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2013 Volkswagen Polo R WRC news, pictures, and information | ||
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VOLKSWAGEN TO START CONTESTING THE WRC WITH THE POLO R WRC IN 2013
'We have invited you to join us here in Olbia to announce Volkswagen's entry in the World Rally Championship starting in 2013.' – These were the words used by Volkswagen Management Board Member Dr. Úlrich Hackenberg as he declared Volkswagen's entry into the most versatile of the four automobile world championships (World Rally Championship, WRC). In front of 200 journalists he unveiled the concept of the Polo R WRC, the car wîth which Volkswagen will compete from 2013 onwards, together wîth Luca de Meo, Head of Marketing of Volkswagen AG, and Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. Luca de Meo: 'Almost exactly two years ago, in May 2009, the most recent model of the Polo was presented here in Sardinia. Today we are proud to show you the hottest Polo of all time – the Polo R WRC.' For Kris Nissen and his team the World Rally Championship entry marks a new commitment. 'We look forward to this new challenge and are working on this project wîth the same passion wîth which we won the Dakar Rally in the past three years,' said Kris Nissen.After three consecutive victories at the Dakar Rally, Volkswagen has set itself new aims in top-calibre sport. With three car corporations currently involved in the championship and global media coverage, the WRC offers an attractive, highly competitive environment for Volkswagen. By 2013 the Wolfsburg-based brand will develop a near-300-hp rally vehicle wîth a 1.6-litre TSI engine and four-wheel drive based on the Polo.
Úniversal technological challenge, new rules The World Rally Championship offers the most diverse technological challenge in worldwide car racing to the manufacturers involved. Various types of ground have to be considered during the concept design of a WRC vehicle such as all manner of gravel, scree, tarmac, ice, snow and mud. The calendar this season features 13 WRC rounds on four different continents. Hence a world rally car has to function in extremely different climatic conditions, from the blazing heat of South America to the icy ride in Scandinavia.
In addition, new technical rules have come into effect in the WRC this year. For the first time, engines wîth a maximum displacement of 1,600 cc, direct injection and turbochargers are prescribed.
'The new Technical Regulations of the World Rally Championship are an ideal fit for Volkswagen's philosophy wîth respect to the development of production vehicles,' says Dr Úlrich Hackenberg, Member of the Management Board of the Volkswagen Brand, Development Division. 'Downsizing, high efficiency and reliability are top priorities for our customers. The timing of the WRC debut is optimal for Volkswagen. The big task of engineering a vehicle that is competitive and capable of winning at a large number of challenges holds great appeal for us.'
Proven squad, new aims: Volkswagen Motorsport's factory commitment
Volkswagen will prepare and enter the Polo R WRC as a factory commitment. In doing so, the Wolfsburg-based squad can build on structures which have been established over the past few years. The World Rally Championship is a new ambitious aim for the team that has won the 'Dakar' in the past three years. 'We can draw on an experienced and proven squad which has done an outstanding job in top-calibre sport in the past few years,' says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. 'Even though the WRC is new territory for us and involves learning in many areas the team already meets some important prerequisites now as it brings an unwavering professional attitude and resolve to deliver absolute perfection to this commitment.'Volkswagen in the WRC: a success story
Volkswagen looks back on a small yet impressive rally tradition. Production-based vehicles from Wolfsburg celebrated rally racing successes in the middle end of the 1980s. The most important one: In 1986 the Swede Kenneth Eriksson and his German co-driver Peter Diekmann in the Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V claimed the world champion's title in the newly incepted Group A. In addition, Volkswagen vigorously promoted young rally talent through the Golf Rally Cup. The fielding of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC from 2013 onwards closes the loop: Today's WRC vehicles are still based on the philosophy of the Group A introduced back then, which enables rally sport to be conducted wîth vehicles based on production models.Source - Volkswagen| Audi at Le Mans: Advantage through efficiency | |
 | • 90 years of Le Mans, 15 years of Audi at the '24 Heures'
• Eleven victories at 14 runs and absolute distance record • Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich: 'Le Mans points the way to the future' Six more weeks until the Le Mans 24 Hours celebrates its 90th anniversary. Since 1999, Audi has shaped the world's most important endurance race like no other automobile manufacturer. Eleven victories in 14 events – the technological milestones set by Ingolstadt and...[Read more...] |
| Land Rover Celebrates 65 Years Of Technology And Innovation | |
 | SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF LAND ROVER From our earliest days, the desire to create a vehicle that will tackle any terrain has made Land Rover famous around the world. Over the past 65 years, the Land Rover family has grown into the highly respected range of vehicles that are sold in record numbers today. As Land Rover continues to go from strength to strength, we thought it was time to look back at the milestones in our history that have got us here. The last 65 years have been an adventure. ...[Read more...] |
| VOLKSWAGEN LINES UP WITH THREE POLO R WRCS FOR FIRST TIME | |
 | Fourth rally, fourth first: Volkswagen will line up with three Polo R WRCs for the first time at the Rally Portugal. After a strong debut in the FIA World Rally Championship at January's Rally Monte Carlo, the Polo R WRC then started its first event on ice and snow at the Rally Sweden in February, before making its first outing on gravel at high altitude at the Rally Mexico. From 11 to 14 April, the Rally Portugal will provide the stage for another first: Andreas Mikkelsen and Mikko Markkula (N...[Read more...] |
| GRAVEL, ALTITUDE, HEAT: VOLKSWAGEN POLO R WRC MAKES MEXICAN DEBUT | |
 | ¡Viva México! The Volkswagen Polo R WRC is just a matter of days away from its much-anticipated competitive debut on gravel in the FIA World Rally Championship. The 315 hp four-wheel drive powerhouse from Wolfsburg will take on very specific conditions when it rolls down the starting ramp at the third round of the season, the Rally Mexico, from 7th to 10th March. Reaching altitudes of up to 2,700 metres above sea level, the special stages are the highest the teams will face all season – a true c...[Read more...] |
| JAGUAR EXPANDS POWERTRAIN CHOICE WITH TWO ADDITIONAL FORCED-INDUCTION PETROL ENGINES | |
 | As Jaguar expands its product offer in key global markets it is introducing two additional petrol units to its range to enhance customer choice; the new 3.0-litre V6 Supercharged Petrol, and the 2.0-litre I4 Turbocharged Petrol. Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, Jaguar Cars, said: 'Jaguar currently has its strongest range of products for several decades. Our continued growth is dependent on two things; activating the awareness of the brand, and expanding our range to enable us to access...[Read more...] |
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