Ogier pushes early Polo debut, Capito not so sure

Volkswagen Motorsport’s inbound motorsport director Jost Capito is ready to keep Sebastien Ogier waiting for the debut of the Polo R WRC. Ogier had stated that he thought getting the German firm’s all-new World Rally Car up and running in the WRC as soon as possible was the best policy – but Capito says such a move would require a considerable number of logistical changes to the 2012 programme.

Asked whether he thought the Polo R WRC would be competing on Rallye du Var – a traditional end-of-season French Alps event increasingly used as a Monte Carlo Rally shakedown – Ogier admitted it would be unlikely.

He said: “For the Rallye du Var, that’s not on the programme for now. I don’t think that will happen because the end of the year is going to be very busy for us: we’ll have a lot of testing and I hope we’ll be able to participate in the last few rounds of the WRC with the Polo.”

Capito said: “The plan is to test this year and wait for Monte Carlo [2013]. But, I have good experience from running the new Ford Focus in Australia in 2005 (ahead of its full debut in 2006). That was an excellent thing to do and I have not forgotten that, but there are a lot of things related to doing this – you have to have the homologation ready in time. If it is possible, then it would implement a lot of changes to the programme and we would have to look in and see if that was possible or not.”

Sébastien Ogier testing the Volkswagen Polo R WRC on tarmac in Alicante, Spain.

An interesting ‘photo of a photo’ of Sébastien Ogier, Rallye Monte Carlo 2012.

Sébastien Ogier during Rallye Terre de Provence 2006, second round of French gravel championship of said year. Sébastien Ogier finished 26th overall and 8th in Peugeot Volant Peugeot 206. The rally was won by Jean Marie Cuoq driving Peugeot 307 WRC, Guillaume Canivenq won in Volant Peugeot 206 category.

Here is a link to an interesting preview of Rally Acropolis 2012 written by the rally guru Julien Porter. He also returns to last year’s Rally Acropolis which was an event where all the infamous controvercy between Sébastien Ogier, Sébastien Loeb and Citroen team started. He also writes about the great fight between Ogier and Andreas Mikkelsen during Rally Argentina 2012 which will probably continue also during Acropolis 2012.

Sébastien Ogier during Rallye de France Alsace 2011.

Sébastien Ogier during Wales Rally GB 2009.

Sébastien Ogier during Rally Turkey 2010.

Sébastien Ogier during Acropolis Rally 2011 which he won.

Sébstien Ogier behind the wheel of Citroen DS3 R3T during Rallye du Var 2010.

Sébastien Ogier giving an utograph to his young fan during Rallye Alsace Vosges Ville d’Epinal 2007, second round of French tarmac championship of said year.

Sébastien Ogier during 2011 French F4 championship race at Paul Richard Circuit at Le Castellet.

Sébastien Ogier having an off during Rallye Monte Carlo 2010. The accident happened because of “shit spectators” (direct quote from Mr Ogier ;-)) who were throwing snow on the road which was something he possibly could not have in his pacenotes.

Sébastien Ogier signing the T-shirt of his fan during Rally de Espana 2009.

Sébastien Ogier during Rally Mexico 2012 where he finished 8th overall and was the fastest in S2000 category. Sébastien Loeb won this rally.