Volkswagen reveals more about its Polo GTI R5

After winning four Drivers' and Manufacturers' titles with the Polo WRC, Volkswagen Motorsports will return in rally with the Polo GTI R5 which should arrive in the second half of 2018. The Wolfsburg manufacturer will use the knowledge acquired with its WRC program to develop the R5 version based on the sixth generation of its flagship model.

“We hope to transfer our expertise acquired with the four WRC titles to our customer program with the Polo GTI R5 and thus offer a first-class machine which can compete in both national series and WRC, comments Sven Smeets, director of Volkswagen Motorsport. Before the first race next year, we will put the Polo GTI R5 through a series of rigorous tests to ensure it is ready for a wide variety of track conditions around the globe. »

Development of the Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 began at the start of the year. Its first laps should be completed before 2018. Technical director François-Xavier Demaison is in charge of the development of the future car, benefiting from the support of Gerard-Jan de Jongh as chief engineer of the project, the Dutchman having previously been the racing engineer of Sébastien Ogier.

The Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 is powered by a four-cylinder turbo with direct injection developing 270 hp. The transmission will obviously be on all four wheels with a five-speed sequential gearbox.

This will be the second important customer program for Volkswagen Motorsport with the Golf GTI TCR.