What was the Volkswagen Polo R WRC's first WRC victory?

What was the Volkswagen Polo R WRC's first WRC victory? The answer is Rally Sweden.

Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia gave the Volkswagen Polo R WRC its maiden World Rally Championship victory at Rally Sweden in February 2013. It was only the second round of Volkswagen’s full factory WRC campaign, making the result an immediate statement from the returning manufacturer.

Ogier led much of the snow-and-ice event and finished 41.8 seconds ahead of nine-time champion Sébastien Loeb in a Citroën DS3 WRC. The victory was also Ogier’s first WRC win with Volkswagen and helped establish the partnership that would dominate the championship over the next several seasons.

The result is sometimes confused with Rally Finland or Rally Portugal because the Polo R WRC won repeatedly during its highly successful 2013–2016 period. Rally Sweden, however, was the car’s first official WRC triumph. Volkswagen went on to win the manufacturers’ championship in its debut season, while Ogier captured the drivers’ title.