Volkswagen seek to retain world titles on home ground

SebastienOgier

The German team have dominated proceedings once again this campaign and are in pole position to win the manufacturers', drivers' and co-drivers' championships for the second-straight year.

After eight rounds, defending drivers' world champion Sebastien Ogier leads the way with 187 points, with team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen heading the chasing pack on 143 points and 95 points respectively.

Ogier cannot clinch the title for himself and co-driver Julien Ingrassia this weekend, but will ensure that the world champion returns to Volkswagen if he can outscore Citroen's Mads Ostberg by 10 points.

Volkswagen have a chance to keep their grip on the manufacturers' title, if they can outdo Citroen by three points in Germany.

However, Volkswagen could be forgiven for having their fair share of nerves heading into a rally where they missed the podium last year due to the pre-event withdrawal of Mikkelsen and crashes for Ogier and Latvala.

That marked the only time in the 2013 campaign that Volkswagen did not finish in the top three, and motorsport director Jost Capito accepts that the team are under a great deal of pressure following last season's mishaps.

"We have a score to settle with the Rally Germany since last year, as missing out on the podium at our home event is not a nice memory to have," Capito said.

"The pressure is really high and we expect a better result and that’s what we are working for this year. We are working hard, with all of our energy focused.

"The approach will be the same as all rallies this season: we’ve got to do our best and to deliver to our bosses the right result on that rally."

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