Volkswagen Motorsport boss moved to tears by Australia result

Volkswagen Motorsport boss Jost Capito has admitted that his team’s historic 1-2-3 finish in Australia left him feeling overwhelmed.

Volkswagen sealed its second FIA Manufacturers’ Championship title with a podium lockout Down Under - the best result in the history of the team. It is the earliest in a season that a World Championship title has been won for 25 years.

After serenading rally winner Sebastien Ogier in service with a version of AC/DC’s ‘Big Balls’, an emotional Capito paid tribute to all three of his Polo R crews. “It’s really overwhelming. I can’t find the right words, but nobody is prouder than me – I just love you guys, I really love you guys,” he said.

“We are such a great team, with such great team spirit. These guys are friends, you know they are sitting down for breakfast and then lunch and dinner together and then you go and fight each other very fairly. We don’t have to give any team orders and I have never seen a team like that. I am so proud of you all.”

Moved to tears at the post event press conference, Capito said the securing the title with a 1-2-3 finish was the icing on the cake.

“It doesn’t get any better. Last year we surpassed all expectations, particularly our own. Even then, everyone in the team consistently pushed themselves to their limits to win the World Championship. It is always more difficult to successfully defend the World Championship title than it is to win it in the first place. What the team has achieved this season, and the extent to which it has improved, demands my utmost respect."

He added: “I would like to dedicate this one-two-three and the manufacturers’ title to the over 500,000 Volkswagen employees globally who support us and help us to make it possible that we can be here and do not envy that we spend the money to be successful.”