Volkswagen is World Champion

A real motorsport fairy tale: Volkswagen has also clinched the manufacturers’ title in the World Rally Championship. Thanks to a one-two victory by Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) at the Rally Spain, the Volkswagen Motorsport team has claimed the manufacturers’ crown in the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) even before the final round in Great Britain. The factory team from Wolfsburg has won nine of the twelve rallies to date in the Polo R WRC’s debut year.

Volkswagen only needed seventh place in round twelve of the series in Spain to add another World Championship title to the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ World Championship* trophy already bagged by Ogier and Ingrassia. With the British rally still to come in November, the defending champion Citroën can now no longer catch up with Volkswagen in the Manufacturers’ Championship. The French car maker has won the most prestigious championship after Formula 1 for the last five years.

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director: “Winning all three World Championship titles in one season is simply unbelievable. Given that this is the first season we have competed in the World Rally Championship with the Polo R WRC, it is an even greater achievement. Winning the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ World Championship was an absolute highlight for the whole team. It was a dream come true for Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia in particular at their home event three weeks ago. But the Manufacturers’ World Championship is even more important for a car maker because it proves that it’s not just the driver who’s exceptional – the product is too.”