Volkswagen Motorsport’s new driver, Sébastien Ogier, will make his first outing as a Volkswagen Factory rally driver at this year’s Rallye Monte Carlo, from 18–22 January.
While the Polo R WRC is being developed throughout 2012, in readiness for the beginning of the 2013 season, Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia will compete in a 270 hp Fabia S2000 borrowed from the Group’s Škoda brand – but run by the Volkswagen factory team.
Volkswagen will take part in all of this year’s rallies, in the smaller SWRC class, with two Fabias. In Monte Carlo, the second car will be piloted by Dutch junior driver Kevin Abbring and his co-driver Lara Vanneste.
“Monte is a legend and a very special rally, I’m happy to see it back on the WRC calendar. For us, this year will primarily be about developing the Polo in order to compete with a strong and competitive package in 2013,” said a positive Ogier, who finished last year’s WRC in third place.
[Source: Volkswagen Motorsport]