts worldwide. This is the first reason for entering. “The second reason is that rallying is real. The [drivers] are accessible and fans can connect the rally car to the road car. “Thirdly, it’s a chance to promote the R brand, which is sporty and exclusive. Fourthly, there are lots of motorsport freaks in Volkswagen!” On the eve of Rally d’Italia Sardegna, car manufacturing giant Volkswagen has confirmed that it will enter the World Rally Championship in 2013, competing with the Polo R WRC. The German outfit will contest the full 2013 season, but it won’t compete competitively before then. In order to give the team’s staff experience of competing on rallies, it will enter events this year with Skoda Fabia S2000s (VW being Skoda’s parent brand), although specific rallies and drivers have not yet been announced.
46 June 2011
F1 Spanish GP Race
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ebastian Vettel won the fifth round of the Formula 1 season at Barcelona, Spain. Fernando Alonso made the perfect start at the Spanish Grand Prix and moved from fourth on the grid to first before turning into turn 1. The Spanish driver used a combination of bravery and KERS to dive down the dirty side of the track and overtake both Red Bull drivers. The first pit stops of the race started on lap 9 with some of the slower cars coming in to change tyres. Sebastian Vettel came in on lap 10 to change to soft tyres, and then again on lap 19 to change to a brand new set of soft ‘Option’ tyres. Fernando Alonso then came in on lap 21 but came out behind Sebastian Vettel, who made the ‘undercut’ move work so well for him. Lewis Hamilton came out in front of Alonso after his stop, and started to slowly reel in Vettel. Mark Webber who had dropped down from pole position to fourth, battled with Fernando Alonso for third place and they nearly came together down the pit straight, where Alonso came out in front. Heikki Kovalainen slammed into the tyre wall at turn 9 on lap 52, causing a yellow flag zone, where all drivers had to slow down, although the accident didn’t involve the safety car. Ferrari Driver Felipe Massa also retired from the race after running of the track and into the gravel trap. Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel battled it out at the front of the race, with Vettel holding the race lead until the end of the race. Jenson Button came in third, with Mark Webber in fourth, and Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso fifth. Mercedes GP drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg came in sixth and seventh. Renault driver Nick Heidfeld came in eighth after starting at the back of the grid, with both Sauber drivers, Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi taking ninth and tenth place.