Sebatien Ogier Brings First WRC Win to VW at Rally Sweden

After just two rallies VolkswagenVolkswagenGermany, 1938 > present98 models
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has already won its first round of the WRC with the Polo RVolkswagen Polo R-WRCGermany, 2012 > present6 photos
at the Rally Sweden. To make the feat even more impressive, driver Sebastien Ogier scored the win by 41.8 seconds against WRC juggernaut Sebastien Loeb who came in second. Ogier is the second non-Scandinavian driver since 1950 to win the Rally Sweden - Loeb was the first. 

Ogier took the lead after two stages of the rally and never relinquished control.

"I can assure you of one thing: nothing is easy when you have nine-time world champion Sebastien Loeb breathing down your neck. He put us under pressure for three whole days. However, we did not allow him to force us into a mistake," said Ogier. 

Ogier credits part of the win to winter testing the Sunday before the rally began. He says that the team was able to create a better chassis setup during the test. 

Ogier called the rally: "A perfect weekend."

Ogier is now in first place in the WRC Drivers' Championship with 46 points. Just behind him with 43 points is Loeb. Given that Loeb intends to race in only two more rallies this season - Argentina and France - it is possible that Ogier could take the championship, but there are still eleven rallies left in the season. 

Volkswagen's other driver Jari-Matti Latvala came in fourth place and was second in the Power Stage. 

"The Polo R WRC and I are not 100 percent a unit. I will have to change my driving style a little to achieve that," said Latvala.

You can view the rally highlights below.