FIA World Rally ChampionshipRally Australia: One-two-three and the fastest WRC title win* for 25 years
The first title has been claimed in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC): Volkswagen is World Rally Champion* again. The works team from Wolfsburg wrapped up the successful defence of its title in Manufacturers’ Championship at the Rally Australia – round 10 of the 13-rally season. This marked the earliest the World Championship had been decided for 25 years. The triumph was crowned by the first one-two-three for the team, which entered the World Championship with the Polo R WRC for the first time in 2013. Winners Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) led the team to a dominant success down under. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) and Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N) finished second and third to round off the dream result for Volkswagen. With only three rallies remaining this season – in France, Spain and Great Britain – Ogier/Ingrassia and Latvala/Anttila are now the only pairs left battling it out for the title in the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championship. Defending champions Ogier/Ingrassia are currently in pole position, with a 50-point lead over their team-mates.
* subject to confirmation from the FIA.
ATS Formula 3 CupPommer bags brace of wins on the “best weekend” of his career
Markus Pommer defied adverse weather conditions at the Lausitzring to claim two convincing victories in the ATS Formula 3 Cup. The race scheduled for Saturday had to be cancelled due to thick fog. Delays to the schedule meant that it was only possible to stage two races in the junior single-seater series rather than three that were scheduled. In Sunday’s first race, 23-year-old Pommer came home ahead of Malaysia’s Nabil Jeffri and Indy Dontje (NL). Jeffri again had to settle for second place behind Pommer in the second showdown, with Sam MacLeod (GB) crossing the line in third. “It has been the best weekend of my career. I have won everything: free practice, qualifying, both races, and set the fastest lap in both races. I have never done that before,” said Pommer. He has eleven wins and 335 points to his name already this season, and was able to increase his overall lead over Jeffri (228). Pommer, whose car is “powered by Volkswagen”, can wrap up the title with races to spare when the series heads to the Sachsenring for the next three races this coming weekend.
British Formula 3 ChampionshipLi Zhi Cong narrowly misses out on podium
Chinese driver Li Zhi Cong narrowly missed out on the podium on the final weekend of the British Formula 3 Championship. The talented 21-year-old ended the final three races of the season at the iconic Donington Park circuit with two fourth places and a fifth to his name. Li Zhi Cong of the Carlin team “powered by Volkswagen” finished fifth overall with 118 points in the renowned single-seater series for talented youngsters, in which many Formula One World Champions have earned their spurs in the past. Fellow Chinese driver Hong Wie “Martin” Cao claimed overall victory in a dramatic finale with 285 points, ahead of Matt Rao (GB/283). Rao won two races at the season finale, but victory in the opening race proved enough to earn Cao the title.
Volkswagen Castrol Cup PolandDouble victory: Kupcikas extends his lead in the table
Lithuanian Robertas Kupcikas increased his lead at the top of the table in the Volkswagen Castrol Cup Poland with an impressive brace of wins in the rain. With the series making an excursion to Brno in the Czech Republic, the dominant driver improved his already remarkable record for the season to eight wins in twelve races. In wet conditions, Kupcikas started both races from pole position in his Golf. He crossed the finish line first ahead of Jan Kisiel (PL) and Jeffrey Kruger (ZA) in the opening race, while race two saw Kruger and Kisiel swap places behind the winner. “I like driving in the rain and it is always easier in the lead than it is for the drivers behind you. I have my sights set on the title too now,” said the double winner. Kupcikas tops the table with 508 points going into the final two races of the season on 27th and 28th September in Poznan, Poland. His closest rival, and the only man who can still deny him the title, is Kruger with 436 points.
Volkswagen Racing Cup Great BritainFulbrook wins his third title
Joe Fulbrook (GB) has claimed his third title in the Volkswagen Racing Cup Great Britain. Two fourth places in his Golf GTI at the season finale at Donington Park were enough to see the 43-year-old crowned champion for the third time after 2008 and 2009. Fulbrook ended the season just four points clear of runner-up Lucas Orrock (GB) in a Scirocco R. The 33-year-old could take some consolation from the fact that he won the rookie competition ahead of Stefan Di Resta. The final wins of the season went to last year’s champion Aaron Mason (GB) and Irish rally specialist Robert Barrable. Five drivers were still in contention for the title coming into the final race, which just goes to show how evenly matched the competition is in the most popular Volkswagen racing series.
Volkswagen Fun Cup BelgiumAC Motorsport wins the 12 Hours of Mettet
The 12 Hours of Mettet, which forms part of the Volkswagen Fun Cup Belgium, ended with victory for the AC Motorsport team. Arnaud Quédé, Martin Leburton and Stéphane Perrin won an exciting race in their number 59 Beetle. Second place went to “Coté Passions”, with father and son Bruno and Gilles Debrus at the wheel. The highly fancied team of Colson Racing for Michel Simul, with drivers Philippe Crosset, Eric Gressens, Maxime Soulet and Armand Fumal, came home third. The quartet in the number 19 car are now on the verge of winning the title. The next race will take place in Spa on 11th October.
Next up:
20/09–21/09/2014FIA World Rallycross Championship, Estering (D)
20/09/2014Global Rallycross, Los Angeles (USA)
19/09–21/09/2014ATS Formula 3 Cup, Sachsenring (D)
19/09–21/09/2014ADAC Formula Masters, Sachsenring (D)
19/09–20/09/2014South African Rally Championship, Cape Town (ZA)
20/09–21/09/2014Volkswagen Fun Cup France, Le Castellet (F)
