VW News 2012 & WRC 2013

[MartijnS]

Just listened to a short interview with Abbring on the radio. Basically it's the end of him at VW. He doesnt say it like that himself, but he does say that its mainly because of the fact that they want Wiegand as a German to be their driver in the future, that he doesn't have a lot of opportunities left at VW.

[tolis]

pity... :(

[EightGear]

Just listened to a short interview with Abbring on the radio. Basically it's the end of him at VW. He doesnt say it like that himself, but he does say that its mainly because of the fact that they want Wiegand as a German to be their driver in the future, that he doesn't have a lot of opportunities left at VW.

What radio was it? Shame! :(

EDIT: Traffic Radio I see.

[rage82]

Bad news for a such young talanted driver. Hope he can sort out something for next year though.

[rage82]

Just listened to a short interview with Abbring on the radio. Basically it's the end of him at VW. He doesnt say it like that himself, but he does say that its mainly because of the fact that they want Wiegand as a German to be their driver in the future, that he doesn't have a lot of opportunities left at VW.
I don't think that Wiegand has the speed and talent of Kevin but... he's german!

[EightGear]

They never gave him a real chance to improve in 2012. He only did Monte Carlo, Mexico, Portugal and Wales. Abbring confirmed at an official presentation in June (I think) that he was going to start in Finland, maybe Germany, Wales and France.
In the end he only did Wales, because Mikkelsen was planned to be at an IRC round (Mikkelsen's entry was cancelled and he did Wales recce instead).

[Mirek]

Wiegand did altogether only 12 events in stronger car than R2 and none of them twice. He is also only 21 years old, I think, so he still has a lot of time to prove himself.

[GigiGalliNo1]

Does German team really need German driver?

[Francis44]

Wiegand surprised me this year in IRC, specially in the first half of the year. I think he is a better long-term choice for VW instead of Abbring. Plus he is younger and german.

[stefanvv]

Does German team really need German driver?

I wouldn't mind it if he appears to be the second Rohrl...

[Mirek]

Does German team really need German driver?

There are 80 million people living in Germany, in average richer than most of the worlds population and with unusual love for cars, especially domestic ones. It's very natural for VW to try to find capable German guy.

[RAS007]

World Rally Championship - News - Kankkunen: Portugal key for Volkswagen (http://www.wrc.com/news/kankkunen-portugal-key-for-volkswagen/?fid=18085)

Apologies if already posted.

[AndyRAC]

I wouldn't mind it if he appears to be the second Rohrl...

Ah, there's only one Rohrl.....However, if he's even a 10th as good, he'll be pretty good.

[stefanvv]

World Rally Championship - News - I won't rally Polo, insists Sainz (http://www.wrc.com/news/i-wont-rally-polo-insists-sainz/?fid=18093)
Pity :(

[OldF]

1st spec Fiesta beginnig 2011 had 316hp and 570Nm.

Do you know the revs for the torque & power?

The torque is surprisingly high (at least for me) considering it’s a 1,6 litre engine with 1,5 bar boost only and compared to a R4.

[Mirek]

The torque figure seems to be suspicious to me. I sure believe in the power.

[dimviii]

Do you know the revs for the torque & power?

The torque is surprisingly high (at least for me) considering it’s a 1,6 litre engine with 1,5 bar boost only and compared to a R4.

nothing strange for me,torque is logic cause works 0,5-0,7 bar more than a r4.Wrc cars boost limit is 2,5bar.

[darkstar]

about wiegand: i think he is by far the best german available at the moment. he really has shown some potential. shure, he hasn´t got the speed that abbring has. but he also has maybe 10% from abbrings experience. he started rallyeing in 2010(abbring in 2007, just for example), that year he only drove 4 small events (rallye200, germanys lowest level of rallyesport, maximum 35 ss km per rallye). overall he only did 29 rallyes in his life, that´s almost nothing. and he´s pretty consistend, as far as i remember he only crashed two times with a rallyecar at all. now he has to prove he has some more speed. he must get some scratch times. i think it´s not so bad if he crashes out here and there when he sets some impressive times.

[eestlane]

There is not only abbring who could be faster against wiegant. For example Paddon,Kruuda,Breen and Gassner jr is definitely faster than Wiegand. He's not the fastest German for sure. Last year he did quite alot of rally's but in the end of the season he was not that fast as you hoped he would be. He's progress is slow not like Paddon's and Breen's. They both started to show really good speed very early and they are faster every rally.
That's the truth

[Mirek]

What???

Prokop is Czech; he is much older, has huuuuge experience and no future potential, he already is on his best
Kruuda is Estonian; has much more experience
Breen is Irish; has much more experience
Gassner has more experience, is older and is slower- if You didn't notice they were competing regularly last year in same cars and Wiegand always finished better while Gassner lost RedBull support.

From those You named only one is German and Wiegand is clearly faster and especially more reliable than him. Name another German rally driver who can at least from time to time compete with Wiegand? Do You even know some?

[rallye-vid]

Gassner jr is definitely faster than Wiegand.

I wouldn't say that

[eestlane]

All the rally's where Fassner and Wiegand were together they were fighting and all the rallys were on tarmac were wiegand shows sometimes quite good stage times but

[Mirek]

So all their common starts in 2012. Bare in mind Gassner has much more experience, he even did SWRC 2011 in Fabia S2000. In that time Wiegand was driving some Swift N2 and Fiesta R2...

Acores IRC
Wiegand 4th (+5:20)
Gassner 5th (+6:23)

Canarias IRC
Wiegand 6th
Gassner accident (in time of crash 6th 20 secs ahead of Wiegand)

Tour de Corse IRC
Wiegand 8th (+6:54,8)
Gassner 9th (+7:10,2)

Rally Deutschland SWRC
Wiegand - accident in penultimate stage, after leg 1 14th; after leg 2 11th
Gassner - 21st, after leg 1 16th; after leg 2 29th

[eestlane]

Wiegand has to improve alot on gravel. In cyprus on some stages he got 3s per km from mikkelsen and that is quite frankly a calendar in rallying

[Mirek]

All the rally's where Fassner and Wiegand were together they were fighting and all the rallys were on tarmac were wiegand shows sometimes quite good stage times but

Wiegand is better on gravel than asphalt. Gassner didn't compete against him on gravel that is true. But Wiegand was loosing much less to IRC front runners on gravel than on asphalt. He even won a stage in San Marino against Mikkelsen and Basso.

Those stages with 3s/km were with broken damper...

[werner]

Wiegand need an experienced high professional Co Driver for his future.

[eestlane]

Ok i was wrong about Gassner. He was showing great speed in spain last year but my point was why vw wants so much a german driver when they know that alot of other drivers have a brighter future

[mousti]

Wiegand need an experienced high professional Co Driver for his future.

He had that with Timo Gottschalk

[werner]

He had that with Timo Gottschalk

There were several experienced for Wiegand, but a special person made some decisions ...

[stefanvv]

Why VW needs German driver? Why not. They can do anything they like with their team. Already have each driver of the fastest Rally nations recently, so why don't have a German driver too. This would be loved in Germany I think.

[mousti]

There were several experienced for Wiegand, but a special person made some decisions ...
The one who decided the other co driver changes in the VW camp?

[pucky54]

I hope Wiegand will show some progress in 2013, because this year he was average at the beginning of the year and also in the end...no major improvement. I am looking forward to see him against Lappi. They are on the same level of experience I would say and both prefer gravel ;) And there are some fast Germans around....but not mentioned here yet ;)

[Mirek]

Ok i was wrong about Gassner. He was showing great speed in spain last year but my point was why vw wants so much a german driver when they know that alot of other drivers have a brighter future

Because 80 million German buys 220x more cars than Estonians every year (based on 2011 data)? Because those German are in love with new domestic cars and still keep 5th largest car market in the world?

[EightGear]

Just a big shame that a talent like Abbring gets stuck in his career because of political decisions. VW told him he had done nothing wrong. If he would get the chance to show himself during a whole season in WRC2 or ERC I think he would surprise a lot of people...

But I can sort of understand VW's decision...

[pucky54]

Capito said in an interview that they keep supporting Wiegand and Abbring. He is not keeping his word???

[Mirek]

Capito isn't the only manager in VW team...

[pucky54]

That's for sure, but not very professional to confirm Abbring first and then "kick him out"

[Prisoner Monkeys]

Perhaps VW would encourage any customer teams that use the Polo R (though I can't see any appearing until 2014) to take Abbring.

[werner]

The one who decided the other co driver changes in the VW camp?


Yesss!

[darkstar]

actually he is faster on gravel then on tarmac compared to the top runners. and he´s 100% faster then gassner, who has 4wd experience since 4 years now, while wiegand drove a 4wd car first time in 2012. gassner also did a whole season with the skoda in 2011. don´t get me wrong, i dont have some german "wiegand is the best ever" glasses on. i only want to say that we don´t have some better guy around at the moment and he has potential. if he´s really a top driver...i don´t know. he has to prove that. in my opinion he should show some pieces of brilliance in 2013, some scratch times etc. if he doesn´t...then he´s probably not a future star. but at the moment i understand that vw is supporting him (if they do at all, i´m not sure). his 2013 programm is from skoda germany, with juka car. probably some money support from vw and i don´t see anything wrong about that.

and what other fast german´s you were talking about? maybe there are some, yes, but they need to be discovered first. hope the 3 cups (opel, renault, citroen) will help. there also where some in the past, but i think theyre time is over, too old now.

[tommeke_B]

Pitty if they drop Abbring... He is one of the drivers who has most potential at the moment, he is probably as fast as Neuville (during the first test with DS3, Neuville tested a day, and Abbring the day after, apparently Abbring adapted to the DS3 faster than Neuville). Some people are talking Gilbert is the new big talent, but Abbring was beating him easily in the French gravel championship last year... Pitty VW gave Mikkelsen all chances this year and noone to Kevin.

We'll see what VW is going to decide when Wiegand doesn't really improve and Mikkelsen crashes the car twice every 3 rallies...

[pucky54]

We'll see what VW is going to decide when Wiegand doesn't really improve and Mikkelsen crashes the car twice every 3 rallies...

They already can start thinking about it ;)

[mousti]

For France I think Bonnefis is the best choice even by far I think. He doesn't crash often but has very fast pace on Tarmac and Gravel where he challenges several WRC's.

[tommeke_B]

For France I think Bonnefis is the best choice even by far I think. He doesn't crash often but has very fast pace on Tarmac and Gravel where he challenges several WRC's.
It's not easy to estimate Bonnefis his talent, everyone knows he is fast, but how fast? For me Lefebvre and Consani are the 2 most talented, regarding prestations/experience/age etc.

[dupanton]

It's not easy to estimate Bonnefis his talent, everyone knows he is fast, but how fast? For me Lefebvre and Consani are the 2 most talented, regarding prestations/experience/age etc.

For me, Chardonnet and Arzeno aren't bad neither, but a bit older... Bonnefis never had competition on the French Gravel championship this year, so difficult to estimate his pace on gravel. The drivers of the WRC cars were gentleman drivers...

[Mirek]

Arzeno did international events and it's clear he s not the new coming French superstar. He is very fast sometimes but also crashes too much and his pace isn't consistent.

Tommeke, maybe it's better always add first name when speaking about Consani. Most of people who doesn't follow French championship don't know You speak about Stéphane and not about Robert ;)

[tommeke_B]

Yes, Stéphane Consani of course, and Stéphane Lefebvre

[OldF]

nothing strange for me,torque is logic cause works 0,5-0,7 bar more than a r4.Wrc cars boost limit is 2,5bar.

The WRC car’s 2,5 bar boost limit is absolute pressure (air pressure + boost).

http://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/regulation/file/255A%20%282013%29.pdf page 4, “Turbo pressure: maximum = 2.5b absolute”

With the figures you gave, a R4 would have 3,0 – 3,2 bar absolute pressure.

[tommeke_B]

Don't you mean 1,8-2,0 bar, OldF? ;)

[OldF]

If we take for real that Fiesta RRC has cca 275 Hp, than the WRC shall have 330 Hp based on restrictor area.

Calculating with restrictor area works very well. Gerard Quinn said on Twitter when the Fiesta RRC was introduced, that the RRC has 260 ps https://twitter.com/WRCgerardquinn/statuses/89369763129729024

I calculated the WRC cars power based on that and was confused when I got as result 314,6 ps but know we have an explanation for the result.

[OldF]

Don't you mean 1,8-2,0 bar, OldF? ;)

You’re correct. I’m getting old :) . For some odd reason I added the 0,5 – 0,7 to 2,5. I should have read Dimviii’s post more thoroughly.

The correct absolute pressure for a R4 would then be 2,8 – 3,0 bar.

I have a dim memory that Dimviii once said that a R4 have 2,2 bar boost but I’m not sure. Again, calculating with restrictor sizes a N4 with 32 mm restrictor and 2 bar gives 2,13 bar as a result for a 33 mm restrictor.

[ChristianArp]

and what other fast german´s you were talking about? maybe there are some, yes, but they need to be discovered first.

Christian Riedemann perhaps?
I've always walked away impressed when I have seen him on stages.
Admittedly, I haven't followed him much, and he seems to have slipped a bit into 'oblivion' since the two Fabia rides last year.

[tommeke_B]

Regarding his prestations in Rallye du Var and Ypres this year, I don't think he will make it... ;)

[darkstar]

riedemann is very fast in germany, but i think that only shows how bad the competition level is in germany. he´s shurely not slow(and i had some hope he wil make it in wrc academy) but on his international outings he always got beaten up. btw. gassner also is looking very, very fast when you see him live on the stages, but the times where always rather bad. but look at loeb live, one of the most boring drivers...

[ChristianArp]

I see - as I said, haven't seen him a lot and it has been quite a while since last time, so doesn't exactly surprise me a lot.
And darkstar might be right - when I have seen him, it's been in Germany, that might affect him? Wikinger '12 was impressive by him for sure, by a long way the best fwd-driver and looked to be aggressive, pushing hard yet still not enough to be slowing him down. Hard to describe, it just looked like a good combination of pushing and keeping it on rails. :)

[dimviii]

You’re correct. I’m getting old :) . For some odd reason I added the 0,5 – 0,7 to 2,5. I should have read Dimviii’s post more thoroughly.

The correct absolute pressure for a R4 would then be 2,8 – 3,0 bar.

I have a dim memory that Dimviii once said that a R4 have 2,2 bar boost but I’m not sure. Again, calculating with restrictor sizes a N4 with 32 mm restrictor and 2 bar gives 2,13 bar as a result for a 33 mm restrictor.

We have to define when we say boost pressure whqat we mean.
Some people mean the overboost pressure,some other the ct boost pressure.
overboost is the turbo pressure we have at midrange rpm when turbo spools,ct boost pressure is when the rpms are at the higher band ie 5000-6000rpm etc.
big overboost pressure help to create more torque,while big ct pressure will help to have bigger number at peak horsepower.
example grN evos can create about 2 bar overboost,but cant ''hold'' more than 1,5-1,6 bar at high revs with restrictor.All these are not rule,but depents to external temperatures a lot.At Finland-Sweden Norway or at mediterannean winter cold rallies you can,but at summer rallies with 30+ temp is difficult.
Wrc cars now can have a 2,5 bar overboost(as the limit) and for sure can hold much more ct pressure from an N4-R4 due to less cc(1600 vs 2000) and different boost pressure hardware system.

[pucky54]

...but on his international outings he always got beaten up...

He was setting impressive times in Ypres this year (except the problems), almost matching Aigner's R4 Subaru pace in the little DS3 R3T...

[darkstar]

he had some fastest times in his class, but arzeno, demaerschalk and even kangur were faster then him pretty often. i dont want to say he is a bad driver. there are maybe reasons i dont know, why he was so slow in the wrc adademy(maybe founding?). and also in his outings with the vw skoda. in germany he was very impressive this year, no doubt. but i think there wont be another chance for him at vw, except he can get some international programm in 2013 and can show some very good pace.

[pucky54]

he had some fastest times in his class, but arzeno, demaerschalk and even kangur were faster then him pretty often. i dont want to say he is a bad driver. there are maybe reasons i dont know, why he was so slow in the wrc adademy(maybe founding?). and also in his outings with the vw skoda. in germany he was very impressive this year, no doubt. but i think there wont be another chance for him at vw, except he can get some international programm in 2013 and can show some very good pace.

pretty often means four or five times? Arzeno is also a very fast man, don't forget that, Demaerschalk went off heavily quite early and Kangur was driving like a maniac, I still wonder how he made it to the finish :D :D The biggest problem in the Academy are the cars...if you don't have the budget to change the "important parts" on every service, you have a problem.
Why should he look for another chance at VW? They were not even interested in Hänninen. I hope he will kick asses in the Fiesta ;)

[Kielder]

Great photo!

http://i49.tinypic.com/2r2xe1f.jpg

vwrallytheworld (https://twitter.com/vwrallytheworld)
"They know every nut and bolt. The world's best mechanics are double and triple checking the Polo R WRC"

Eighteen days remaining to get into the WRC. VW's mechanics will suffer a lot this season.

[dimviii]

some detailed photos from polo
http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/6631_143913232428226_1662108020_n.jpghttp://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/533857_143913252428224_1741152854_n.jpghttp://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/64965_143913059094910_1041706149_n.jpg

more photos
Details: The Polo R WRC | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.143913019094914.33363.134881243331425&type=1)

[Kielder]

Twenty-two years between the Golf G60 and the Polo WRC, same spirit at Volkswagen Motorsport in Hannover.

http://i46.tinypic.com/20jqlxj.jpg

Larger size (http://mihalyicsaba.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/mckleinrally2013_01a-rgb-medium.jpg)

[Kielder]

:wave: Valmar.

[Plan9]

Is any VW Motorsport merchandise available yet? Even stuff from their Dakar phase would be nice...

[GigiGalliNo1]

No merchandise just yet! I'll let you know when!

[Kielder]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lbytpHX_mCU

[danon]

A short version of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC preview...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Z6gNTtHoA

[Kielder]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/546273_526104784091007_604777875_n.jpg
http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/282930_526104977424321_1847952349_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/224974_526104907424328_590263411_n.jpg

Volkswagen World Rally Team | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.526104710757681.123092.104976889537134&type=3)

[Juha_Koo]

So Talvivaara continues to sponsor JM, I thought they might have dropped out until they get their stuff together. But good that they have the courage to market their brand in difficult times too.

(For non-Finns, Talvivaara is a mining company that had few nasty enviroment issues last year which made national headlines and prompted minister intervention.)

[COD]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/546273_526104784091007_604777875_n.jpg
http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/282930_526104977424321_1847952349_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/224974_526104907424328_590263411_n.jpg

Volkswagen World Rally Team | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.526104710757681.123092.104976889537134&type=3)


Hope they change that boring livery before season starts....

[Francis44]

Proper white rims would make the car look much better in my opinion. I dont understand this obsession with black.

[pettersolberg29]

I love the livery, black rims and all. Looks very smart to me, although not ideal for photographers.

[EightGear]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/546273_526104784091007_604777875_n.jpg



Volkswagen World Rally Team | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.526104710757681.123092.104976889537134&type=3)

So they basically took that photo, lowered the front number plate and made this from it:

http://www.imgdumper.nl/uploads6/50e33057a218b/50e3305786059-Polo_WRC.jpg

[dimviii]

Twenty-two years between the Golf G60 and the Polo WRC, same spirit at Volkswagen Motorsport in Hannover.
:vader:

[Kielder]

New livery on the mobile office:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/268411_479916108732197_447413806_n.jpg

[Kielder]

Well, I think we can say goodbye to this thread. 2012 ended, they're almost here... :bounce:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/217651_402819736458738_1953656255_n.jpg

[RS]

Article in Autosport magazine this week suggested VW will use Reiger and Sachs dampers this year as they still aren't sure..

[Kielder]

P.S. :D


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRTngtsOY8Q

[AMSS]

Article in Autosport magazine this week suggested VW will use Reiger and Sachs dampers this year as they still aren't sure..
That`s interesting, mainly because Reiger are generally considered being if not the best than clearly among the best. By letting VW use their latest dampers they would also basically allow Sachs to copy everything as this is what they would do and already have done(from the Skodas, and at least from 1 Fiesta S2000 from Finland), so how good dampers would they supply? I`m sure J-M has somethig to do with this as he`s always been on Reigers.
Another thing is how is it with the classifications, are you allwoed to class several different damper manufactorers?

[Mirek]

That`s interesting, mainly because Reiger are generally considered being if not the best than clearly among the best. By letting VW use their latest dampers they would also basically allow Sachs to copy everything as this is what they would do and already have done(from the Skodas, and at least from 1 Fiesta S2000 from Finland), so how good dampers would they supply? I`m sure J-M has somethig to do with this as he`s always been on Reigers.
Another thing is how is it with the classifications, are you allwoed to class several different damper manufactorers?

VW was using Reigers as a benchmark through the entire development. They were changing from Sachs to Reigers at least on their Fabias. Also don't forget that Mikkelsen, Hänninen and Wiegand who competed or tested VW cars in 2012 are used to original Fabia Reigers. I don't know exact details but I was told Sachs dampers are reasonably different from Reigers. When my friend spoke with Mikkelsen before Barum rally, he told him Reigers were more universal, working better on changing surface or conditions.

[AMSS]

VW was using Reigers as a benchmark through the entire development. They were changing from Sachs to Reigers at least on their Fabias. Also don't forget that Mikkelsen, Hänninen and Wiegand who competed or tested VW cars in 2012 are used to original Fabia Reigers. I don't know exact details but I was told Sachs dampers are reasonably different from Reigers. When my friend spoke with Mikkelsen before Barum rally, he told him Reigers were more universal, working better on changing surface or conditions.

I`ve heard similar things, J-M seems satisfied with the engine but says there`s still quit a lot of work to be done in the suspension setup.. He`s even asked for a outside consultant for the suspension but VW denied that..!
But are they allwed to do this? I don`t know how the current regulations are?

[Mirek]

Similar stories came from Peugeot through the years. Be it with Freddy Loix in times of 307 (and same later with 207 S2000) or in our championship with Roman Kresta and 207 S2000. Both have been co-operating with Reiger for years but Peugeot refused even to modify their existing dampers according to proposals of the two. Some people say Loix was not even allowed to make his setups himself.

Let's see. From videos I would say the main problem of Polo must be in differentials and maybe geometry because to me the car seems to be very difficult to drive with massive understeering in apex and oversteering in the exit. Maybe it's just my thoughts but Fords and especially Citroëns look much faster in the testing videos and the worse conditions the more visible difference for me (speaking about Monte testing videos). I'm more familiar with asphalt and in the summer videos from Baumholder the Polo looked visibly slower and less balanced in cornering than their Fabia.

[AMSS]

Agreed, similar tendency as the Fiesta in corner entrance though worse is what also I think of when looking at the videos, compared to Citroen both Ford and VW seems to demand much more "work" and steer angle to enter the corner. But as you said this probably has as much to do with the diffs as the dampers, or a combination of both!

[EightGear]

VW's rallytheworld site has been updated.

www.rallytheworld.com (http://www.rallytheworld.com)

[DVSGTR]

the New livery on the mobile office is looking cool :s mokin:

[Fast Eddie WRC]

VW team boss Jost Capito gives his views ahead of the opening round of the 2013 WRC in Monte Carlo.



Q:
If you could have chosen a rally for the Polo R WRC to make its debut at, would you have taken the Rally Monte Carlo?

Jost Capito:
The Rally Monte Carlo is not only the most iconic rally on the World Championship calendar, but also the most difficult and complex. The surface alternates regularly between ice, snow, rain and dry asphalt, which can make the strategy difficult and tyre selection something of a lottery. We are obviously delighted that the Polo R WRC will make its debut at this highlight.

[pucky54]

Always the same questions....we will see real answers next week... :)

[wrchirek]

Does anybody know, where can I buy this type of hat?

3081

[Kielder]

Does anybody know, where can I buy this type of hat?

3081

So far at the same place you can buy a Polo WRC ;) .

[Brother John]

Please go back to this thread. It's about the VW wrc car.

[Brother John]

Separate the posts regarding all the technical aspects into a new thread instead, so they could continue discussion over there.

Franky, mention a name for the thread. Send it to me on PM. ;)

[OldF]

Franky, mention a name for the thread. Send it to me on PM. ;)

How about "Tech stuff".

[Brother John]

Rally Cars tech stuff :s panner:

Thanks danon, this is the new thread name,http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/icons/icon14.png
and now back to VW News 2012 & WRC 2013 (http://www.motorsportforums.com/wrc/140160-vw-news-2012-wrc-2013-a-80.html)

[danon]

Thanks danon, this is the new thread name,http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/icons/icon14.png
and now back to VW News 2012 & WRC 2013 (http://www.motorsportforums.com/wrc/140160-vw-news-2012-wrc-2013-a-80.html)

Appreciated Brother, but it's a mutual contribution.

Franky - suggested the idea.
OldF - the core phrase.
Me - just added to it.

[Sulland]

VW has so far dominated WRC with a car right out of the box.

That should send a signal to other manufacturers that this task is possible also for them, if done the right way.

But congratulations to VW motorsport for a job well done !

[HaCo]

I agree Sulland! Great example from Vw. Hope to see something from Japanese manufactures!

It's also Ogier, because all the rest I'd as usual behind Loeb. Hope it's not another 5 boring years with another Sebastian! Great drive from him anyway!!!

Verstuurd van mijn MT15i met Tapatalk

[Rallying UK]

OGIER: http://pic.twitter.com/MaZ2POc5 :-)

[ShiftingGears]

VW has so far dominated WRC with a car right out of the box.

That should send a signal to other manufacturers that this task is possible also for them, if done the right way.

But congratulations to VW motorsport for a job well done !

Quite. Just saw the results from Rally Sweden just then, I am quite stunned.

[Sulland]

Latvala said on the radio during Sweden that he had to adopt his driving style to get more out of the Polo. He said it was set up to be driven more like a front wheel drive car, compared to the ones he has been driving in the past.

FWD cars are effective, and the Polo certainly looks effective, so he might have a point!

[Sulland]

Latvala said on the radio during Sweden that he had to adopt his driving style to get more out of the Polo. He said it was set up to be driven more like a front wheel drive car, compared to the ones he has been driving in the past.

FWD cars are effective, and the Polo certainly looks effective, so he might have a point!


With regards to Latvalas comments on the Polo feeling more like a FWD car to drive compared to the Ford.
What could be the reason for that, is there a tech reason?

[stefanvv]

With regards to Latvalas comments on the Polo feeling more like a FWD car to drive compared to the Ford.
What could be the reason for that, is there a tech reason?

May be the understeering :confused:

[cali]

Or maybe Polo has been developed by Ogier and is behaving like he wants. Latvala has born and raised around RWD cars hence the flamboyant driving style. It's not easy to adapt to different style/car. Remember how most oldschool drivers couldn't adapt to active differentials.

[Ripplin]

Maybe a Sebastien will be champion this year too. ;)

[Sulland]

Or maybe Polo has been developed by Ogier and is behaving like he wants. Latvala has born and raised around RWD cars hence the flamboyant driving style. It's not easy to adapt to different style/car. Remember how most oldschool drivers couldn't adapt to active differentials.


Makes total sense, and Ogier comes from the FWD school, but I am more after the tech side.
is there anything in the way the Polo R is engineered from the start that influences the way its understeering? Or is it just setup issues?

[stefanvv]

Makes total sense, and Ogier comes from the FWD school, but I am more after the tech side.
is there anything in the way the Polo R is engineered from the start that influences the way its understeering? Or is it just setup issues?

Perhaps the rear has more drag because of suspension geometry, but I'm only guessing :)

[tobbe3]

You can see how fast the Polo is here!

Rally Sweden 2013 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFRF5QWm2SQ)

[danon]

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/4307/pj7i.jpg

[Coach 2]

Perhaps the rear has more drag because of suspension geometry, but I'm only guessing :)

Why are so many agree that VW has problems with understeer. Ogier telling you something different in an article in a very famous motor magazine, recently. And Latvala said he had problems with the grip rear, during Rally Sweden. Or put another way, he did not trust the grip of the rear tires.

[stefanvv]

Why are so many agree that VW has problems with understeer. Ogier telling you something different in an article in a very famous motor magazine, recently. And Latvala said he had problems with the grip rear, during Rally Sweden. Or put another way, he did not trust the grip of the rear tires.

Where is it?

[darkstar]

wiegand tested the polo wrc: Google Übersetzer (http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http://www.rallye-magazin.de/rallyes/wm/nachrichten/news-detail/d/2013/02/28/wiegand-testet-polo-r-wrc/index.html)

[Motorsportfun]

wiegand tested the polo wrc: Google Übersetzer (http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http://www.rallye-magazin.de/rallyes/wm/nachrichten/news-detail/d/2013/02/28/wiegand-testet-polo-r-wrc/index.html)

According to Capito, earlier today, will test the car again, but will not run the Polo in any rally this year (he told me neither his home round in Germany).

[Viking]

:up:

“The third car was always planned to come, and we chose to have a one-car team in order to give Andreas his fair amount of test days and not to have to share them with our other drivers,” he said.

“Also we are a manufacturer, so in order to have the proper space in the service park the complete package for a one-car WRC team was much more interesting to us.”

World Rally Championship - News - Volkswagen registers second team for Mikkelsen (http://www.wrc.com/news/volkswagen-registers-second-team-for-mikkelsen/?fid=18334)

[darkstar]

wiegand will drive the polo wrc in germany at "Powerdays Europe" (by armin schwarz ;) ):

Google Übersetzer (http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http://www.rallye-magazin.de/rallyes/nat/nachrichten/news-detail/d/2013/04/15/wiegand-startet-im-polo-r-wrc/index.html)

[Kielder]

http://i3.minus.com/ibz0LwQYOyDpCv.jpg
http://i2.minus.com/izQFFbXv3dx6q.jpg
http://i5.minus.com/iT2LJIsx6Si0J.jpg
http://i3.minus.com/ibvWBywXa884jD.jpg

[JRodrigues]

As anyone seen VW merchandise? I've seen it already, but forgot where! :\

[Antony Warmbold]

"its more important for the engineer to understand the wish of the driver..."

--> I like this guy! VW engineers have understood that the driver has to be happy! That's half the battle already won there.

[Mirek]

Great article, Kielder. I found a time to read it complete only today but it worth it!

[DonJippo]

"its more important for the engineer to understand the wish of the driver..."

--> I like this guy! VW engineers have understood that the driver has to be happy! That's half the battle already won there.

Well he must be new on his job, hasn't learned yet that it's the engineers who knows best ... ;)

[noel157]

Well he must be new on his job, hasn't learned yet that it's the engineers who knows best ... ;)

Wrong! He hasn't learned that it's the accountants who know best........... :)

[tfp]

"its more important for the engineer to understand the wish of the driver..."

--> I like this guy! VW engineers have understood that the driver has to be happy! That's half the battle already won there.

I remember reading something like that in your blog. I also remember a magazine interview with a ford mechanic last year, he was speaking of JML in France. JML insisted on using the "x" tyre set up thing (a pair of softs front left and rear right, and hards front right and rear left) the mechanics were inclined to use this set up, but they diddnt want to risk loosing their drivers confidence, even though they knew this set up wasn't going to work.

[Antony Warmbold]

Wrong! He hasn't learned that it's the accountants who know best........... :)

You are right, that is the other half of the battle...

So to resume: Money for the engineers to spend on making the drivers happy :cool:

[Antony Warmbold]

I remember reading something like that in your blog. I also remember a magazine interview with a ford mechanic last year, he was speaking of JML in France. JML insisted on using the "x" tyre set up thing (a pair of softs front left and rear right, and hards front right and rear left) the mechanics were inclined to use this set up, but they diddnt want to risk loosing their drivers confidence, even though they knew this set up wasn't going to work.

It was here:

WRC behind the stages: Interview translated to English ! (http://wrcbehindthestages.blogspot.fr/2011/09/interview-translated-to-english.html)

[Viking]

http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/315403_593401620679095_161183470_n.jpg

Seems like they have moved the remote reservoir on the shock absorber and "opened up" the side hole in the bumper since the article was written.

[Vaggelis27]

Does anyone know about VW merchandise??

[rallye-vid]

Boutique officielle "Sébastien Ogier" (http://boutique.sebastien-ogier.com/?id_product=26)

And someone in germany offers XXL clothes: Fan-Utensilien VW Motorsport - Seite 2 (http://forum.rallye-magazin.de/rallye-talk/21916-fan-utensilien-vw-motorsport-2.html#post350993)

[stefanvv]

X Games in Barcelona
Sainz appearance cancelled due to rain

The much anticipated outing by rally legend Carlo Sainz in the 600-hp Volkswagen Polo R at the X Games has had to be cancelled. After heavy rainfall over the last few days, the specially erected circuit in Barcelona’s Olympic stadium was so damp that, having been postponed on Sunday evening, the organisers had no choice but to cancel the rallycross race. Local favourite Sainz tried to console the fans who had flocked to the arena with a tweet on Twitter: “I am sorry for everyone. Thank you for coming.” The 51-year-old had prepared for his planned rallycross debut with test drives in a Volkswagen Polo. “El Matador” won the 2010 Rally Dakar for Volkswagen and is a national hero in Spain, due to his two World Rally Championship titles.

[JRodrigues]

Does anyone know about VW merchandise??

That's a good question. Those Red Bull caps are pretty good. I've contacted VW Motorsport on facebook and they said this:

"normally you find the official VW WRC merchandise here: http://www.wrcclothing.com/collection/vw
However, unfortunately the website is down at the moment. We already tried to get in touch with the WRC guys so they'll fix it. Just have a try on that a little bit later."

But it seems to be down all the time, so.. don't have any idea.

[Sulland]

I think we can conclude that VW has had a good first season!

Will the others be able to respond?

[stefanvv]

2015 Polo WRC development - http://www.volkswagen-motorsport.com/fileadmin/user_upload/CMP/Dokumente/FIA%20World%20Rally%20Championship/_themenpakete/2015/2015-01-15_vwms_wrc2015_themenpaket-technik-2015_en.pdf

[Rallyper]

2015 Polo WRC development - http://www.volkswagen-motorsport.com/fileadmin/user_upload/CMP/Dokumente/FIA%20World%20Rally%20Championship/_themenpakete/2015/2015-01-15_vwms_wrc2015_themenpaket-technik-2015_en.pdf

Nice presentation!

[Langdale Forest]

Why are there never any privateer VWs running in the WRC?

[tommeke_B]

Why are there never any privateer VWs running in the WRC?

Because they are protecting their "inventions" from copycats... ;) Also it's not a strategy of VW to sell/rent cars to privateers, same for Hyundai (so far).

[Andre Oliveira]

Hyundai will sell those cars when the new one arrive, according Nandan.