ZF partner Volkswagen celebrates one-two victory at season’s finale
At the last round of the 2013 World Rally Championship, Volkswagen celebrated another one-two victory. Sébastien Ogier*, who had already been determined as the World Champion, won the Wales Rally Great Britain in the Volkswagen Polo R WRC ahead of his team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala. Andreas Mikkelsen completed the outstanding result of the Volkswagen factory team in fifth place. All three rely on the Polo R WRC that is equipped with a two-plate clutch and dampers by ZF Friedrichshafen AG. The new World Champion Ogier crowned his exceptional performance throughout the season by posting nine further special-stage best times in Wales. On five special stages, Latvala was the fastest driver and two other best times were credited to Mikkelsen. On 16 of the total of 22 special stages, the Volkswagen Polo R WRC was thus the fastest car in the field. In its first season as a factory team, Volkswagen Motorsport clinched an amazing ten victories in the 13 WRC rallies.
* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA
Results Wales Rally (GB), round 13, WRC, Nov 15–Nov 17, 2013:
1. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia, Volkswagen, 3h 03m 36.7s, ZF
2. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila, Volkswagen, + 21.8s, ZF
3. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul, Ford, + 1m 24.5s
4. Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson, Ford, + 1m 48.2s
5. Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula, Volkswagen, 2m 03.4s, ZF
6. Martin Prokop/Michal Ernst, Ford, + 7m 37.5s
7. Dani Sordo/Carlos Del Barrio, Citroën, + 8m 27.9s
8. Elfyn Evans/Daniel Barritt, Ford, + 11m 13.1s
9. Jari Ketomaa/Mika Stenberg, Ford, + 12m 16.2s
10. Mark Higgins/Carl Williamson, Ford, + 13m 21.0s
Drivers world championship standings:
1. S. Ogier, 290 points; 2. T. Neuville, 176, 3. J. Latvala, 162; 4. M. Hirvonen, 126; 5. Sordo, 125; 6. M. Østberg, 103; 7. E. Novikov, 72. 8. S. Loeb, 68
Constructors’ world championship standings:
1. Volkswagen Motorsport, 425 points; 2. Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT, 280; 3. Qatar WRT, 190; 4. Qatar M-Sport WRT, 184; 5. Jipocar Czech National Team, 65
Formula 1: ZF partner team Lotus on podium at Austin
Good results for the ZF customer teams Lotus-Renault, Ferrari and Sauber at the United States Grand Prix at Austin, Texas. Right after the start, the Frenchman Romain Grosjean, in whose Lotus-Renault clutches by ZF Friedrichshafen AG are installed, overtook Mark Webber, who was in the position in front of him, and went on to pursue Webber’s Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel. Although Grosjean was not able to launch a serious attack against the German World Champion, he skilfully defended his second place against Webber, who was coming on stronger and stronger toward the end of the race. The two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso, whose Ferrari is equipped with dampers by ZF, finished the race in the points as well, in fifth place. A strong performance yet again was shown by Niko Hülkenberg in the USA. The German’s Sauber-Ferrari also uses dampers of the ZF brand. Hülkenberg fought a fascinating duel with the Spaniard over several laps but ultimately finished behind Alonso in sixth place.
Results, US Grand Prix (USA), round 18, FIA Formula 1 World Championship, Nov 15–Nov 17,2013:
1. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault, 1h 39m 17.148s
2. Romain Grosjean, Lotus-Renault, + 6.284 s, ZF
3. Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault, + 8.396s
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, + 27.358s
5. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, + 29.592s, ZF
6. Nico Hülkenberg, Sauber-Ferrari, + 30.400s, ZF
7. Sergio Pérez, McLaren-Mercedes, + 46.692s
8. Valtteri Bottas, Williams-Renault, + 54.509s
9. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, + 59.141s
10. Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, + 1m 17.278s
Drivers’ world championship standings:
1. S. Vettel, 372 points; 2. F. Alonso, 227; 3. L. Hamilton, 187; 4. K. Räikkönen, 183; 5. M. Webber, 181; 6. N. Rosberg, 161; 7. R. Grosjean, 132; 8. F. Massa, 106; 9. J. Button, 61; 10. P. di Resta, 48.
Constructors’ world championship standings:
1. Red Bull-Renault, 553 points; 2. Mercedes, 348; 3. Ferrari, 333; 4. Lotus-Renault, 315; 5. McLaren-Mercedes, 102; 6. Force India-Mercedes, 77; 7. Sauber-Ferrari, 53; 8. Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 32; 9. Williams-Renault, 5.