Volkswagen Polo R WRC#WRC victories

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|image1= VW Polo Style (V) – Frontansicht, 30. August 2012, Düsseldorf.jpg

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|caption2= The road-going version of the Volkswagen Polo Mk5 (top) serves as the basis for the Polo R WRC (bottom).

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The Polo R WRC was officially unveiled in May 2011, and spent the next eighteen months in testing, with two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz, Sébastien Ogier—who was recruited to the team from the Citroën World Rally Team at the end of the 2011 season—and Volkswagen's testing and development driver Dieter Depping carrying out development in Norway, Finland, Germany, Spain and Mexico to simulate the conditions the car would encounter in competition.{{cite web|title=The Making Of – the development and the test programme of the Polo R WRC|url=http://volkswagen-motorsport.com/index.php?id=49&L=1|work=volkswagen-motorposrt.com|publisher=Volkswagen Motorsport|access-date=9 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212191032/http://volkswagen-motorsport.com/index.php?id=49&L=1|archive-date=12 December 2012}} The testing phase was not without incident; the team signed Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala in October 2012,{{cite news|title=Volkswagen confirms Latvala for 2013|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103488|first=David|last=Evans|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=17 October 2012|access-date=17 October 2012}} but his first test in Mexico was cut short when he collided with a passenger car whilst travelling on public roads between stages. No-one was seriously injured in the crash, but the car was too damaged to continue testing.{{cite news|title=Jari-Matti Latvala road accident halts Volkswagen's Mexico WRC test|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104662/|first=David|last=Evans|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=30 November 2012|access-date=9 December 2012}} Further testing also took place in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur to prepare the cars for the unique snow and tarmac roads used in the Monte Carlo Rally,{{cite web|title=Essais Prés-Monte Carlo 2013 Polo WRC Sébastien Ogier|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CqEc-JjVkA|trans-title=Sébastien Ogier tests the Polo WRC for the 2013 Monte Carlo Rally|language=fr|work=Global Rally Chain|publisher=YouTube|date=3 December 2012|access-date=9 December 2012}} the first event of the 2013 season.{{cite news|title=Rally GB to conclude the 2013 WRC season|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102931/|first=David|last=Evans|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=28 September 2012|access-date=9 December 2012}}

File:2012 rallye deutschland by 2eight dsc4843.jpg preparations for their return began in 2012, entering a Škoda Fabia S2000 throughout the season to gain experience running a team.]]

The car was originally intended to make its debut at the 2012 Rally d'Italia in Sardegna,{{cite news|title=WRC Polo set for Rally d'Italia debut|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/101140|first=David|last=Evans|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=12 July 2012|access-date=5 August 2012}} but these plans were abandoned in favour of continuing development, and the car was submitted to the FIA in November for homologation. Parallel to this, Volkswagen Motorsport entered two Škoda Fabias built to Super 2000 specifications in twelve rounds of the 2012 season—and a third car in the 2012 Rallye Deutschland—to develop experience in running a World Rally Championship team. As the team was not competing with a World Rally Car, they were ineligible for championship points. The final build of the Polo R WRC was formally launched in December 2012 in Monaco.{{cite news|title=VW targets podium in first WRC year|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104763|first=David|last=Evans|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=8 December 2012|access-date=9 December 2012}}

File:Sébastien Ogier Rally de Catalunya 2015 001.jpg was the first driver to join Volkswagen Motorsport.]]

File:2014 Rallye Deutschland by 2eight DSC2525.jpg left the Ford World Rally Team to drive for Volkswagen.]]

File:2014 Rallye Deutschland by 2eight 3SC4413.jpg was entered in a third Polo R WRC.]]

Two cars driven by Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala contested the full 2013 season of the World Rally Championship.{{cite news|url=http://www.motorstv.com/car/rally/wrc/23112011/ogier-joins-volkswagen-wrc-programme|title=Ogier joins Volkswagen WRC programme|last=Weeks|first=James|date=23 November 2011|work=motorstv.com|publisher=Motors TV|access-date=5 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731051637/http://www.motorstv.com/car/rally/wrc/23112011/ogier-joins-volkswagen-wrc-programme|archive-date=31 July 2012}} Andreas Mikkelsen competed part-time throughout 2013 in a third car that was entered under the name "Volkswagen Motorsport II".{{cite news|title=Mikkelsen confirmed for third VW|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104766|first=David|last=Evans|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=8 December 2012|access-date=8 December 2012}}

In its debut season, the car scored six wins in its first eight rallies. After finishing second on the Rallye Monte Carlo,{{cite news|title=Monte Carlo Rally: Loeb wins as final stages cancelled|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105198|first=David|last=Evans|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=19 January 2013|access-date=19 January 2013}} Sébastien Ogier went on to win the rallies of Sweden,{{cite news|title=Ogier brings first WRC win for VW at Rally Sweden|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/02/11/ogier-brings-first-wrc-win-for-vw-at-rally-sweden/|work=Speedcafe.com|date=11 February 2013|access-date=11 February 2013|archive-date=12 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212103705/http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/02/11/ogier-brings-first-wrc-win-for-vw-at-rally-sweden/|url-status=dead}} Mexico,{{cite news|title=Ogier secures Mexico victory|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105939/|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=11 March 2013|access-date=11 March 2013}} and Portugal.{{cite news|title=Ogier wraps up third straight win|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106776/|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=14 April 2013|access-date=15 April 2013}} Jari-Matti Latvala scored his first win for Volkswagen in Greece.{{cite news|title=Latvala seals first VW win in Greece|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107827/|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=2 June 2013|access-date=2 June 2013}} Following concerns that the cost of moving to a new specification for the 2014 season would drive Ford and Citroën out of the category, Volkswagen successfully lobbied to keep the current car spec for another year.{{cite news|title=Volkswagen halt 2014 development to ensure WRC future|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/06/20/volkswagen-halt-2014-development-to-ensure-wrc-future/|first=Gus|last=Burrows|work=SpeedCafe.com|date=20 June 2013|access-date=23 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622023436/http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/06/20/volkswagen-halt-2014-development-to-ensure-wrc-future/|archive-date=22 June 2013}} Ogier continued his winning streak with victories in the Rally d'Italia Sardegna,{{cite news|title=Ogier claims fourth victory of 2013|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/108212/|first=David|last=Evand|work=autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=22 June 2013|access-date=23 June 2013}} Rally Finland,{{cite news|title=WRC Finland: Ogier claims comfortable win, Neuville snatches second|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110941|first=Matt|last=Beer|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=3 August 2013|access-date=20 November 2013}} and had the opportunity to secure the FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers at the Rally Deutschland. However, a mistake on the first leg forced him into retirement, and while he re-entered the following day under the Rally-2 regulations, doing so came with an automatic five-minute time penalty and Ogier finished seventeenth overall.{{cite news|title=Germany WRC: Sebastien Ogier loses lead after Friday off|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/109383|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=23 August 2013|access-date=20 November 2013}} Despite this, Ogier won the rally's power stage, and as a result, would go on to score points in every round of the championship.{{cite news|title=Germany WRC: Dani Sordo beats Thierry Neuville to first victory|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/109466|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=25 August 2013|access-date=20 November 2013}}

File:2014 Rallye Deutschland by 2eight DSC4285.jpg.]]

Ogier had another opportunity to win the title in Australia, but Qatar World Rally Team driver Thierry Neuville—by this point, the only driver still in mathematical contention for the championship—finished the rally second overall, forcing the title fight to go unresolved until the next round in France.{{cite news|title=WRC Australia: Sebastien Ogier wins but must wait for title|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/109883|first=Matt|last=Beer|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=15 September 2013|access-date=20 November 2013}} Ogier needed to out-score Neuville by just a single point to be declared the 2013 champion. He achieved this on the first stage of the rally, which in a break with tradition, was run as the event's power stage. Ogier went on to win the rally, and finished the season with two more wins in Spain,{{cite news|title=WRC Spain: Ogier takes dramatic victory after comeback|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110941|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=27 October 2013|access-date=20 November 2013}} where a second-place finish for teammate Latvala was enough to secure the Manufacturers' title for Volkswagen, and Wales, where Latvala again finished second.{{cite news|title=Rally GB: Sebastien Ogier ends VW's dominant year with victory|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111415|first=Ben|last=Anderson|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=17 November 2013|access-date=20 November 2013}}

At the end of the season, the Polo R WRC had won ten of the thirteen rallies it entered, finished on the podium eight more times, and secured both the Drivers' and Manufacturers' championships at the first attempt. In doing so, Ogier and Volkswagen broke Sébastien Loeb and Citroën's streak of nine consecutive World Drivers' and Manufacturers' Championship titles respectively.{{cite news|title=Volkswagen topples Citroen to take WRC crown|url=https://www.roadandtrack.com/motorsports/news/a5645/volkswagen-topples-citroen-wrc-championship/|first=Christian|last=Moe|publisher=roadandtrack.com|date=7 October 2013|access-date=18 April 2018}}{{cite news|title=WRC 2014 team previews: Volkswagen|url=https://www.redbull.com/za-en/wrc-2014-team-previews-volkswagen|first=Greg|last=Stuart|publisher=redbull.com|date=6 January 2014|access-date=18 April 2018}}

File:2014 rally sweden by 2eight dsc7779.jpg and co-driver Julien Ingrassia at the 62nd Rally Sweden.]]

In anticipation of its title defence in 2014, development of the car continued through the 2013–2014 off-season, with the team introducing a series of performance updates to the car ahead of the 2014 Rallye Monte Carlo.{{cite news|url=http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/january-2014/volkswagen-preview-2014/page/835--12-12-.html|title=Volkswagen ready for battle|work=WRC.com|date=6 January 2014|access-date=15 January 2014}} Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala remained with the team,{{cite web|title=Jari-Matti Latvala not expecting to be Sebastien Ogier's number two|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111783|work=David Evans|publisher=Autosport.com|access-date=8 December 2013}} whilst Andreas Mikkelsen's programme was expanded to include all thirteen rounds of the championship,{{cite web|title=Rallye Monte Carlo 2014 Entry List|url=http://www.acm.mc/documents/4/LISTE%20DES%20ENGAGES%20PAR%20LISTE%20DE%20PRIORITE.pdf|work=ACM.mc|publisher=Automobile Club Monte Carlo|access-date=30 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220145957/http://www.acm.mc/documents/4/LISTE%20DES%20ENGAGES%20PAR%20LISTE%20DE%20PRIORITE.pdf|archive-date=20 December 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rallysweden.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Rally-Sweden-Entry-List-2014.pdf|title=2014 Rally Sweden Entry List|work=rallysweden.com|date=14 January 2014|access-date=15 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115145620/http://www.rallysweden.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Rally-Sweden-Entry-List-2014.pdf|archive-date=15 January 2014}} but the team did not nominate him to score manufacturer points in Australia.{{cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/season/2014/1-wrc/|title=Season 2014 - eWRC-results.com|last=eWRC-results.com|website=eWRC-results.com}}{{cite web|url=http://juwra.com/australia_2014_championship_standings.html|title=Rally Australia 2014 – Championship points|last=juwra.com|website=juwra.com}}

The car's domination continued, winning the first six rallies of the season. Ogier overcame difficult conditions to win in Monte Carlo by over a minute,{{cite news|url=http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/january-2014/monte-day-three-update/page/955--12-12-.html|title=Monte Carlo Day Three Update #4|work=WRC.com|date=18 January 2014|access-date=18 January 2014}} before going on to win in Mexico,{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112832|title=Rally Mexico: Sebastien Ogier wins in dominant Volkswagen 1–2|first=Scott|last=Mitchell|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=9 March 2014|access-date=10 March 2014}} Portugal,{{cite news|title=Fourth Portugal win for Ogier|url=http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/april/portugal-final/page/1259--12-12-.html|work=WRC.com|date=6 April 2014|access-date=7 April 2014}} Italy,{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/06/08/sebastien-ogier-wins-italy/|title=Sebastien Ogier wins in Italy|work=Speedcafe.com|date=8 June 2014|access-date=10 June 2014}} and Poland,{{cite news|url=http://autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114707/ogier-clinches-rally-poland-victory|title=WRC Poland: Sebastien Ogier clinches Rally Poland victory|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=29 June 2014|access-date=29 June 2014}} while Jari-Matti Latvala claimed wins in Sweden, Argentina and Finland.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112462|title=Jari-Matti Latvala clinches win in VW one-two|first=David|last=Evans|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=8 February 2014|access-date=9 February 2014}}{{cite news|title=Latvala wins Argentina|url=http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/may/argentina-day-4/page/1386--12-12-.html|work=WRC.com|date=11 May 2014|access-date=12 May 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115267|title=WRC Finland: Latvala resists VW team-mate Ogier to claim home win|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=3 August 2014|access-date=3 August 2014}} Andreas Mikkelsen scored his first podium at the World Championship level in Sweden, followed by a second in Poland, and finishing in the points in every rally. Latvala's win in Argentina, the ninth consecutive win by the Polo R WRC, broke the previous record of eight consecutive rally victories set by the Citroën DS3 WRC in 2011.{{cite news|url=http://gtspirit.com/2014/05/12/wrc-latvala-gives-volkswagen-ninth-consecutive-win-at-rally-argentina/|title=WRC: Latvala Gives Volkswagen Ninth Consecutive Win at Rally Argentina|work=Earl Karanja|publisher=gtspirit.com|date=12 May 2014|access-date=5 May 2018}}[http://juwra.com/stats_longest_make_win_streaks.html Makes statistics > Win streaks] juwra.com

File:Sebastién Ogier Rally Finland 2014 Harju.JPG, recording its twelfth consecutive win.]]

Ogier and Latvala had the opportunity to secure the 2014 World Championship for Manufacturers for Volkswagen in the Rally of Germany, but both of them crashed out of the event. With Mikkelsen finishing third overall—behind the Hyundai i20 WRCs of Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo—the Polo R WRC's record-breaking run came to an end after twelve rounds.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115540|title=Rally Germany: Neuville and Hyundai take maiden win|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=24 August 2014|access-date=24 August 2014}} The team recovered to take a clean sweep of the podium in Australia, with Ogier winning ahead of Latvala to secure the manufacturers' title. Mikkelsen finished third overall, but was not registered to score manufacturer points.{{cite news|title=Ogier fends off Latvala to clinch Rally Australia|url= http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/09/14/ogier-fends-latvala-clinch-rally-australia/|first=Tom|last=Howard|work=SpeedCafe.com|date=14 September 2014|access-date=14 September 2014}}

Ogier had the opportunity to secure his second consecutive drivers' title in France, but lost nine minutes on the first day of the event with a faulty gear selector and a time penalty.{{cite news|url=http://www.racer.com/latest-stories/item/109326-latvala-holds-lead-into-day-two|title=WRC: Latvala holds lead into day two|work=racer.com|date=3 October 2014|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005101652/http://www.racer.com/latest-stories/item/109326-latvala-holds-lead-into-day-two|url-status=dead}} Ogier was unable to recover and ultimately finished eleventh, allowing Latvala to take a full twenty-five points out of his championship lead with another win—the first of his career on tarmac—while Mikkelsen matched his career-best result of second place.{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/10/05/latvala-breaks-tarmac-duck-french-win/|title=Latvala breaks tarmac duck with French win|work=Speedcafe.com|date=5 October 2014|access-date=6 October 2014}} Despite his problems in France, Ogier entered the penultimate round in Spain with a twenty-seven-point advantage over Latvala. Running first on the road, he was unhindered by thick dust that threatened to obscure the vision of his rivals, and he took a comfortable victory and his second consecutive World Championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/116509/ogier-clinches-wrc-title-with-victory|title=WRC Rally of Spain: Sebastien Ogier clinches second title with win|work=autosport.com|date=26 October 2014|access-date=28 June 2018}} Latvala finished the event second and Mikkelsen seventh. With his second World Championship title secured, Ogier went on to win the Wales Rally GB. Latvala and Mikkelsen struggled throughout, with Latvala finishing eighth and Mikkelsen retiring.{{cite news|url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/s%C3%A9bastien-ogier-wales-rally-gb-2014-win-report|title=Supreme Sébastien Ogier snaps up Welsh win|work=redbull.com|date=16 November 2014|access-date=29 June 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.ausmotive.com/2014/11/17/sebastien-ogier-wins-2014-wales-rally-gb.html|title=Sebastien Ogier wins 2014 Wales Rally GB|work=ausmotive.com|date=17 November 2014|access-date=29 June 2018}}

File:A. Mikkelsen - O. Floene (17899973930).jpg and Ola Fløene driving an updated Polo R WRC at the 49º Rally de Portugal.]]

The second generation of the Polo R WRC was put into development in early 2014, in anticipation of a 2015 debut, with an ongoing development schedule planned to take the second generation car through to the next revision of the technical regulations in 2017.{{cite news|title=VW plan early debut for 2015 Polo World Rally Car|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113013|first=David|last=Evans|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=18 March 2014|access-date=19 March 2014}} Two-time World Drivers' Champion Marcus Grönholm joined the team's expanded testing and development programme,{{cite news|url= http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/august/vw-gronholm/page/1653--12-12-.html|title=Grönholm takes VW test role|work=WRC.com|date=11 August 2014|access-date=11 August 2014}} while the team retained Ogier, Latvala and Mikkelsen as their drivers.{{cite news|title=VW keeps Ogier, Latvala, Mikkelsen in 2015 World Rally Championship|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116458|work=Autosport.ccom|access-date=23 October 2014|date=23 October 2014|publisher=Haymarket Publications}} The car was updated to include a brand-new gearbox and revised hydraulic system, a larger rear wing to generate more downforce, and substantial weight reduction, with over seventy-five percent of the car having been developed during the off-season.{{cite news|title=Volkswagen uncovers its 2015 WRC fighter|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/01/16/volkswagen-uncovers-2015-wrc-fighter/|work=Speedcafe.com|date=16 January 2015|access-date=16 January 2015}} Ogier and Latvala contested the entire season with the updated Polo, while Mikkelsen started the season with a car built to 2014 specifications before switching to the 2015 build ahead of the Rally of Portugal.{{cite news|url=http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/may/portugal-wrc-wrap/page/2437--12-12-.html|title=Latvala ends barren run with Portugal win|work=World Rally Championship|publisher=WRC Promoter GmbH|date=24 May 2015|access-date=21 July 2018}}

Volkswagen Motorsport took a clean sweep of the podium positions in the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally. Ogier won after an early battle with nine-time World Champion Sébastien Loeb—whose one-off guest appearance in a Citroën DS3 WRC came to an abrupt end when he crashed out on the second leg of the event—and recorded another win in Sweden despite losing several minutes in a spin and having to reclaim the rally lead from Mikkelsen. Ogier recorded another victory in Mexico, with Mikkelsen again on the podium. Latvala scored a podium in Monte Carlo, but was forced to retire in Sweden and finished seventeenth in Mexico.{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/03/09/sebastien-ogier-continues-perfect-wrc-start/|title=Sébastien Ogier continues perfect WRC start|work=SpeedCafe.com|date=9 March 2015|access-date=9 March 2015}}

File:Jari-Matti Latvala Rally Finland 2015 Ouninpohja.JPG and Miikka Anttila set a new record for the fastest rally in the sport's history at the 65th Rally Finland.]]

After enduring a difficult Rally Argentina that saw Ogier finish outside the points and both Latvala and Mikkelsen retire, Volkswagen recovered to take a clean sweep of the podium in Portugal, led by Ogier. Ogier continued his form, winning the next two events in Italy and Poland, but faced stiff competition from Hyundai's Hayden Paddon and M-Sport driver Ott Tänak. After writing his 2015 title bid off following the Rally Poland, Latvala took his second win of the season in Finland—his third on the event, matching compatriot Juha Kankkunen's record—ahead of Ogier while Mikkelsen retired. In doing so, Latvala set a new record for the fastest rally in the sport's history, averaging {{convert|125.44|kph|mph|2|abbr=on}} over the event; by comparison, the previous record set by Sébastien Loeb during the 2012 running of the event was {{convert|122.89|kph|mph|2|abbr=on}}.{{cite news|url=https://www.speedcafe.com/2015/08/02/latvala-wins-fastest-wrc-rally-ever/|title=Latvala wins fastest WRC rally ever|work=speedcafe.com|date=2 August 2015|access-date=28 June 2018}} The team secured its third one-two-three finish of the season at the next round in Germany, finally winning its home event on the third attempt, and in doing so, recorded at least one win at each individual event on the calendar. Ogier went on to win his third consecutive drivers' title at the next round in Australia, leading home Latvala and Kris Meeke, with Mikkelsen in fourth.

The championship returned to Corsica for the first time in seven years where the teams endured difficult conditions that saw several stages cancelled. Ogier suffered a gearbox problem that forced him to retire from the first leg of the rally while Latvala had to catch Elfyn Evans to secure victory.{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/10/05/latvala-wins-tour-de-corse/|title=Latvala wins Tour de Corse|work=speedcafe.com|date=5 October 2015|access-date=14 April 2016}} Mikkelsen was third, having recovered from early difficulties of his own, while Ogier finished seventeenth overall, and the tenth driver eligible to score manufacturer points. Mikkelsen went on to take his maiden WRC victory in Spain when Sébastien Ogier crashed on the final stage, promoting Latvala to second in the process.{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/10/25/mikkelsen-takes-dramatic-win-in-spain/|title=Mikkelsen takes dramatic win in Spain|work=speedcafe.com|date=25 October 2015|access-date=14 April 2016}} Ogier finished the year with his eighth win of the season in Wales, with Mikkelsen in third.{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/11/16/ogier-takes-emotional-win-at-wales-rally-gb/|title=Ogier takes emotional win at Wales Rally GB|work=speedcafe.com|date=16 November 2015|access-date=14 April 2016}} Latvala crashed out on the opening leg of the rally and after restarting the next day, went on to finish fiftieth overall and was classified as the final driver (9th) eligible to score manufacturer points.{{cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/19132-wales-rally-gb-2015/?s=99525&group=M|title=Stage results Wales Rally GB 2015|last=eWRC-results.com|website=eWRC-results.com}} Volkswagen Motorsport finished the season with twelve wins (including Mikkelsen's one) from thirteen rallies. Volkswagen Motorsport won with 183 points in front of Citroën WRT, while sister team Volkswagen Motorsport II was classified fifth in the final standings.{{cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/season/2015/1-wrc/|title=Season 2015 - eWRC-results.com|last=eWRC-results.com|website=eWRC-results.com}}

File:Sebastien Ogier Baiao Rally de portugal 2016.jpg and Julien Ingrassia during 2016 Rally de Portugal.]]

File:S Ogier Marão Rally de Portugal 2016.jpg and co-driver Ingrassia at the 50º Rally de Portugal.]]File:Andreas Mikkelsen Rally Finland 2016 Äänekoski–Valtra.JPG and Anders Jæger took two rally wins in 2016.]]Despite having made only minor changes to the car during the winter off-season, and faced with the imminent departure of team principal Jost Capito to Formula One team McLaren,{{Cite web|title = McLaren Formula 1 – McLaren prepares for increased growth with key new appointments|url = http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/team/mclaren-prepares-increased-growth-key-new-appointments/|website = www.mclaren.com|publisher=McLaren|access-date=14 April 2016}} Volkswagen Motorsport continued to dominate the 2016 season. Ogier won the opening two rounds in Monte Carlo and Sweden despite difficult conditions that saw several stages of the Rally Sweden route cancelled as rising temperatures saw the roads thaw out, making the studded snow tyres unusable.{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2016/01/25/sebastien-ogier-secures-monte-victory/|title=Sebastien Ogier secures Monte victory|work=speedcafe.com|date=25 January 2016|access-date=14 April 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2016/02/15/hayden-paddon-claims-historic-result-sweden/|title=Hayden Paddon claims historic result in Sweden|work=speedcafe.com|date=15 February 2016|access-date=14 April 2016}} Latvala, however, endured a string of mechanical failures and driver errors that saw him fail to score a single point in the opening rounds. He took advantage of his road position to win Rally Mexico while Ogier finished second despite having been first on the road and sweeping loose gravel off the surface.{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2016/03/07/latvala-revives-wrc-title-bid-mexico-win/|title=Latvala revives WRC title bid with Mexico win|work=speedcafe.com|date=7 March 2016|access-date=14 April 2016}} Andreas Mikkelsen remained in the third Polo R, but changed his co-driver for the season, enlisting Anders Jæger as Ola Fløene joined Mads Østberg at M-Sport. Mikkelsen and Jæger started their season with a podium in Monte Carlo and a points finish in Sweden before retiring in Mexico.

Despite his victory in Mexico, Latvala's resurgence was short-lived as he crashed out of the lead of the next rally in Argentina when his suspension failed at high speed.{{cite news|title=Paddon on the verge of WRC victory in Argentina|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2016/04/24/paddon-on-the-verge-of-wrc-victory-in-argentina/|work=speedcafe.com|date=24 April 2016|access-date=25 April 2016}} His accident promoted Ogier to second and Mikkelsen to third behind Hyundai's Hayden Paddon. Latvala rejoined the rally for the final day and was classified sixteenth overall, and the ninth driver eligible to score manufacturer points.{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2016/04/25/310935/|title=Hayden Paddon takes stunning Rally Argentina victory|work=speedcafe.com|date=25 April 2016|access-date=25 April 2016}} The next round in Portugal saw all three Volkswagens struggle with their setup and allow Kris Meeke to establish an early lead. Meeke went on to win the rally ahead of Mikkelsen and Ogier; however, as Meeke was not nominated to score manufacturer points, Mikkelsen and Volkswagen Motorsport II received the full twenty-five points for first place.{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2016/05/22/313891/|title=Meeke wins Rally de Portugal|work=speedcafe.com|date=22 May 2016|access-date=24 May 2016}}

The Volkswagens struggled to match the pace of Hyundai's Thierry Neuville in Sardegna, where the loose surface meant that the drivers lost time road-sweeping, clearing away the top layer of the roads and allowing faster cars a cleaner line to follow. Despite this, Latvala and Ogier finished second and third behind Neuville, with Mikkelsen classified thirteenth overall after suffer mechanical issues on the final day, and received points as the eighth manufacturer car to finish.{{cite news|url= http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/june-2016/sardinia-final/page/3628--12-12-.html|title=Neuville ends dark days with Italy win|work=wrc.com|publisher=WRC Promoter GmbH|date=12 June 2016|access-date=20 June 2016}} Although the event marked the third consecutive rally that had not been won by a Volkswagen, the team nevertheless retained their lead in the World Championship for Manufacturers. Mikkelsen ended the car's winless streak in Poland after taking the lead from Ott Tänak late in the rally.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/125112/mikkelsen-snatches-poland-win-from-tanak|title=Mikkelsen snatches Poland win from Tanak|work=autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=3 July 2016|access-date=3 July 2016}} Latvala was unable to develop a consistent rhythm and finished fifth, while Ogier once struggled with sweeping the loose, sandy surface of the roads, and went on to finish sixth.

Latvala spearheaded the team at the next round in Finland, finishing second behind Meeke. Mikkelsen was classified seventh while Ogier was twenty-fourth overall after spinning into a ditch and losing sixteen minutes on the first day.{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2016/07/31/meeke-wins-rally-finland/|title=Meeke wins Rally Finland|work=speedcafe.com|date=31 July 2016|access-date=1 August 2016}} Ogier claimed his first win since the Rally of Sweden at the next round in Germany, finishing ahead of the Hyundais of Dani Sordo and Thierry Neuville, with Mikkelsen fourth. Latvala endured a difficult rally, suffering from a terminal gearbox fault on the first stage that forced him to retire from the leg and rejoin the next day, and he went on to be classified forty-eighth over all{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2016/08/21/sebastien-ogier-triumphs-germany/|title=Sebastien Ogier triumphs in Germany|work=speedcafe.com|date=21 August 2016|access-date=30 September 2016}} The championship went into an extended hiatus with the cancellation of Rally China,{{Cite web|url=http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/august-2016/rally-china/page/3810--12-12-.html|title=Rally China cancelled due to weather damage - wrc.com|website=www.wrc.com|access-date=16 August 2016}} with Volkswagen appointing Sven Smeets—former co-driver to Freddy Loix and François Duval—to replace the departing Capito ahead of the next round in Corsica.{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2016/08/30/smeets-replaces-capito-at-volkswagen/|title=Smeets replaces Capito at Volkswagen|work=speedcafe.com|date=30 August 2016|access-date=30 September 2016}}

Ogier secured another victory in Corsica, with Hyundai's Thierry Neuville finishing second ahead of Mikkelsen and Latvala in third and fourth. As the championship returned to Catalunya, Ogier and Mikkelsen remained the only drivers in mathematical contention to win the drivers' title. Mikkelsen crashed chasing rally leader Dani Sordo, leaving Ogier needing only to finish in the top two to be champion. Ogier caught Sordo at the end of the second leg of the rally and went on to win both the event and his fourth consecutive World Drivers' Championship. In doing so, Ogier became only the fourth driver—after Juha Kankkunen, Tommi Mäkinen and Sébastien Loeb—to win four championships.{{cite news|title=Ogier takes fourth WRC title with Spain win|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/126697/ogier-takes-fourth-wrc-title-with-spain-win|first=David|last=Evans|work=autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=16 October 2016|access-date=16 October 2016}}

The team entered the penultimate round in Great Britain with an opportunity to secure the manufacturers' championship; Hyundai, the only other team still in mathematical contention, would need to out-score Volkswagen by twenty points to take the championship to the final round in Australia. All three cars were beset by driveshaft problems on the first day of competition, effectively taking Latvala and Mikkelsen out of contention; Ogier had similar problems, but they struck late in the day, and he was largely unaffected. Ogier held off Ott Tänak to secure victory, and with it, Volkswagen's fourth manufacturer title.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/126908/ogier-claims-fourthstraight-rally-gb-victory|title=Rally GB: Volkswagen's Sebastien Ogier claims fourth win in Wales|first=David|last=Evans|work=autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=30 October 2016|access-date=31 October 2016}} The final round of the season took place in Australia and saw Mikkelsen claim his third rally win ahead of Ogier and Thierry Neuville, while Latvala finished ninth overall after clipping a guardrail on the opening stage and breaking his suspension.{{cite news|url=https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/127196/mikkelsen-wins-on-vw-wrc-farewell|title=WRC Rally Australia: Andreas Mikkelsen wins Volkswagen's farewell|work=autosport.com|date=20 November 2016|access-date=5 April 2018}}

With the sport undergoing an overhaul of the technical regulations for the 2017 season,{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/07/11/wrc-cars-to-become-more-aggressive-in-2017/|title=WRC cars to become more aggressive in 2017|work=speedcafe.com|date=11 July 2015|access-date=7 March 2016}} Volkswagen developed the 2017-specification Polo WRC throughout the 2016 season, with the development phase once again carried out by Marcus Grönholm.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/123716/vw-reveals-its-2017-world-rally-car|title=Volkswagen reveals its 2017 World Rally Car for new WRC rules|first=David|last=Evans|work=autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=12 April 2016|access-date=12 April 2016}} The car, which officially became known as the Volkswagen Polo GTI WRC,{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/127714/vw-still-working-on-private-2017-wrc-plans|title=Volkswagen still working on private 2017 WRC entry plan|first=David|last=Evans|work=autosport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|date=11 January 2017|access-date=12 January 2017}} was designed with a larger turbo restrictor, saw increases in the overhang of the front and rear bumpers, as well as larger door sills and a larger rear wing. The overall width of the car was increased, while {{convert|25|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} was cut from the body shell, and a centre differential was added for the first time. Despite extensive testing, the company formally cancelled the development of the car in November 2016 with their withdrawal from the sport. The cancellation was a result of the Volkswagen emissions scandal.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/126949/volkswagen-confirms-wrc-exit|title=Volkswagen confirms it will leave the WRC at the end of 2016|first=David|last=Evans|work=autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=2 November 2016|access-date=2 November 2016}} Volkswagen later announced plans to maintain a presence in the sport, adopting a customer-oriented approach by developing a Polo rally car built to Group R5 specifications.

Although the Polo R WRC was retired from the World Rally Championship at the end of the 2016 season, Volkswagen made the car available to privateer entries on a limited basis starting in 2017.{{cite news|title=Volkswagen Polo WRC to run with a privateer for first time|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/129140/vw-wrc-to-run-in-private-hands-for-first-time|first=David|last=Evans|work=autosport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|date=24 April 2017|access-date=25 April 2017}} Raimund Baumschlager became the first privateer to enter a Polo R WRC, contesting rounds of the Austrian national championship.

Some of the chassis built in 2013 and 2014 were rebuilt and used by the factory-supported PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team in the FIA World Rallycross Championship; Petter Solberg's 2018 car was first used by Sébastien Ogier at the 2013 Rally Catalunya.{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/volkswagenms/status/1050999618119626753|title=VolkswagenMotorsport on Twitter|work=Twitter|access-date=13 October 2018|language=en}}

(key)

Notes:

• {{Double-dagger}} — Team ineligible to score manufacturer points.

• Volkswagen Motorsport
• World Rally Car
• Citroën DS3 WRC
• Citroën C3 WRC
• Ford Fiesta RS WRC
• Ford Fiesta WRC
• Hyundai i20 WRC
• Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC
• Mini John Cooper Works WRC
• Toyota Yaris WRC
• Group R
• Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
• Super 2000
• Škoda Fabia S2000

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Volkswagen Polo R WRC}}

• [http://www.volkswagen-motorsport.com Volkswagen Motorsport official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301102347/https://volkswagen-motorsport.com/ |date=1 March 2021 }}
• [http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/november-2016/vw-in-numbers/page/4105--12-12-.html Volkswagen's four years in numbers] wrc.com

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{{succession box | before = {{nowrap|Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak}} | title = Autosport Awards
{{nowrap|Rally Car of the Year}} | after = Ford Fiesta WRC |years = 2014–2016}}

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{{2016 World Rally Championship season}}

{{Volkswagen}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Volkswagen Polo R Wrc}}

Category:World Rally Cars

Polo R WRC

Category:World Rally championship–winning cars