Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia joined in the Rally RACC Catalunya a brilliant victory, which resulted in their fourth title of pilots and co-pilots. All in all, the Spanish appointment left Volkswagen Motorsport with honey on the lips since the problems of Jari-Matti Latvala and the good performance of the Hyundai caused the German firm is not added to the loot of points required to close in your favor the constructors ‘ championship. For this reason, the formation travels to the Rally of Wales with the firm intention to close its twelfth title before you start a new era in 2017.
Sébastien Ogier has had a long career in the Rally of Wales from that in 2008 competed for the first time at this appointment with a Citroën C4 WRC. However, it has not been until his time at Volkswagen when the French has accumulated three consecutive wins in the forests of Wales: “I Am very happy to travel to the Rally of Wales GB as the world champion. In spite of this, we are just as motivated, because we also want to defend the trademark title for Volkswagen. The Rally of Great Britain is one of the rallies with more history, even if it cost me my time to find my way there”.
In this line, Ogier said: “The learning process here takes more time than normal. I have won here on three occasions and after all that I have spent in Wales, I can say that I feel at home. The weather is an important factor since if there is rain we can find paths wet and misty, while if the rain doesn’t appear the rally is very different. The hobby here is a complete madness, as thousands of spectators encourage us every year despite the bad weather. I Am particularly anxious to compete allí“.
Jari-Matti Latvala has won the british isles out
tail. He made his debut in the Rally of Great Britain in 2002, and got one of their
best results before hatching in the WRC in 2006. The Finnish
added a podium finish in the Rally of Ireland, and has achieved a number of podiums and
even a victory in the forests welsh: “This test is one of my
rally favorites. I was faster in the stretches of gravel in Spain for ten
days and also I will be fast in Wales. The season has been very difficult
for me until now, so I hope to finish strongly in the two
last events of the season“.
“The surface can be very
difficult in Wales“ explains Latvala. “If it has rained a lot during the
night, the tracks can be very muddy and slippery for the
cars that start at the end of the group. This is typical of Wales. Without
however, the rally this year is two weeks earlier than in the past
years, so I hope we have a dry test. I still remember my
first rally there in 2002, so that I have more experience in Wales that
in any other rally. I’m sure to be able to fight for the victory
there“.
Andreas Mikkelsen also knows what it is to climb the podium at the
Rally of Wales GB after finishing third in 2015: “I like the design of
the stages of this rally, and I always like to ride there. Piloting the Polo R WRC
in the sections muddy and slippery it is very complicated, although this year
we must be prepared for different conditions. The accident in Spain has
of course losing a few valuable points regarding Thierry Neuville in the fight
we have for the runner-up position. It’s going to be a tough battle with him, but my
goal remains firm, toyes that we hope to get the maximum in the two
latest carreras“.
–