Volkswagen Motorsport Newsletter 31/2017

October 23, 2017 by Volkswagen

•Rendezvous of champions: Sébastien Ogier back in the Polo R WRC

•Tactical coup: Schrey takes the title in the Golf GTI TCR

•Exciting start: Volkswagen developing electric racing car for Pikes Peak

Rallylegend 2017

Ogier and the Polo R WRC thrill fans in San Marino

Sébastien Ogier (F), who won the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) four times with Volkswagen, was back in the Polo R WRC for the first time this weekend. The occasion was the Rallylegend in San Marino – the annual get-together for legendary rally drivers and cars.

This year's event was held in memory of world rally champion Colin McRae, who died in 2007, and consequently featured a particularly impressive line-up. The invitations were sent out by world championship winning co-driver Luis Moya (E). As well as Ogier, rally champions Sébastien Loeb (F), Juha Kankkunen (FIN), Ari Vatanen (FIN), Stig Blomqvist (S), Petter Solberg (N), Didier Auriol (F), Miki Biasion (I) and Marcus Grönholm (FIN) also attended the event and presented their iconic rally cars in a parade in front of roughly 70,000 delighted fans. McRae's parents, brother and daughter also visited the Rallylegend.

'Unfortunately, I was not part of the generation that got to know Colin McRae personally,' said Ogier, who stayed behind to sign autographs after his short drive. 'He was an icon and, for me, a real inspiration to become a rally driver. It is really an honour for me to be here. Plus, it was nice to be back in my world championship winning Polo again after such a long time.'

VLN Endurance Championship, Nürburgring

Championship win with the Golf GTI TCR: Michael Schrey defends his VLN title

Extraordinary tactics the key to success: A class victory with the Golf GTI TCR at round nine of the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring was enough for Michael Schrey (D) to claim his second championship title. Schrey had previously driven a BMW on the Nordschleife, but switched to the Mathilda team's Golf GTI TCR for the first time for the season finale. Together with Benjamin Leuchter (D) and Andreads Gülden (D), he picked up the points required to successfully defend his overall title. Leuchter and Gülden were also in action in the Mathilda Racing team's second Golf at the four-hour race. Together with team principal Michael Paatz (D), they finished third in the TCR class. Gülden and Leuchter had already wrapped up the TCR title before the final race of the year.

More information: www.vln.de

Pikes Peak 2018

Volkswagen developing electric racing car for Pikes Peak hill climb

A new challenge in the world of motorsport with the technology of tomorrow: Volkswagen is developing a fully-electric racing car for the iconic Pikes Peak hill climb in America. The project is part of Volkswagen's transformation to a leading manufacturer of electric cars: By 2025, the brand will offer 23 fully-electric models. When the Wolfsburg-based car maker lines up with the four-wheel drive prototype on 24 June 2018, it will be looking to break the record for electric cars at the demanding hill climb, which finishes at 4,300 metres above sea level. That record currently stands at 8:57.118 minutes for the 19.99 kilometres (12.42 miles), and was set in 2016 by New Zealand's Rhys Millen.

'The race at Pikes Peak is a new start for us. We are developing a fully-electric racing car for the first time,' said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets. 'The project is also a key milestone in our motorsport realignment. Our team is positively electrified, as it takes on this big challenge.'

Next up:

29/10/2017

TCR Europe, Adria International Raceway (I)

28/10/2017

VAG Trophy, Oulton Park (GB)

28/10–29/10/2017

Volkswagen Fun Cup Europe, Zolder (B)

Photo credit: Volkswagen
posted on conceptcarz.com