[JayPrashanth]

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Volkswagen Motorsport, the motor racing division of the German auto behemoth has begun developing a Polo R2 hatchback that will be entered into a new category in the 2014 Indian National Rally Championship (INRC). Volkswagen already participates in the INRC 2013's Group N category with a Polo hatchback. Next year, the INRC will add a new category called "R2" and the Polo R2 will be Volkswagen Motorsport's entry into that category.



Note: Volkswagen Polo R2 image used in this report is illustrative in nature.

The Volkswagen Polo R2 car uses the 1.6 liter petrol MPI engine, also found in the likes of the Volkswagen Vento and the Skoda Rapid sedans, in a higher state of tune. In the Polo R2, the 1.6 liter MPI petrol engine outputs 130 PS of peak power. This engine is mated to a five speed manual gearbox. Apart from the more powerful engine, the Polo R2 comes with a whole host of changes across the board that include the following:

• Reiger Suspension
• Upgraded Alcon brakes (285 mm front disc and 255 mm rear disc)
• Aerodynamic body kit
• Roof spoiler
• Roof vents
• Stripped interiors with FIA-spec roll cage
• OMP 6 point harness seats for driver and navigator
• 15 inch alloy wheels shod with JK rally tyres

Malaysian driver Karamjit Singh, who currently drives a Group N Polo for Slideways Industry in the 2013 INRC season, will test the Polo R2 at the K1000 and Chikmagalur rallies. Apart from its participation in Indian rallying, Volkswagen Motorsport has been active in circuit racing. While the one-make Polo Cup has been a regular fixture on the Indian motorsport map since 2010, the German car maker has also entered the Vento into the Indian saloon racing championship of 2013.

Image courtesy PoloDriver

[killjoy]

Super news. Are they going to make this available to people to rent on an event by event basis?

[GTO]

Great news! Indian motorsport will only gain from the entry of newer manufacturers, especially a giant like VW . It's great to see VW supporting Motorsports in India. First the superb Polo Cup, now the INRC!

Originally Posted by JayPrashanth

The Volkswagen Polo R2 car uses the 1.6 liter petrol MPI engine, also found in the likes of the Volkswagen Vento and the Skoda Rapid sedans, in a higher state of tune. In the Polo R2, the 1.6 liter MPI petrol engine outputs 130 PS of peak power. This engine is mated to a five speed manual gearbox.

Interesting, considering that this 1.6L petrol isn't available anymore in the Polo. It's being phased out (in India, as well as globally) and replaced by the smaller direct-injection turbo 1.2L petrol. The Skoda Rapid is currently the only car from the VAG that uses the 1.6L petrol.

[sudev]

Great news but hardly any reaction on the forum or posts on the topic?

[speed kills]

Racetech displayed the car in Bangalore yesterday.

[GTO]

Just in from Volkswagen Motorsport: :

The IMG K-1000 Rally turned out to be a successful outing for Volkswagen Motorsport India. The testing of the two rally-spec Polo cars developed by Volkswagen Motorsport India produced positive results. Polo R2, driven by Karamjit Singh took top honours in the IRC category and finished second overall. In INRC 1600 category, Arun Rao Aroor (AR Racing) finished first, Phalguna Urs (Racetech India) second and Sirish Chandran (Slideways Industries) third, all driving Volkswagen Polo rally cars. Rohan Pawar, also driving Slideways Industries’ Polo rally car grabbed the third position on the podium in the JINRC category.

Volkswagen Motorsport India began the testing of two company developed rally-spec Polo cars at IMG K-1000 rally. Polo R2 driven by Slideways Industries’ ace rally driver Karamjit Singh was placed in the IRC category while Group N Polo driven by Phalguna Urs was placed in the INRC 1600 category. Karamjit Singh won the IRC category and finished second overall. Multi-APRC title holder, Karamjit Singh said, “It was our first outing in the Polo R2 and I am glad we could produce good results. The feeling from the car is very positive and we are on the right path for developing the car further.”

Phalguna Urs, also driving the factory-developed Polo, clocked consistent fast timings through the stages to finish second in 16000-cc category. Driving for Racetech India, it was Urs’ first time in a rally Polo and yet he managed to be just 1.4 seconds off the fastest in his category and clinched the second spot on the podium. Winning the INRC 1600 category was Arun Rao Aroor from AR Racing, also driving a Polo rally car. Finishing off the podium was Slideways Industries’ Sirish Chandran who finished 7.7 seconds behind Phalguna. In the JINRC Category, Slideways Industries Rohan Pawar drove throughout consistently to finish third in the end.

[Powersteer]

Not sure if the 1.2 TSi would have been better choice of engine than the 1.6, from the perspective of categorisation.