Volkswagen has got its 2014 World Rally Championship off to a good start by winning the Monte Carlo Rally. Team driver and current champion Sebastien Ogier won despite early setbacks, beating Ford driver Bryan Bouffier and Citroen's Kris Meeke.
A mistake in tyre choice early in the event put the Volkswagen team back to ninth place at one point in the event. However, by the midway point Ogier and his navigator Julien Ingrassia regained the lead. Weather conditions proved difficult for all competitors; the second run of the 14th special stage over the Col de Turini had to be 'neutralised' and some cars ended up stuck in the snow.
Sebastien Ogier commented on his victory: "What a perfect start to the season! The team did a fantastic job. I am overjoyed. It is an amazing feeling to win the Rally Monte Carlo in these difficult conditions - especially now that the Monte is a round of the World Championship again. For that reason, this win obviously ranks above the victory in the IRC in 2009 for Julien and me. Even more so when you consider the last three days: the fight back in extreme rain, and then the snow chaos on the Col de Turini. I really wanted to win my home rally here. I will celebrate the win appropriately - with my family, my girlfriend and the entire Volkswagen team."
Anything else?
One technique for overcoming poor conditions and changing weather - adopted on Ogier's car - was the practice of 'tyre crossing'. This puts mixed tyres on diagonally opposite wheels; for example slicks on the right front and left rear wheel with wet tyres on the other wheels. Volkswagen claims to be the first team to use this set up in competition.