Ogier targets podium on 2013 opener

Sebastien Ogier wants to be in a position to fight for a podium on Rallye Monte-Carlo next January when Volkswagen begins its chase for FIA World Rally Championship glory with its Polo R WRC.

The Frenchman completed the latest asphalt test with the car in Germany recently and pronounced himself happy with the progress the Volkswagen Motorsport team is making with its first ever World Rally Car. He added, however, that there was more work to come for the Polo.

Volkswagen has completed the reliability running with its new challenger and the emphasis has now switched to making the car as fast as possible.

Ogier said: “The car is going in the right direction. We have done a lot of jobs from the start of the year, but as a driver we are always asking for more and we have to work like that to improve the car. Today, we are not at the level we want to be at, but we still have six months to go. We have a bit of work to do everywhere: engine, gearbox and suspension. I can’t say something is perfect, there is always more to do, but I am happy with where we are at the moment.”

Volkswagen ran in both vineyards and military areas in Germany, basing its test close to Trier where ADAC Rallye Deutschland will be based from 23-26 August. The team has now moved on to rough gravel testing in France. Ogier, meanwhile, will swap the Polo for his Super 2000-specification Skoda Fabia for Neste Oil Rally Finland from 1-4 August.

Rallye Monte-Carlo is scheduled as the opening round of the 2013 world championship from 15-20 January subject to confirmation.