Volkswagen kicked off its Rally Argentina (21-24 April) with a spectacular event in Buenos Aires on the weekend prior to the official start. Volkswagen drivers Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jæger (N/N) took the Polo R WRC for a spin in front of thousands of spectators in Tigre on Saturday. They completed a thrilling street circuit, during which they really put their smoking tyres through their paces with a number of donuts.
The Red Bull X Fighters also put on a stunning show, with breath-taking stunts in their freestyle motocross display. The event was broadcast live on Argentinean television – including by FOX TV, a partner station of the Rally Argentina. Beforehand, the team from Wolfsburg had been welcomed by Volkswagen Argentina CEO Pablo Di Si and the mayor of Tigre, Julio Zamora. “It is a fantastic event,” said Di Si. “We are proud and happy that the team was able to stop in, and we have our fingers crossed for them for the rally.”
Di Si was given a taste of how it feels to travel flat-out in a World Rally Car, as Sébastien Ogier’s co-driver. Away from the action on the specially-erected circuit, Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito, Volkswagen Brand Ambassador Luis Moya (E), and the driver/co-driver pairings were on hand to answer questions from almost 100 invited journalists in the media tent. Ogier and Mikkelsen were back at the wheel of the Polo R WRC on Sunday. The two stars of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) had been invited by partner Castrol to take a city tour through the trendy Argentinean neighbourhood of Palermo.