* Volkswagen crews to battle it out amongst themselves for the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ titles
*Out on final day: Latvala/Anttila retire whilst leading
*Third place at the Rally Germany: Podium for Mikkelsen as consolation
Crunch time in the World Rally Championship – the result of the Rally Germany means that the 2014 World Rally Champion will again be behind the wheel of a Volkswagen. Only Sébastien Ogier (F), Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN) and Andreas Mikkelsen (N) still have a mathematical chance of winning the Drivers’ title with four rallies remaining. However, the works team from Wolfsburg had a disappointing home rally. While Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N) did record Volkswagen’s first podium at the manufacturer’s home round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), the team was denied a maiden victory in Germany on a dramatic final day.
Leading at the start of Sunday, a mistake about 70 kilometres from the end of the rally cost Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) any hopes of a second win in a row. As such, the Rally Germany remains the only event on the WRC calendar that Volkswagen is yet to win. The result also brings to an end Volkswagen’s record-breaking run of twelve back-to-back rally wins. Despite this, the team was still able to celebrate with Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene, who finished third in extremely difficult conditions.
Magnificent performance goes unrewarded: Latvala dominates before crashing out
The dream of victory ended with a mistake on stage 15 of 18, “Drohntal”, for Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila: in difficult conditions, with the route extremely slippery in places, the Finn left the road in a long left-hander and skidded into a vineyard. They then hit a barrier whilst attempting to return to the road, bringing their rally to an end. Up until that point the Finnish duo had dominated the rally.
As in previous years, the flying Finns had produced an outstanding display on asphalt to open up a gap of almost a minute. Latvala/Anttila, who won recently in Finland, were never outside the top five on any of the first 14 special stages. Indeed, the duo currently second in the World Championship clocked the fastest time on eight stages.
Two firsts: third for Mikkelsen and Volkswagen
The first podium for Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene on asphalt, and the first for Volkswagen at the Rally Germany: the Norwegian duo achieved two firsts in finishing third. Mikkelsen and Fløene claimed their third podium in the World Rally Championship, and the 33rd for Volkswagen over the course of the past 22 rallies since the manufacturer made its debut with the Polo R WRC at the 2013 Rally Monte Carlo.
Early out for the champions: two slip-ups from Ogier/Ingrassia
Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) were left to ponder over their early exit from the Rally Germany. The World Championship leaders skidded off the road whilst leading on the final special stage of the opening day, and subsequently fell well back down the standings. This was followed on Saturday by another crash, which brought their challenge to an end. The damage suffered to the safety cage in the second crash could not be repaired in the allotted time.
It’ll be one of us: all-Volkswagen battle for the Drivers’ Championship
One thing is certain after the Rally Germany: one of the three Volkswagen drivers – Sébastien Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen – will win the World Drivers’ Championship. Going into the remaining four rallies in Australia, France, Spain and Great Britain, Sébastien Ogier is now 113 points clear of fourth-placed Citroën driver Mads Østberg (N) with only 112 points still available. Ogier and Latvala’s co-drivers, Julien Ingrassia and Miikka Anttila, will battle it out for the title in the Co-Drivers’ Championship, as Ola Fløene only took his place alongside Andreas Mikkelsen part way through the season.
Although Volkswagen was unable to wrap up the Manufacturers’ Championship in Germany, the German manufacturer looks set to win the title at the Rally Australia. Currently leading by 167 points, a lead of 129 points after the rally down under would suffice to give Volkswagen its second successive Manufacturers’ title. For example, seventh place for either Ogier or Latvala would suffice, even if rival Citroën were to finish one-two.