We Are The Champions (Part One)
Whatever problems the Volkswagen group faced in 2015 on the streets and in the showrooms, they encountered virtually none on the Special Stages. Sébastien Ogier captured a third successive FIA World Rally Championship Drivers title and Volkswagen scooped up the Manufacturers title, winning 12 out of 13 events, with the all-conquering VW Polo R WRC.
Ogier, and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia, were Champions by a country mile, with victories in Monte Carlo, Sweden, Mexico, Italy, Poland, Germany, Australia and Great Britain. Ogier’s run of successes means that he joins the ranks of the all-time great, with 32 rally wins to his credit.
The only serious challenge to the Frenchman came from his team-mate, Jari-Matti Latvala, the spectacular Finn who, with his co-driver Miikka Anttila, won in Portugal, Finland and France.
However, even the Flying Finn had to give best during 2015 to Ogier.
Third in the title hunt was another Volkswagen driver, Andreas Mikkelsen, who scored his maiden WRC win in Spain during 2015.
In spite of VW’s domination, the sport remains very popular, drawing huge crowds to witness the Special Stages.
Volkswagen have committed to the WRC in 2016 and will have their trio of Polos scrapping once again for supremacy. Their main opposition will come from a quartet of Hyundai i20 WRC, but it would be a brave man to bet against Ogier gaining a fourth World Title.
Click here to continue reading Part Two.
(Photos: Copyright and courtesy of Volkswagen Motorsport)
