Volkswagen crowned world rally champions* for third time & some stuff about the Volkswagen Polo R WRC

I was a little bit busy travelling around Malaysia and Thailand to write over the past couple of weeks. Last week, Volkswagen made a successful title defence by wining the Manufacturers, Drivers and Co-drivers competitions in the FIA World Rally Championships with a one-two over at the Rally Australia.

The winner was Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and the Volkswagen Polo R WRC were crowned world champions. This marks he third time in a row that Volkswagen have won all titles for the FIA WRC. The Drivers', Co-Drivers' and Manufacturers' competitions were settled in just three quarters of the way into the season – earlier than any manufacturer before them in the history of the World Rally Championship. Jari-Matti Latvala (the chap that drove me round a circuit in Setia Alam just a few weeks ago) /Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) finished runner-up and Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene fourth to complete a fantastic result for Volkswagen Down Under. They currently lie second and third overall with three rallies remaining.

I must say that whilst the WRC does not feature much on my scope these days but lets take a note at the Volkswagen Polo R WRC. 1.6liters 318bhp and a massive 430Nm (from a 1.6liter) makes it do 0-100kmh in 3.9seconds and a gearing limited 200kmh. Note the engine bay pic below, it shows you that the car still uses a production bodyshell and something that most of us can relate to. This is unlike LeMans, DTM, JTCC (or whatever its called today) and Formula 1. If you had a Polo GTI, you may aspire to put a WRC replica 

The only thing that would be hard to replicate is the wheel arches and doing that jump below with the stock suspension. Full Specs of the Polo R WRC are included below 

PRESS RELEASE

Volkswagen crowned world rally champions* for third time

Volkswagen wins Manufacturers', Drivers' and Co-Drivers' competitions in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)

One-two for the Polo R WRC at the Rally Australia secures titles with three races remaining.

15 September 2015 - Successful title defence: Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and the Volkswagen Polo R WRC were crowned world champions* on the back of an extraordinary triumph at the Rally Australia. For the third time in a row, all the titles in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) go to Wolfsburg. And they do so after another record-breaking performance: a one-two at the Rally Australia, the tenth of 13 WRC rounds on four continents, saw the manufacturer crowned champion in the Drivers', Co-Drivers' and Manufacturers' competitions just three quarters of the way into the season – earlier than any manufacturer before them in the history of the World Rally Championship.

Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) finished runner-up and Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene fourth to complete a dream result for Volkswagen Down Under. They currently lie second and third overall with three rallies remaining.

Victory Down Under was the Polo R WRC's ninth win in ten rallies so far in 2015. As such, the World Rally Car from Wolfsburg remains the most successful model in WRC history: since Volkswagen returned to the pinnacle of rallying in January 2013, 31 of 36 victories have gone to the Polo R WRC, with the car claiming a total of 62 podium finishes. The 318-hp four-wheel drive powerhouse has contested 668 special stages so far, winning a remarkable 467. A win ration that is second to none.

The titles in the Drivers', Co-Drivers' and Manufacturers' Championships earn Volkswagen World Championship titles number seven, eight and nine within the space of just three years. The manufacturer remains unbeaten with the Polo R WRC at the pinnacle of rallying, which is the most famous motorsport world championship outside of Formula One. The World Rally Championship is regarded as the greatest challenge in motor racing, from both a driving and technical point of view: the 13 events that make up the season are held on four continents, on gravel, asphalt, ice and snow, and in temperatures ranging from minus 20 to plus 40 degrees Celsius.

The final quarter of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) kicks off with the Rally France (01.10.–04.10.2015), which is followed by the Rally Spain (22.10.–25.10.2015) and the Rally Great Britain (12.11.–15.11.2015).

* subject to confirmation from the FIA.

The Volkswagen Polo R WRC Specification

Engine 

TypeStraight-four engine with turbocharger and intercooling, transversally mounted in front of the front axle

Displacement1,600 cc

Power output234 kW (318 hp) at 6,250 rpm

Torque430 Nm at 5,000 rpm

Bore / stroke83,0 mm / 73,8 mm

Air restrictor33 mm (FIA regulation)

Power transmission 

GearboxSequential, six-speed racing gear box, transversally mounted, hydraulicallyactivated, paddle on the steering

Gearbox Final drivePermanent four-wheel drive with equal torque split between the front andrear axles, multi-plate limited-slip differentials, front and rear

ClutchHydraulically actuated double-disk sintered metal clutch from ZF

Chassis/suspension 

Front/rearMcPherson struts, dampers from ZF

Suspension travelapprox. 180 mm on tarmac, approx. 275 mm on gravel

SteeringServo-assisted rack and pinion steering

Braking systemVentilated disc brakes (front Ø 355 mm and rear Ø 350 mm on asphalt,front and rear Ø 300 mm on gravel),aluminium brake callipers (four callipers, front and rear)

Dimensions and weight 

Length / width / height3,998 / 1,820 / 1,356 mm

Track width1,610 mm

Wheelbase2,480 mm

Minimum weight1,200 kg

Performance 

Acceleration0–100 km/h in approx. 3.9 seconds

Top speed200kmh