Volkswagen out to settle scores at home

Volkswagen will start this week’s Rallye Deutschland determined to make up for a miserable outing on home ground last year and with the chance of securing a trio of FIA World Rally Championship titles.

WRC round nine is the first opportunity for defending champions Volkswagen to seal this year’s manufacturers’ title. And with its three crews leading the drivers’ and co-drivers’ standings, a good result could guarantee that two more trophies are on their way to Wolfsburg.

In 2013 much was expected of the team by its home crowd. But after the pre-event withdrawal of Andreas Mikkelsen, and crashes for Sebastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala, it turned out to be only round of the season in which no VW driver made it onto the podium.

Now, as it prepares to tackle the asphalt roads around Trier for a second time, Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito accepted the pressure was on.

Capito: "The pressure is really high"

He said: “We have a score to settle with the Rally Germany since last year, as missing out on the podium at our home event is not a nice memory to have.
“The pressure is really high and we expect a better result and that’s what we are working for this year. We are working hard, with all of our energy focused.
"The approach will be the same as all rallies this season: we’ve got to do our best and to deliver to our bosses the right result on that rally.”
After the team’s one-two victory in Finland, Capito said he would like to secure the manufacturers’ title in Germany 'in style, preferably with a rally win.'

Number crunching: What will secure the titles for VW?

Manufacturers:

Volkswagen has a lead in the manufacturers’ standings of 175 points over closest rival Citroën. If it manages to keep a gap of at least 172 after Rally Germany, Volkswagen will win the manufacturers’ world championship.

Drivers and co-drivers

Defending champions Ogier and Ingrassia have a lead of 121 points over the best non-Volkswagen duo, Citroen’s Mads Østberg and Jonas Andersson. If they still have a lead of 112 points after Germany, it will definitely be a Volkswagen duo who will celebrate victory in the drivers’ and co-drivers’ standings. Ogier/Ingrassia are currently in the lead on 187 points, followed by teammates Latvala/Anttila (143 points) and Mikkelsen (95 points).