volkswagen fia world rally championship technology information package 2014

5/27/2018 Volkswagen FIA World Rally Championship Technology Information Package 2014

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MotorsportInformation

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP (WRC)

TECHNOLOGYINFORMATION PACKAGE


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Contents

Contents

GALLERY 03

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP (WRC) Engagements 06

At a glance 11

TECHNOLOGY The Polo R WRC 12

The Polo R WRC in detail 19

Interview with Willy Rampf 21

Interview with FX Demaison 26

Facts and gures 31

VOLKSWAGEN MOTORSPORT Engagements 34

For media 37

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Gallery

Dynamic The Volkswagen Polo R WRC lines up with a host of modications including a new design

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Gallery

Hunted Volkswagen is defending champion in all three classications within the World Rally Championship

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Gallery

In focus Nowhere are fans closer to the action than in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)

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FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) Engagements

THE PROJECT:TITLE DEFENCE

06

Drivers Championship, Co-Drivers Championship, Manufacturers

Championship Volkswagen lines up as defending champion in all

three categories of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). As such,

the chasing pack will have their sights trained on Ogier and Co. at all

13 rallies in the 2014 season


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F

rom hunter to

hunted: the pro-

ject to defend the

Volkswagen teams hat-trick of titles

in the FIA World Rally Champion-

ship (WRC) kicked o with the Rally

Monte Carlo. 13 rallies on four

continents on gravel, asphalt, ice

and snow. The French pairing of

Sbastien Ogier and Julien Ingras-

sia will be in action from January

to November, as they bid to defend

their World Championship titles

in both the Driver and Co-Driver

classications with Volkswagen.

Together with team-mates Jari-

Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/

FIN), they are also the team to beat

in the Manufacturers Champion-

ship, in which they can count on

support from Andreas Mikkelsen/

Mikko Markkula (N/FIN).

We line up with the number 1

on a Polo R WRC this season,

said Volkswagen Motorsport

Director Jost Capito. That hon-

our is reserved for the World

Champion, and is something we

are very proud of. However, that

does not mean that we will be

presumptuous or complacent at

the rallies. We approach the task

in hand with the greatest respect,

maximum concentration and

absolute commitment. It is easier

to win a World Championship title

than it is to successfully defend

it. But precisely that is our goal.

Each rally will give us an indica-

Splash!

The World Rally

Championship opens on

ice and snow in Monte

Carlo and ends in

the mud and water of

Great Britain

We approach the task in

hand with the greatest respect,

maximum concentration and

absolute commitment.

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tion of how we compare to the

new and new-look opposition. We

are looking forward to it.

Tried-and-tested team vs. new

challengers

Three Polo R WRCs and a proven

sextet: Volkswagen lines up in the

2014 WRC with an unchanged

team of Sbastien Ogier/Julien

Ingrassia, Jari-Matti Latvala/

Miikka Anttila and Andreas Mik-

kelsen/Mikko Markkula. It will,

however face a new opponent

and some old foes who have

rung the changes: Kris Meeke

and Mads stberg will drive for

Citron, who have won the Man-

ufacturers World Championship

on eight occasions, including ve

titles in a row. Among those rac-

ing for M-Sport are Mikko Hir-

vonen and former Formula One

driver Robert Kubica. Hyundai

returns to the World Rally Cham-

pionship as a manufacturer in

2014, and lines up with last years

runner-up Thierry Neuville as its

number one driver.

Tried-and-tested calendar, plus

new territory for the WRC

The World Rally Championship

will visit 13 countries on four con-

The team to beat Sbastien Ogier, Motorsport Director Jost Capito and Jari-Matti Latvala (bottom right) start with the

numbers one and two on their cars

Rising star

Andreas Mikkelsen

in the number nine

Polo R WRC

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tinents in 2014. On the agenda:

a dozen tried-and-tested venues

that graced the calendar in 2013,

and one newcomer instead

of the Rally Greece, the WRC

circus takes its battle for World

Championship points to Poland.

The season kicked o with a

genuine classic the iconic Rally

Monte Carlo. This was followed in

Europe by the Rallies in Sweden

and Portugal, as well as events in

Italy, Finland, Germany, France,

Spain and Great Britain over the

course of the season. The teams

also travel to Mexico in North

America and Argentina in South

America. Another real highlight

comes at the Rally Australia on

the fth continent.

Tried-and-tested format, new

rules

A tried-and-tested format with

new rules the 2014 World Rally

Championship sees the introduc-

tion of a number of new features

for fans and competitors alike.

The hitherto existing qualifying at

gravel rallies has been scrapped.

Instead, the cars will start accord-

ing to the standings in the World

Championship on day one, with

the overall leader rst onto the

route. Detailed amendments have

also been made to the rules,

which allow competitors to return

to action after a retirement under

Rally-2 regulations. The itinerar-

ies of each round of the World

Championship are to be stand-

ardised over the course of the

season. In the future, rallies will

open with the starting ceremony

on the Thursday and nish with

the nal special stage around

midday on the Sunday. The nal

stage will also always form the

Power Stage, which is broadcast

live on TV, and on which bonus

points are up for grabs for the

three fastest drivers. //

In hot pursuit The World Rally Championship is broadcast around the world on TV

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14/0119/01/2014 Rally Monte Carlo Asphalt/snow

05/0208/02/2014 Rally Sweden Ice & snow

06/0309/03/2014 Rally Mexico Gravel

03/0406/04/2014 Rally Portugal Gravel

08/0511/05/2014 Rally Argentina Gravel

06/0608/06/2014 Rally Italy Gravel

27/0629/06/2014 Rally Poland Gravel

01/0803/08/2014 Rally Finland Gravel

22/0824/08/2014 Rally Germany Asphalt

12/0914/09/2014 Rally Australia Gravel

03/1005/10/2014 Rally France Asphalt

24/1026/10/2014 Rally Spain Gravel/asphalt

14/1116/11/2014 Rally Great Britain Gravel

Fan-friendly Spectators can watch the mechanics work their magic in the Volkswagen service area

2014 Calendar, FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)

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FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) At a glance

NETWORKED:MORE THAN 3,000,000

FANS OF VOLKSWAGEN

MOTORSPORT ON FACEBOOK

V

olkswagens success

also transcends to

social networks.

The Motorsports presence on

Web 2.0 platforms has proven

hugely popular with fans and the

media. The number of Likes on

the Facebook network broke the

3,000,000 mark at Rally Portugal,

while around 25,000 fans follow

the live reporting on Twitter. WRC

reports are not only available on

Facebook and Twitter, but also

on YouTube. You can nd links to

these services on page 37.

News from the Volkswagen team

PENNED:THE BOOK TO ACCOMPANY

THE WRC YEAR

O

n 16th January,

Sbastien Ogier

and Julien Ingras-

sias title-winning season in the

Driver and Co-Driver categories

of the World Rally Champion-

ship was captured forever with

the release of the book From

Nought to World Champion.

Authors Christian Schn and

Bodo Krling, together with top

photographers Daniel Roeseler

and Richrd Blint, take a stun-

ning 192-page look at last years

motorsport fairy tale.

Successful Web 2.0

presence: the Volkswagen

Motorsport Facebook page

ACCOMPLISHED:LONGEST WINNING STREAK

IN WRC HISTORY

V

ictory for Sbastien

Ogier/Julien Ingras-

sia at Rally Portugal

marked the eighth consecutive tri-

umph for the Polo R WRC. This sees

Volkswagen equal the longest win-

ning run in the history of the World

Rally Championship. The team

won in Australia, France, Spain

and Great Britain in 2013, and

has since added victories in Monte

Carlo, Sweden, Mexico and Por-

tugal this season. The record was

previously held by WRC rival Cit-

ron, who achieved the same feat

in 2011. After just 17 outings for

the Polo R WRC in the FIA World

Rally Championship (WRC), the

World Rally Car from Wolfsburg

has now equalled that record.

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Technology the Polo R WRC

A LOVE OF DETAIL,IN 3,300 PARTSThe Polo R WRC takes

eciency to the max

Beautiful and quick the Polo R WRC

for the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)

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S

teel, aluminium

and carbon in

its most e-

cient form the Volkswagen Polo

R WRC for the FIA World Rally

Championship (WRC). The 3,000

individual parts that make up the

chassis, together with the engines

300 components, have been clev-

erly thought through on several

technological levels. A combina-

tion of absolute reliability, con-

sistent lightweight construction,

outstanding ease of service, and

impressive performance was

instrumental in the 315-hp (232

kW) World Rally Car from Wolfs-

burg winning all three World

Championship titles on its debut

in 2013. With this years mission

to defend the hat-trick of titles, the

new Polo R WRC features a num-

ber of detailed improvements in

2014. The four wheel-drive pow-

erhouse will once again have to

prove itself in the face of a wide

range of adversities.

A car for all conditions

a diverse range of challenges

Flat-out and close to the road

on smooth tarmac one minute,

drifting sideways over ice and

snow the next, and bounding over

raw gravel shortly after not to

mention scorching heat here and

freezing cold there. No other top

motorsport championship oers

such a vast range of climatic con-

ditions and surfaces. Whether

being ung round tight hairpins

on one of the many snake-like

stages or subjected to a stress

test on full-throttle sections with

jumps of up to 60 metres a

World Rally Car must be able to

master any terrain. The funda-

mental desire to get from A to B

as quickly as physically possible is

in its DNA.

Made possible by clever

solutions The details behind

the performance

Volkswagens World Rally Car is

based on the road-going model

and namesake of the Polo R

WRC. The homologated model

provides the basis for the body

Under the bonnet

small details make all the

dierence between the 2014

and 2013 models

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shell, which the regulations stip-

ulate must not be altered for

use in the WRC. The bonnetand tailgate also come from the

production model, with the only

modication being the striking air

inlet holes, which are assembled

subsequently. The Polo R WRC

for the World Rally Champion-

ship, whose body shell rolls o

the assembly line at the Volkswa-

gen plant in Pamplona, has also

been broadened to the maximum

1,820 millimetres permitted by

the WRC regulations. From an

aerodynamic point of view, wider

fenders, the expansive rear wing,front and rear skirts, and a par-

tially encased undercarriage

ensure the best possible airow

around the car.

Permanent four wheel-drive uses

mechanical multi-disc, self-lock-

ing dierential on the front and

rear axle to convert the World

Rally Cars 315 hp into drive.

Perfect contact with the road is

not only ensured by the Miche-

lin tyres 18-inch for asphalt

and 15-inch for gravel, ice and

snow but also by the sophisti-

cated independent suspension.

For example, the ZF damper andspring units are key to the perfect

set-up of the chassis. In com-

bination with the maps for the

traction and compression phases,

the engineers can then, in the-

ory, select from 92,160 dierent

set-up variants.

Under the bonnet, a 1.6-litre

straight-four turbo engine, in line

with the Global Race Engine

Concept, generates 315 hp,

which is eciently limited in

accordance with regulations by

Time taken to replace a rear

skirt? One and a half minutes

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an air restrictor. The straight-

four engine with turbocharger

and intercooling inhales its airthrough an opening of just 33

millimetres. This would be com-

parable to a top athlete running

the 100 metres whilst breathing

through a snorkel. And yet it still

manages to achieve impressive

gures: the 315 hp (232 kW)

are achieved at 6,250 rpm, with

the maximum torque of 425 Nm

at 5,000 rpm. A sophisticated

anti-lag system minimises the

so-called turbo lag at low engine

speeds, and produces the distinc-

tive staccato crack, which can be

heard for miles around. The Polo

R WRC accelerates from nought

to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds.

Depending on the transmission

ratio, the top speed is around200 km/h.

Fit to go in a matter of

minutes the service-friendly

Polo R WRC

The engineers and technicians in

the World Rally Championship

have only a very limited amount

of time to repair and maintain

the World Rally Cars. As a rule,

a normal rally day includes a

15-minute service in the morning,

a 30-minute service at midday,

and a 45-minute service in the

Let there be light the night face consists of

four additional headlights for night stages

Thats all it takes

service timesChange tyres:

1 minute per tyre

Change gearbox:

12 minutes

Change shock absorbers:

3 minutes per damper/

spring unit

Adjust steering:

1 minute 30 seconds

Change front skirt:

1 minute

Change rear skirt:

1 minute 30 seconds

Attach additional headlights

(night face):

2 minutes

Replace headlight:

1 minute

Replace wishbone:

4 minutes

Replace brake pads and

discs:

3 minutes

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Evolution in small steps

changes for the 2014 season

Joker #1: piston rods

Joker #2: reinforcement of engine and gearbox

Joker #3: ramp angle of front-axle dierential

Joker #4: ramp angle of rear-axle dierential

Joker #5: front wishbone (asphalt version)

Joker #6: rear subframe

Joker #7: rear wishbone (asphalt version)

Joker #8: rear wishbone (gravel version)

Joker #9: separate system for rear-axle dierential

Free Joker: software

Detailed improvements

the engineers played ten

so-called Jokers for the 2014

version of the Polo R WRC

evening. When it comes to ensur-

ing the rally cars are sent back

out on their journey in the bestpossible condition, despite the

enormous stresses and strains

they are subjected to on the

special stages, every second

counts. As well as the well-oiled

Volkswagen team, Sbastien

Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala and

Andreas Mikkelsens techni-

cians can also count on the ser-

vice-friendly design of the Polo

R WRC. It takes less than 60 sec-

onds to change the wheels, while

the gearbox can be replaced in

under twelve minutes.

In order to guarantee seamless

and perfectly coordinated ser-

vices, Volkswagen turned to the

experience of its mechanics when

developing the Polo R WRC as

well as the performance and

durability of the individual com-

ponents, this is an extremely

important criterion when it comes

to eciency.

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Modied for absolute

reliability New details for

2014

The Polo R WRC was the sub-

ject of detailed improvements

ahead of the 13 rallies that

make up the 2014 season. In

making these modications, the

Volkswagen engineers were sub-

ject to very strict restrictions. The

manufacturers involved in the

2013 World Rally Champion-

ship had agreed not to homolo-

gate any new World Rally Cars

for the 2014 season. That left

Volkswagen with very little room

to play with within the regula-

tions. This game played under

strict rules did, for example,

allow changes to some compo-

nents to be made on a quarterly

or free basis. In 2014, newly

developed ZF dampers will be

in use. Furthermore, Volkswa-

gen was allowed to play ten

so-called Jokers, which allow a

manufacturer to modify the com-

ponents in question so that they

dier to the specications in the

homologation documents.

The Jokers were played mainly to

further improve the durability of

the Polo R WRC. The World Rally

Car from Wolfsburg proved itself

to be hugely reliable in 2013.

Over the course of the entire sea-

son, the Volkswagen engineers

registered not a single retirement

due to a technical fault. The use

of the Jokers is aimed at reducingthe number of retirements caused

by aggressive driving for exam-

ple, by tting reinforced chassis

components. //

One of the

features of the

World Rally Car

from Wolfsburgin 2013 was its

extraordinary

reliability.

Choosing the right tyres is a science in itself. There is a choice of four tyre

types in the Monte. For all other rallies, there is a choice between two tyres

Technology the Polo R WRC 17


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Engine

Type Straight-four engine with turbocharger and intercooling, transversally mounted

in front of the front axle

Displacement 1,600 cc

Power output 232 kW (315 hp) at 6,250 rpm

Torque 425 Nm at 5,000 rpm

Bore/stroke 83,0 mm/73,8 mm

Air restrictor 33 mm (FIA regulation)

Engine control unit Bosch

Power transmission

Gearbox Sequential, six-speed racing gear box, transversally mounted

Final drive Permanent four-wheel drive with xed drive between the front and rear axles,

multi-plate limited-slip dierentials, front and rear

Clutch Hydraulically actuated double-disk sintered metal clutch from ZF

Chassis/suspension

Front/rear McPherson struts, dampers from ZF

Suspension travel approx. 180 mm on tarmac, approx. 275 mm on gravelSteering Servo-assisted rack and pinion steering

Braking system Ventilated disc brakes (front 355 mm on tarmac; front and rear 300 mm

on gravel) aluminium brake callipers (four callipers, front and rear)

Wheels Size 8 x 18 inch for tarmac, 7 x 15 inch for gravel

Tyres Michelin competition tyres (tarmac: 20/65-18 (235/40-R18),

gravel: 17/65-15 (215/60-R15), spikes: 15/65-15 (195/70-R15))

Chassis/bodywork

Build FIA-conformant reinforced steel body

Dimensions and weight

Length/width/height 3,976/1,820/1,356 mm

Track width 1,610 mm

Wheelbase 2,480 mm

Minimum weight 1,200 kg

Performance

Acceleration 0100 km/h in approx. 3.9 seconds

Top speed Up to approx. 200 km/h (depending on gear ratio)

Volkswagen Polo R WRC Technical specications

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The Polo R WRC in detail

Engine: the cars 315 hp beating heart

1,600 cm engine displacement, 83.0 mm bore, 73.8 mm

stroke, 33 mm air restrictors the corset hiding 315 brake

horse power and 425 Nm torque

Tyres: maximum grip

What is the World Rally Cars only point

of contact with the racing surface?

The four tyres. Michelin supplies two

dierent compounds for each race and

the drivers must decide which to choose

Vibration-proof: the undercarriage

The extremely light monotube shock

absorbers from ZF Friedrichshafen,

spring up to ve times faster than their

production-line counterparts

Bodywork: the

perfect platform

2,500 Polo R WRC

parts were built for

the road and serve

as the base of the

World Rally Car

Aerodynamics: hard into the wind

Polished down to the nest detail and

enormously important: when jumping as

far as 60 metres, this denes the ight

characteristics

Chassis: the safe working area

A roll cage made of high-tensile airplane-grade steel

protects the drivers in case of a pitfall. The carbon bucket

seats are customized to the body dimensions of the

individual drivers and co-drivers just like a ski boot and are

similarly tightly secured thanks to a six-point driving belt

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The Polo R WRC in detail

Central display

This informs the driver of everything he needs

to know about the condition of the Polo R

WRC such as pressures and temperatures

Steering wheel, buttons

on left

Yellow: windscreen wiper;

Red: Start engine/start control

Co-driver

control panel

Start buttons for

ignition and engine,

settings for windshield

ventilation and

heating, horn and

milometer

Steering wheel,

buttons on right

Green: full beam and night

face headlights;

Red: sets km counter to zero;

Yellow: Marks data

recording (in case of special

events)

Co-driver display

The most important information

for the co-driver is displayed here

(pressures/temperatures)

Steering wheel,

rotary switch

Left: ve dierent engine maps;

Right: light

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Technology Interview with Willy Rampf

AGILITY,RELIABILITY ANDEASE OF SERVICE

The mind behind the eciency Willy Rampf

An interview with Technical Director, Willy Rampf

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W

illy Rampf, Technical

Director of Volkswagen

Motorsport, regards his

daily goal as to be the fastest. This applies to the

cars built under his leadership, and for the devel-

opment itself. His motto: Any mistakes you do not

rule out 100 per cent, are 100 per cent guaranteed

to reoccur. Rampf joined the team in 2011. In an

interview, he discusses freedom, innovation and rally

highlights.

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Total freedom, or creativity within strict limita-

tions what appeals most to a motorsport engi-

neer?

Given the chance, I believe ten out of ten engineers

would select total freedom, because that is most inter-

esting at first glance. However, that would probably

be unaffordable in motorsport. As such, designing a

car within strict boundaries makes the most sense.

That kind of regulation applies to all the competitors.

This means that wherever the creative minds and best

engineers are at work, that is also where the best tech-

nological solutions are developed. The challenge for

the engineers is to be just as grand within a restricted

environment.

What is the big challenge for a technician in the

World Rally Championship?

The performance of a WRC car is heavily dependent

on the mechanical design. As such, the suspension

and the chassis play a hugely important role. What

aerodynamics is to a Formula One car, mechanical

grip is to a World Rally Car. That means that we engi-

neers are essentially striving for optimal handling on

different surfaces and in different weather conditions.

What three keywords best describe what is so

special about a World Rally Car, and why?

The drivers would prefer to have a car that responds

to the slightest of changes to the steering wheel or gas

pedal. In plain language, they want it to be agile so

agility is a keyword. Reliability is a big issue, as the

World Rally Championship is held on four conti-

nents, on gravel, asphalt, ice and snow. So, you have

to be reliable in all these conditions. The third major

attribute for a World Rally Car is ease of service. We

spend a lot of time considering how we can make

every single component as quick to replace as pos-

sible. For example, it takes just twelve minutes to

change the gearbox on the Polo R WRC.

Keeping a sharp eye on proceedings

like the design, quality assurance also plays a

major role in the World Rally Championship

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With this in mind, are the mechanics involved in

the development of a World Rally Car?

Definitely. Simple example: if a mechanic tells us that

you cannot reach one point or another with a span-

ner, then there is absolutely no point in completing the

design of that component. If you need five hands for

something, then it is a no go you cannot fit that many

mechanics under the car. Mechanics and engineers

work hand in hand. And that is working out just fine.

Which areas of the Polo R WRC are particularly

innovative?

We gave a lot of thought to the chassis, and how we

could generate as much mechanical grip as possible.

A lot of innovative thinking went into this aspect of

the Polo R WRC. We have advanced this significantly

for 2014. However, a lot of engineering also went into

the engine. It boasts excellent driveability and is

extremely reliable.

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What philosophy did you pursue with the Polo R

WRC?

Right from the outset, the goal was to design the car

for maximum performance. It is easier to make a

quick car reliable than a reliable car quick. Once you

have a quick car, you can get a lot out of it with some

serious engineering spirit and intense work. How-

ever, if you end up with a stable car but the concept

comes up short in terms of performance, then it is

hardly possible to extract any extra performance once

the homologation is complete. The possibilities for

change within the WRC regulations are too few. For

this reason, our philosophy was to give performance

top priority.

One of your maxims is Any mistakes you do not

rule out 100 per cent, are 100 per cent guaran-

teed to reoccur. How much work did you have

to put into the 2014 version of the Polo R WRC in

this regard?

We applied precisely this maxim when working to

correct the mistakes that occurred last year. When a

part breaks, you could just say that it happened once

now, so it will probably never happen again in the

future. In our opinion, this is the wrong approach.

We asked ourselves what we needed to do to ensure

that an error never occurs again even if it was just a

seemingly trivial issue.

Quality assurance plays a major role in motorsport.

What processes does Volkswagen have in place for

the World Rally Championship in this regard?

Every component that is manufactured or sup-

plied must go through a quality control process.

The dimensions and contours are measured, and

the surfaces and durability are checked. At the same

time, parts are constantly being sacrificed destroyed

deliberately in order to prove their resilience and

quality. However, the majority of checks take place

without any destruction by using X-ray or ultra-

sound, for example. Most of that is carried out by our

colleagues in Wolfsburg.

Which is your favourite rally on the calendar?

Thats easy: Portugal. It was the most exciting rally

last year, because it was the toughest for all the

material. The engineers had to step up to the mark

and solve problems there. As a rule, however, we

quite like it to be boring. //

On-site, engineers

also have to takeon the role of

problem solvers.

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Technology Interview with Franois-Xavier Demaison

OUR DRIVERSALWAYS WANT

TO PUSHIn conversation with FX Demaison the father of

the Volkswagen Polo R WRC

On hand to answer questions FX Demaison

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F

ranois-Xavier

FX Demaison,

Technical Project

Leader for the WRC at Volkswa-

gen, has been involved in the

World Rally Championship for ten

years. As such, he arrived in the

Volkswagen team with a wealth

of WRC experience. He saw the

opportunity in Wolfsburg and

Hannover to take responsibility

for the project, from the initial

sketches to the World Champi-

onship title. And he has done

precisely that since 2011. In an

interview, the creator of the Polo

R WRC chats about new develop-

ments, new opponents and new

challenges.

Successful team

World Champion

Sbastien Ogier with

World Champion FXDemaison

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You are known as the father of the Polo R WRC,

and now you actually have twins the 2013

World Championship-winning car and the new

2014 version. How can you tell the dierence

between the two?

It is actually not that easy. The most obvious thing is

probably the new design. Under the bonnet, the 2014

version is a more durable variant of the 2013 Polo R

WRC, with many areas more stable and reliable. The

asphalt and gravel versions each have reinforced sus-

pension parts, and a number of drive components

have also been modified.

Volkswagen had no retirement as a result of a

technical issue in 2013 why was reliability such

a major issue?

First of all, our drivers always want to push hard

perhaps even more so in 2014 than in 2013. We expe-

rienced a few setbacks last year due to the drivers

aggressive driving style something which is often a

necessity if youre aiming for a win. However, if Jari-

Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen in Finland,

and Sbastien Ogier in Germany, had already had the

reinforced components on their cars, they might still

have reached the finish. On top of that were a few less

obvious issues, which we wanted to solve with new

components. We wanted to make the Polo R WRC

more bulletproof. And we obviously also wanted to

make our mechanics lives a little easier at the rallies.

There was a limited number of Jokers, which in

turn restricted the options available for making

A critical eye FX Demaison

knows every detail of the Polo R WRC

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any far-reaching changes to the Polo R WRC.

How did you weigh up the pros and cons of the

individual modications?

We held a number of discussions with Technical

Director Willy Rampf on this topic. As a result of the

limited number of Jokers, we opted for the more reli-

able variant. Once you have played a Joker, there is

no going back you have to use the modified compo-

nents as they are. There are only a few changes that

affect the performance itself. For example, we now

have more set-up options in one or two areas.

To what extent has the Polo R WRC been modi-

ed to suit the preferences and driving styles of

the three drivers?

Our top two drivers, Sbastien Ogier and Jari-Matti

Latvala, have fundamentally different driving styles.

Sb is always looking for the shortest route between

corners, while Jari-Matti likes to throw his car side-

ways along the road. Sb had the advantage of a

years testing, and adjusted the Polo R WRC to suit

his driving style. When Jari-Matti joined us at the

end of 2012, he initially wanted to modify the Polo R

WRC to meet his requirements. However, it turned out

that Sbs driving style is the quicker of the two so

Jari-Matti gradually adapted his style to this central

European style. That is not something you can do

overnight.

What role have the individual technical partners

played? For example, the Polo R WRC has new

shock absorbers

We developed a new damper for this year, and the

wealth of experience and knowledge of ZF really

helped us a lot. Partners like ZF play a key role. And

shock absorbers are very important in the World Rally

Championship. However, you can say exactly the

same about Michelin and tyres, for example, as well

as our other technical partners.

How dicult will it be to defend the title from a

technicians point of view?

It is always harder to defend the title than it is

to win it in the f irst place. I think we surprised

As a result of the

limited number ofJokers, we opted for

the more reliable

variant. Once you

have played a

Joker, there is no

going back.

29


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a lot of people last year and caught some off

their guard. Many, including ourselves, did not

expect us to be challenging from the word go and

throughout the entire season. We are now the

team that ever yone wants to beat. It is easy to

lose concentration and make a silly mistake, or

to take things lightly. You can soon lose a rally or

the World Championship that way. Everyone in

the team has to be hungry for success mechanics,

engineers and drivers.

Compared to last year, how strong do you expect

the opposition old and new to be?

I am taking every single one of our opponents

seriously. They could easily do to us what we did

to them last season. I refer primarily to Hyundai

there. Citron and Ford also line up with new driv-

ers, and are also determined to beat us. 2014 will

definitely not be easy for us, and we will not rest on

our laurels. //

A labour of love the Polo R WRC is the rst World Rally Car,

for which Demaison has had full responsibility

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Technology facts and gures

Facts and gures about the Polo R WRC

The bonnet of the Polo R WRC is basically identical to that of a

production Polo. The only additions to the eight-kilogrambonnet

are ventilation openings, in order to keep the engine at the opti-

mal temperature.

The maximum brake pressure recorded in the Polo R

WRC to date is 74.8 bar. You would have to dive to a

depth of 748 metres to get a feel for this but beware,

as not all submarines can even withstand such pressure.

The brake discs on the Polo R WRC can

withstand temperatures of up to 900 degrees

Celsius. Internally ventilated, steel brake discs

are used in the World Rally Championship.

English company Alcon makes the high-

performance brakes with a diameter (front) of

355 millimetres.

900 C

The Volkswagen

mechanics take

just seven minutes

to change a wheel

bearing. To do this,

the wheel must

be removed rst,

then the brake,

before everything is

reassembled.

75

7 MIN.

8 KG

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the International Automobile Federation (FIA)

breaks the engine down into 300 individual

parts, if necessary, in order to check that it com-

plies with the regulations? The quality assurance

process checks every part, and every screw, to

an accuracy of one thousandth of a millimetre

(1 m). By comparison: that is 500 times smaller

than a grain of salt, or 150 times ner than a

human hair.

modied production doors are used on the

Polo R WRC? The interior lining is removed from

inside and replaced with lightweight carbon. A

special FIA safety foam between the interior

and exterior of the doors serves as impact pro-

tection.

a side door weighs less than half that of a pro-

duction Polo? As electronic components, such as

the window lift, are removed, a WRC door

weighs about 12 kilograms. By comparison, a

production door weighs about 25 kilograms.

a door can be changed as quick as a ash?

During a rally, it takes less than 30 seconds to

remove a damaged door and replace it with a

new one.

the shock absorbers are subjected to forces

of up to four tons? This kind of extreme impact

occurs when a car hits stones or rocks.

as well as the brakes, the shock absorbers

are also subjected to high temperatures? The ZF

single-tube shock absorbers heat up to 150

degrees Celsius. They also spring ve times

quicker than a production damper.

the brake callipers on a World Rally Car are

water-cooled? On production cars and Formula

One cars they are always air-cooled. Com-

pared to Formula One, rally cars do not reach

high enough speeds to cool the brake discs

using the airow generated.

any comments from Volkswagen mechanics

Did you know that

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were all taken into consideration whilst develop-

ing the shock absorbers, etc.? In order to ensure

that a service can be completed as quickly as

possible, the mechanics proposed using stand-

ard-sized screws in easily accessible locations.

This allows the mechanics to save valuable time,

as they need not change tools.

the rear wing helps the car y better on big

jumps? The three-kilometre, add-on aerody-

namic part is made of carbon and, as well as

generating downforce in corners, is designed to

improve the ight of the car on long jumps.

Without the rear wing, the Polo R WRC would

land on its nose.

Volkswagen drivers sit in bucket seats, which

are moulded to t the drivers bodies perfectly?

heated tyre blankets, like the ones used in

Formula One, are not permitted in the FIA

World Rally Championship (WRC)?

Did you know that

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Volkswagen Motorsport Engagements

A GLOBAL PLAYER IN PRODUCTION-BASED MOTORSPORT

AROUND THE WORLD

Setting benchmarks the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup

has introduced numerous innovations to one-make racing

Volkswagen enjoys a global presence on the motorsport scene

34


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F

or Volkswagen,

the close rela-

tionship with

the production side has always

formed an integral part of the

companys motorsport strategy:

back in the 1970s, the Sciroc-

co-Cup caused quite a stir with

its identical, one-make cars. Fast

forward to 2014, and innova-

tive concepts like this are now

regarded as typical Volkswa-

gen. Volkswagen is now not only

a global player in series pro-

duction the car manufacturer is

also a giant in the world of mot-

orsport.

Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup:

an exemplary forerunner in

motorsport

When the Volkswagen Scirocco

R-Cup was held for the rst time

in 2010, it combined numerous

fundamentally new ideas in one.

Pure racing with green appeal:

thanks to its natural gas-pow-

ered engine, the series is able to

reduce the total CO2emissions

arising from the sporting action

and logistics by 80 per cent. This

is unique in the world of motor-

sport. Innovative concepts like the

Push-to-pass system, which allows

the driver to briey call on a fur-

ther 50 hp at the push of a but-

ton, make for exciting battles and

provide a tactical element that

was previously missing from one-

make cups.

At the heart of the power train,

which is optimised for use in

motor racing, is the standard TSI

engine from the Scirocco R the

sports version of the coup. The

engineers have taken the TSI

engine and developed a CNG

racing version, which generates

an impressive 173 kW (235 hp)

and 275 newton metres of torque.

In the Scirocco R-Cup, the two

classes Junior and Pro-Cup

provide sporting variety and

ensure a high-class eld.

Ahead of the fth season,

Volkswagen Motorsport and the

International Automobile Fed-

eration (FIA) went in search of

a talented, young female driver.

The test in the Motorsport Arena

Oschersleben allowed twelve girls

from all over the world to show-

case their talent. Lucile Cypriano

from France was the beaming

winner, and was rewarded with

a cockpit for the 2014 Scirocco

R-Cup.


Juniors versus pros the

Scirocco R-Cup brings unique

concepts together in a one-make

racing series

35


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Turbocharging careers and

upholding a tradition of success:

Volkswagen and Formula 3

Motorsport legends like seven-time

Formula One World Champion,

Michael Schumacher, and eight-

time winner of the Le Mans 24

Hours, Tom Kristensen, took their

rst steps towards careers in

Formula One and GT racing in

Formula 3 and powered by

Volkswagen. Between 1982 and

1991, seven Volkswagen drivers

claimed the title in the German

Formula 3 Championship alone.

In 2014, the career catalyst from

Wolfsburg is as sought-after as

ever: as engine supplier, Volkswa-

gen remains involved in the worlds

most important single-seater series

for young drivers. In doing so, the

manufacturer is upholding its own

successful tradition.

The Formula 3 European Cham-

pionship, in which 230-hp

Volkswagen engines are used, is

no less exciting. The latest gen-

eration Dallara chassis, which is

homologated up to 2015, is used

for the cars. The basic weight of

the entire car, including driver,

amounts to just 550 kilograms.

Whether in Monza, Silverstone,

Spielberg, Zandvoort or Hock-

enheim, the same applies here:

todays Formula 3 drivers could

well be tomorrows Formula One

drivers. The series made its come-

back in 2012 after an absence of

27 years. Not only was it a huge

success for the Formula 3 Euro-

pean Championship, but also for

Volkswagen. In 2014, the former

Formula 3 Euro Series became

one of the most important sin-gle-seater series for juniors in the

world.

Volkswagen engines will also

feature in the British Formula 3

Championship and in Germanys

ATS Formula 3 Cup in 2014. //


Global talent

factory

Volkswagen is

heavily involved

in European

championships

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Volkswagen Motorsport

Volkswagen Service for journalists

www.volkswagen-motorsport.com(public motorsport website and Content & Media Pool)

www.facebook.com/VolkswagenMotorsport(Facebook fan page)

www.twitter.com/VolkswagenRally (Twitter channel for the WRC)

www.youtube.com/VolkswagenRally(Youtube channel for the WRC)

www.adac-formel-masters.de(ADAC Formula Masters)

www.af3europe.com, www.formel3.de, www.formula3.co(ocial F3 websites)

www.wrc.com(ocial website of the FIA World Rally Championship)

LINKS

Volkswagen Motorsport For media

WWW.VOLKSWAGEN-MOTORSPORT.COMVOLKSWAGENS CONTENT & MEDIA POOL OFFERS:

An up-to-date informa-

tion serviceon rounds of

the Formula 3 series and

Scirocco R-Cup, as well as

outings in the FIA World

Rally Championship with

the Volkswagen Polo R

WRC it also provides

news, results, the latest

standings and high-reso-

lution photo material

Portraits of all Volkswagen works drivers

This Informa-

tion packageas a PDF docu-

ment, available

for download

Basic texts andinformationonevery aspect ofVolkswagensmotorsportcommitment

Sending of media information

in German or English

Latest TV footagein various quali-

ties ready to be broadcast, for mobile

devices and the Internet

37
http://www.volkswagen-motorsport.com/http://www.facebook.com/VolkswagenMotorsporthttp://www.twitter.com/VolkswagenRallyhttp://www.youtube.com/VolkswagenRallyhttp://www.adac-formel-masters.de/http://www.fiaf3europe.com/http://www.formel3.de/http://www.formula3.co/http://www.wrc.com/http://www.volkswagen-motorsport.com/http://www.volkswagen-motorsport.com/http://www.wrc.com/http://www.formula3.co/http://www.formel3.de/http://www.fiaf3europe.com/http://www.adac-formel-masters.de/http://www.youtube.com/VolkswagenRallyhttp://www.twitter.com/VolkswagenRallyhttp://www.facebook.com/VolkswagenMotorsporthttp://www.volkswagen-motorsport.com/


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Stefan Moser

Coordinator Motorsport Communication

Volkswagen Group

Mobile +49 171 4000379

E-mail [email protected]

Ingo Roersch

Communications

Mobile +49 172 1499157


Andre Dietzel

Head of Communications

Mobile +49 175 7234689


Volkswagen Motorsport GmbH

Communications

Ikarusallee 7a

D-30179 Hannover

Fon +49 511 67494-0

Fax +49 511 67494-753

[email protected]

www.volkswagen-motorsport.com

Your contacts

Volkswagen Motorsport For media 38
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volkswagen fia world rally championship technology information package 2014

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