Junior victory for the Volkswagen Polo.

Finn Kosti Katajamaki, entered by Lehtonen Motorsport, the partner team of the Finnish Volkswagen-importer, has won the second round of the Junior World Rally Championship.

Katajamaki continuously extended his lead on the Turkish event and eventually won, together with co-driver Miikka Anttila, with a margin of over five minutes.

Their competition car, the new Volkswagen Polo Super 1600, has thus proven its competitiveness for the next five rounds of the FIA JWRC.

The three-day Rally of Turkey took place in the mountains off the south coast in the Antalya region, on demanding gravel tracks, covering a total distance of 380 km.

25-year old Katajamaki was already in the lead after the second day. He set fastest time on all special stages, although he noticed a minor gearbox problem on Saturday evening. After a gearbox bearing had been changed, the Polo Super 1600 ran faultlessly again for the five final special stages on Sunday. From the very beginning, Katajamaki had been driving cautiously.

All in all, 15 of the 22 drivers entered in the Junior WRC had to retire. Among them also Katajamaki's Swedish team-mate Oscar Svedlund and his co-driver Bjorn Nilsson. They damaged the steering after hitting a rock on the opening day. Vladan Vasiljevic, who was driving a Polo from last year, also had bad luck and had to retire after the first special stage due to a sensor problem.

Rudolf-Helmut Strozyk, Head of Volkswagen Racing, commented: "Of course, we are very happy with this victory. Winning with a new car this early in the season already is a great achievement. A big hand to everybody who has contributed to this great success for Volkswagen."

Team principal Risto Buri continued: "I am very happy with this result. Everything just went like I had hoped it would. I want to thank everybody who has helped us and who has kept faith in us."

Katajamakis added: "During the Monte Carlo Rally, I already knew that we would be capable of winning with the Polo Super 1600. Our strategy to drive cautiously, yet quick, has worked out again. Now, being on the top step of the winners' podium is a magnificent feeling."

Co-driver Anttila concluded: "We have made no mistake whatsoever, I am very happy with that. The choice of the hard tyres was right, too. We might have been a little slower, but in these rough road conditions, it was only an advantage."