Volkswagen kicked off its Rally Argentina (21-24 April) with a spectacular event in Buenos Aires at the weekend, prior to the official start. Volkswagen drivers Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jæger (N/N) took the Polo R WRC for a spin in front of thousands of spectators in Tigre on Saturday. They completed a thrilling street circuit, during which they put their smoking tyres through their paces with a number of donuts. The Red Bull X Fighters also put on a stunning show, with breath-taking stunts in their freestyle motocross display. The event was broadcast live on Argentinean television – including by FOX TV, a partner station of the Rally Argentina. Beforehand, the team from Wolfsburg had been welcomed by Volkswagen Argentina CEO Pablo Di Si and the mayor of Tigre, Julio Zamora. “It is a fantastic event,” said Di Si. “We are proud and happy that the team was able to stop by, and we have our fingers crossed for them for the rally.”
Di Si was given a taste of how it feels to travel flat-out in a World Rally Car, as Sébastien Ogier’s co-driver. Away from the action on the specially-erected circuit, Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito, Volkswagen Brand Ambassador Luis Moya (E), and the driver/co-driver pairings were on hand to answer questions from almost 100 invited journalists in the media tent. Ogier and Mikkelsen were back at the wheel of the Polo R WRC on Sunday. The two stars of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) had been invited by partner Castrol to take a city tour through the trendy Argentinean neighbourhood of Palermo.
TCR Germany
First race, first podium: Second place for Leuchter in the Golf GTI
Volkswagen driver Benjamin Leuchter (D) claimed a podium finish at the inaugural TCR Germany race in Oschersleben. The first race of the ADAC’s new touring car series saw Leuchter finish runner-up in the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR for the Racing One team. The German actually led for a long time at the circuit in the Magdeburger Börder region of Germany. However, with just nine minutes of the race remaining, Leuchter was passed by eventual winner Josh Files (Seat) after a thrilling duel. British driver Files also won the second race on Sunday, with Leuchter missing out on the podium by half a second. He crossed the finish line fourth behind Jürgen Schmarl (A, Seat) and Harald Proczyk (A). The next races in the TCR Germany will take place at the Sachsenring from 29 April to 01 May.
FIA World Rallycross Championship
No luck in the final: Sixth place for Kristoffersson in Portugal
Johan Kristoffersson (S) of the Volkswagen RX Sweden team finished sixth at the opening round of the World Rallycross Championship.The Swede progressed to the final in Montalegre, Portugal, with his Volkswagen RX Supercar. However, Kristoffersson’s hopes of repeating last year’s victory were dashed by a collision with an opponent. Kristoffersson had previously won the semi-final and set fastest times in the heats to demonstrate the huge potential of the 600-hp Volkswagen RX Supercar and the new Volkswagen RX Sweden team, which was formed by merging Marklund Motorsport and Volkswagen Team Sweden.
Kristoffersson’s team-mate Anton Marklund (S) made it to the semi-final, but failed to qualify for the final. The next round will be held in Hockenheim (D) from 6 to 8 May – on the same bill as the season-opener in the German Touring Car Masters (DTM).
Engen Volkswagen Cup South Africa
La Reservee and Bland – two winners on second race weekend in Cape Town
Shaun La Reservee (ZA) and Trevor Bland (ZA) were the winners on the second race weekend of the Engen Volkswagen Cup South Africa. The opening ten-lap race at the Killarney Motor Racing Circuit saw La Reservee triumph ahead of Keagan Masters (ZA) and Chris Shorter (ZA) who finished second and third. In race two at the 3.267-kilometre race track near Cape Town, Bland crossed the finish line first in his Polo, ahead of Shorter and Masters. This was Bland’s second win of the season, having previously won race two on the opening race weekend in Zwartkops. The next races in the popular South African series will be held at the Aldo Scribante Circuit near Port Elizabeth on 14 May.
Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk