WRC: Volkswagen podium lockout delights Capito

Volkswagen Motorsport boss Jost Capito has said he's delighted with his manufacturers' clean sweep of the podium at the opening round of the World Rally Championship in Monte Carlo.

Reigning champion Sebastien Ogier made a perfect start to the defence of his WRC title with victory in the Rallye Monte Carlo, while his team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala finished second and Andreas Mikkelsen completed the rostrum 1-2-3 for VW.

Volkswagen became only the first manufacturer since 1973 to lock out the Monte Carlo podium; and only the fifth constructor to achieve the feat, joining established rally names Renault-Alpine, Lancia, Audi and Citroen.

Capito praised his drivers for their perfect races after none of the top three suffered single crash all weekend.

"It's a fantastic feeling for the team, winning Monte Carlo is very special in itself," Capito said. "A 1-2-3 is something you can't imagine - it's not settled in our minds what has happened here.

"The key here was no mistakes, none of the six drivers or any of the mechanics or the engineers talking about the tyre choice made any. The driver counts more than the car on this rally and there is not a scratch on the car."

Dr Heinz-Jakob Neusser, Volkswagen's head of technical development, put the achievement down to perfect teamwork.

"To start the season in this manner with a new car, and in such difficult conditions, far exceeds our expectations," Dr Neusser said. "The entire troop worked in perfect harmony. This team is now deservedly up there with the other big rally manufacturers."

Watch the highlights from VW's dominant Rallye Monte Carlo peformance