Vw To Join World Rally Champs

Volkswagen has announced that it will be returning to the FIA World Rally Championship from 2013.

The German manufacturer confirmed a five-year commitment to the WRC with its first full campaign coming in 2013 following an 18-month period of testing and development.

The firm will develop a World Rally Car version of its popular Polo model, designated the Polo R WRC, complete with four-wheel drive and a 1.6-litre turbo engine to conform to the new-generation World Rally Car regulations launched for this season.

Simon Long, CEO of North One Sport, said VW’s decision to switch its focus from off-road events to the WRC was another boost for the championship.

‘The WRC is the pinnacle of rallying; it’s all about being the world’s best and Volkswagen is right up there as one of the world’s best automotive brands. Coming hard on the heels of the BMW and MINI announcement this is yet another vote of confidence in the future direction of the WRC’.

‘The WRC is all about innovation – whether that’s on the sporting, technical or promotional side. We’re finding new ways to connect with fans, new ways of developing the sport and the technology beneath it, and that very much mirrors what VW are looking to do as a business and with its Polo’.

Since it was introduced two years ago, the latest Polo has become one of the most successful models in its category, with more than 500,000 were sold in 2010.

Produced at plants in Europe, Russia, South Africa, India and Brazil, Volkswagen has said its aim is to make the Polo the most successful small car in the world.

Volkswagen’s head of marketing, Luca de Meo added: ‘The WRC is a global platform and this is one very important reason from a marketing and brand point of view we supported this project’.

‘With 13 races on four continents this event has enormous media impact. It is broadcast in more than 80 counties – I think more than 500 million people are enthusiastic about it – but this is just the beginning. It is for sure one of the most important event platforms in the world’.

After four rounds this season Sebastien Loeb, driving a Citroen DS3 WRC, heads the drivers’ standings from Ford Fiesta RS WRC pilot Mikko Hirvonen, while Citroen and Ford jointly top the manufacturers’ table.