Rally Sweden heralds a new challenge for Volkswagen’s WRC programme
The second round of the 2012 World Rally Championship (WRC) in Sweden will once again see Volkswagen Motorsport run a team of two Škoda Fabia S2000s in the SWRC class. The Rally Sweden which runs from today until 12 February will hold a new challenge for the factory VW team, as it gets to grip (quite literally) with the snow-covered woods of the Scandinavian country. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia will be joined by Škoda driver and 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Andreas Mikkelsen, who with co-driver Ola Fløene will be running the junior car. Volkswagen Motorsport’s WRC commitments serve as preparation for the 2013 season in which Volkswagen will compete with the Polo R WRC.
‘Sweden is a special rally. It’s the only WRC event on ice and snow and provides the best opportunity to gather valuable experiences in crisp cold. It’s an important run for us in preparation for our WRC entry with the Polo R WRC,’ said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. The drivers will battle it out in 24 special stages over 349 kilometres, using studded tyres. ‘I really like the Rally Sweden. Because of its unique character, it’s important to finish in order to give the team the opportunity to thoroughly get to know this rally,’ commented Ogier. In 2011, the French pairing finished the Rally Sweden in fourth place.
