Ogier second, Latvala third – Volkswagen consolidates WRC lead.
Places two and three behind the record-setting world champion – During the Rally Argentina Volkswagen consolidated its lead in the manufacturers classification of the FIA World Rally Championship. Volkswagen’s French duo of Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia extended their leads in the drivers’ and co-drivers’ championship respectively – with second place on the event behind compatriot Sébastien Loeb in the Citroën. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila (Finland), also driving a Volkswagen Polo R WRC, fought their way through to third on the final day of the Rally Argentina. Their team-mates Andreas Mikkelsen and Mikko Markkula impressed on their second outing for Volkswagen with their final placing of eighth, plus some top times set on the total of 14 special stages.
Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup
Season opener 2013: Larini Show in Hockenheim
The action-packed season opener of the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup was dominated by racing legend Nicola Larini’s performances. The 49-year-old Italian became only the second Legend winner in the history of the world’s most environmentally friendly one-make series – the previous such winner having been Markus Winkelhock at the Lausitzring in 2012. Larini, the 1993 DTM champion, not only set fastest time in practice for the first of nine races in the series, but also captured pole position on a wet track during his dominant weekend. Second place went to Denmark’s Kasper H. Jensen, who also assumed the lead in the overall classification as Legends are not eligible for points. Danish lady Michele Gatting finished third after a feisty showing, becoming the first woman in the history of the Scirocco R-Cups to score a podium place.
FIA European Formula 3 Championship
Strong weekend for Volkswagen at the Hockenheimring
Beaming smiles on the faces of the Volkswagen representatives after a successful FIA European Formula 3 Championship race weekend at the Hockenheimring. The highlight was Russian driver Daniil Kvyat of Team Carlin’s first podium place with third place in the third race, while Sven Müller impressed with his consistent performance after the German, driving for Team ma-con, placed in the top ten in all three races. His personal highlight: fourth place in the first race with his Dallara F312 powered by Volkswagen’s 210 PS racing engine. In the overall classification Britain’s Harry Tincknell is the best-placed Volkswagen representative in sixth place with 73 points. The next round of the series takes place in Brands Hatch on 18 and 19 May.
ATS Formula 3 Cup
Kirchhöfer wins in all weather conditions
Whether dry or drizzle: Marvin Kirchhöfer had the measure of the opposition in the ATS Formula 3 Cup at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. In the first race the 19-year-old from Leipzig crossed the line a whopping 22 seconds ahead of US American Gustavo Menezes. The second race, held in dry conditions, saw Kirchhöfer continue in his winning way, beating Briton Emil Bernstorff into second place. Kirchhöfer now leads the overall classification with 62 points to the 46 of team-mate Artem Markelov (Russia) and Swede John Bryant-Meisner (30).
ADAC Formula Masters
Picariello dominates in Oschersleben
Alessio Picariello dominated the season opener of the ADAC Formula Masters at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. After scoring a double pole, the 19-year-old Belgian last weekend won two of the three races scheduled for the Volkswagen-supported development formula. In the first race he defended his lead against team-mate Hendrik Grapp; in the second he kept Jason Kremer at bay. The Sunday saw Indy Dontje hold off the opposition to win the action-packed final race. Picariello leads the overall classification with 57 points to the 37 of Nicolas Beer, who placed second on Sunday, and Indy Dontje’s 33.
Volkswagen Castrol Cup Poland
Lisowski in a class of his own at the Slovakiaring
Mateusz Lisowski mastered the second weekend of the Volkswagen Castrol Cup Poland at the Slovakiaring to secure victory in both races after the Pole claimed pole position during qualifying. In both races the 22-year-old beat his biggest opponent Jan Kisiel to the line despite having started the second race from eighth place as per the regulations. Lisowski now has a comfortable lead over Kisiel in the championship classification.
South African Rally Championship
Lategan/White in Mpumalanga finish fourth
The duo of Henk Lategan and Barry White finished fourth for the Volkswagen Sasol Racing Team in the second round of the South African Rally Championship. The event, held in Mpumalanga, was hit by strong rainfall, causing two of the 15 special stages to be cancelled and forcing extremely tough conditions on the drivers, who fought to keep their cars on the road. Thus there were a host of incidents and numerous damaged tyres. Lategan, just 18 years of age, even won the last special stage with his Polo, a remarkable achievement given the adverse conditions. The next round of the South African Rally Championship takes place on 31 May/1 June.