VW claims second WRC crown
Volkswagen claims 1-2-3 sweep in Oz with Ogier
claiming his 15th win for the team
AFTER THE disappointment in Germany, where Hyundai took their maiden WRC win, the Volkswagen World Rally Team has sealed the Manufacturers' Championship of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with a one-two-three at Rally Australia. With three rallies remaining on the calendar, this is the fastest championship win in 25 years. Volkswagen is also the tenth car maker to have monopolised the top three of a world class event since the championship's creation way back in 1973.
Winners in Australia, Sébastien Ogier and team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala, who finished runner-up down under, defended the title in record time. Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene finished third in the final Polo R WRC to round off a perfect team result.
The top three VW Polos were followed by Kris Meeke in his Citroën DS3, and Mikko Hirvonen in his Ford Focus RS, who made the fight for fourth place quite interesting during the first few days of the rally.
The drivers' championship, which is still in the balance, will also come to a Volkswagen driver. Ogier and Latvala will battle it out at the remaining three rallies to strive and claim the World Champion crown at the end of the season.
World Champion after just three quarters of the season – only once in the history of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) has a manufacturer, Lancia, wrapped up the Manufacturers' Championship sooner than Volkswagen did this season.
With nine of ten possible victories to its name – six of them with one-two finishes – Volkswagen has already defended its title. Ogier and Latvala also spearheaded the team that took the Manufacturers' title to Wolfsburg in 2013 – with the biggest winning margin in the history of the WRC (145 points).
Volkswagen goes into the remaining three rallies of the season – in France, Spain and Great Britain – with an unassailable lead of 194 points. The next round of the WRC will be held in France from October 3-5. Looks like VW is setting records everywhere.