PoloDriver

2017 was yet another busy year for the Volkswagen Polo. The launch and introduction of the all-new sixth-generation model has been the major news, and although there has been no Polo rally action in 2017, the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI has dominated the World Rallycross Championship in the hands of Johan Kristoffersson.

But, with a debut for the new Polo GTI R5 later in 2018, the stages look set for a Polo return to asphalt and gravel action. The Engen Volkswagen Cup in South Africa is due to run new-generation Polo GTIs, too, in 2018, so next year’s Polo motorsport activity is shaping up very nicely.

Right now, though, we round up the Polo’s biggest achievements in 2017. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month’s list of events.)

January

• Al-Attiyah confirms no Polo R WRC in 2017 FIA World Rally Championship
• PSRX and Volkswagen Sweden rallycross team confirmed
• Polo Sound special edition launched in Germany
• Indian-market Polo GTI wins Autocar India’s Performance Hatchback of the Year award
• Polo is the tenth best-selling car in Europe (JATO).

February

• FIA prohibits complete homologation of 2017 Volkswagen Polo R WRC
• Polo GTI 230 special edition for Switzerland
• Guy Wilks confirmed for Polo RX in 2017 World Rallycross Championship
• Polo-based VW Ameo wins Car India and Bike India’s ’Compact Sedan Of The Year’ award
• Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK.

March

• Citi Vivo special edition launched in South Africa
• 1,250,000th Polo production jubilee celebrated by Volkswagen South Africa
• Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI R-Line launched in South Africa
• PSRX Volkswagen Sweden reveals 2017 World Rallycross Polo GTI Supercar
• Volkswagen Motorsport announces new Polo R5 rally car testing plans
• Indian-market Polo GTI wins the Thrill of Driving Award at the Times Auto Awards
• Polo-based VW Ameo wins the Compact Sedan of the Year at the Times Auto Awards
• Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK.

April


• PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTIs show pace at World RX of Barcelona
• Kristoffersson drives Polo GTI Supercar to World RX of Portugal podium
• Volkswagen India launches limited edition Polo GT Sport
• Indian-market Polo GTI wins Flywheel Auto Awards’ 2017 Performance Hatchback of the Year award
• Indian-market Polo GTI wins BBC Top Gear Awards’ 2017 Hot Hatch of the Year award
• Polo is the ninth best-selling car in the UK.

May

• Fifth-generation Polo-based Volkswagen Vento Allstar and GT launched in Malaysia
• World RX of Hockenheim podium place for Kristoffersson and Polo GTI
• PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTIs dominate World RX of Belgium with double podium
• Sixth-generation Polo prototype drives and ‘sneak peek’ video published
• Solberg and Kristoffersson do the double at World RX of Great Britain
• Polo is the fifth best-selling car in the UK.

June

• Volkswagen launches sixth-generation Polo ‘teaser’ video campaign
• Johan Kristoffersson takes second 2017 World RX victory in Norway
• First images of new Polo revealed ahead of 16 June world premiere
• New sixth-generation Polo unveiled at Berlin world premiere event on 16 June
• Polo is the eighth best-selling car in the UK.

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A third Volkswagen Polo GTI Supercar will be making an appearance at round eleven of the 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship, the World RX of Germany, with VW test driver Dieter Depping sitting behind the wheel. The three-time German rally champion will make his world rallycross debut in the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden-run car at the Estering circuit on 30 September to 1 October.

The 51 year-old will contest the Buxtehude races alongside PSRX team owner and ex-WRC champion Petter Solberg and current World Rallycross Championship leading driver Johan Kristoffersson. The first time former Dakar driver Depping has driven in competition since the 2010 Nürburgring 24-hour race. ‘I’m really looking forward to it, but also have a huge amount of respect for the races,’ the experienced circuit driver said.

‘When Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets asked me if I could envisage starting at my home race in Buxtehude, I didn’t need to think about it for long,’ explained Depping, beaming. ‘I will prepare for the races and am already looking forward to the great setting at the Estering. My thanks also go to Petter Solberg’s team, who are taking me and my Polo under their wing for this competition,’ he continued.

‘Dieter Depping has done a valuable job for Volkswagen as a test driver and racing driver for many years. He was part of the Dakar team, was involved in the development of countless racing cars and played a major role in Volkswagen bringing home a total of twelve world championship titles with the Polo R WRC,’ said Smeets. ‘The start in Buxtehude is a way of thanking Dieter Depping for his fantastic work, but we are also delighted to have a local hero lining up at the rallycross highlight in Lower Saxony.’

PROFILE: DIETER DEPPING
Dieter Depping was born on 7 August 1966 in Hannover, Germany. He first watched motorsport as a rally spectator when he was 18 years old. In 1990 he contested his rookie season in the German rally trophy in a Volkswagen Golf he built himself, winning the competition. Between 1992 and 1994 he won three titles in the German rally championship, three victories at ADAC Rally Germany (1994, 1996, 1997), and finished runner-up twice in the European championship in 1994 and 1995.

He then took a break from professional racing and devoted himself to the family business. He joined Volkswagen Motorsport as a test driver and works driver in 2001. He made his debut in a Volkswagen Tarek at the 2003 Dakar Rally, as the team-mate of Jutta Kleinschmidt. In 2009, he made his second appearance, in a Race Touareg.

Depping has also contested circuit races for Volkswagen, including the Nürburgring 24-hour race. As a test driver, Depping made a crucial contribution to the development of the hugely successful Polo R WRC the end of 2011. That four-time championship-winning machine also formed the basis for the current World Rallycross Championship Polo GTI Supercar.

Johan Kristoffersson claimed his third win of the season for PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden at round seven of the FIA World Rallycross in Höljes, the World RX of Sweden. In front of a home crowd of more than 45,000 passionate fans, there’s no doubt the young Swede and his 570bhp Polo GTI Supercar dominated 1-2 July proceedings.

With triumphs in the qualifying and semi-final already under his tyres, Kristoffersson’s victory never looked in danger during the final. The impressive home win also means that the 28 year-old has extended his lead in the drivers’ standings. Now with 181 points, Kristoffersson leads team-mate Petter Solberg by 31 points. Solberg failed to qualify for the Swedish final, but PSRX Volkswagen continues to lead the team competition with 331 points, 85 points ahead of Team Peugeot-Hansen.

‘The car was pefect’
Kristoffersson was delighted by his win: ‘Saturday was a very good day. We were out in front at the end of the day, but I was fully focussed on the final day. After all, that is what it is all about. As always, the car was perfect. I have to thank everyone in the team. Not only those here today, but everyone who works so hard for us at Volkswagen Motorsport.

‘This is the one I wanted,’ he continued. ‘This one means so much in front of my home crowd and, of course, it’s the home race for the whole team. I am so happy for everybody. When I knew this deal was happening at the start of the season I had a real dream that we could make something special, but could we make magic? I didn’t know. But now I think it looks like we are starting to do that!’

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Kristoffersson

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Kristoffersson

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Kristoffersson

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Kristoffersson

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Kristoffersson

Perfect tactical approach
Away from Kristoffersson’s victory, the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team was dominant in Höljes, thanks to a perfect tactical approach which put the team in pole position after the qualifying heats. Going into day two, Kristoffersson was quickest in Q2, and second fastest in Q1, resulting in a top-of-the-table result for Sunday morning’s action. It was the same story then, though, with the Swede leading from the front to take the times in Q3, too.

Solberg meanwhile set the pace in Q4 and also the fastest race time of the whole weekend, and the Norwegian was also quickest in the free practice session. Solberg’s result meant he finished second in the Intermediate Classification and started on pole position for semi-final two on day two, pole position for semi-final one being secured by Kristoffersson.

‘It was really important to get one-two coming out of the heats – that would make sure Johan and I went into separate semi- finals,’ explained Solberg. ‘I didn’t have the best time in the heats yesterday, but it came good this morning and I won Q4 to get us in the position we wanted. It was all looking perfect until I stalled on the line in my semi-final. I couldn’t believe it. All that hard work and it had gone.’

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Solberg

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Solberg

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Solberg

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Solberg and Kristoffersson

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Solberg

‘A real achievement’
He continued: ‘OK, that’s racing. I’m not going to let this spoil the party we have earned here at home in Sweden. You might notice, I am a little bit more Swedish this weekend! Honestly, I am so happy for the team and for what we have achieved here. The focus is the teams’ title for me, but for us to be in this position with a team just six months old is incredible and a real achievement for PSRX Volkswagen Sweden.’

Even though he didn’t qualify for the final, Solberg was upbeat: ‘You know we don’t like to talk the talk unless we can walk the walk and, while there is still a long way to go and a lot of corners to turn before the end of the season, I believe we are beginning to walk the walk! We couldn’t ask for more than this!’

In the European Rallycross Championship at Höljes, Anton Marklund added another win to his tally, as the Swedish driver took the spoils in his Marklund Motorsport-prepared Polo RX. Peter Hedström in another Polo RX finished second, while a third Volkswagen Polo RX driven by Alexander Hvaal was also in the final of the Höljes European series races.

The 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship circus moves to Canada for the eighth round of the series, the World RX of Canada at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres circuit on 5-6 August. Both Kristoffersson and Solberg will be looking to protect their new one-two positions in the Drivers’ Championship and consolidate PSRX Volkswagen Sweden’s reputation.

https://youtu.be/pRsAt1AtCXQ

2017 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,

DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1 Johan Kristoffersson, Volkswagen Polo GTI: 181
2 Petter Solberg, Volkswagen Polo GTI: 150
3 Mattias Ekström, Audi S1: 143
4 Sebastian Loeb, Peugeot 208: 125
5 Andreas Bakkerud, Ford Focus RS: 124

2017 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,

TEAMS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden: 331
2 Team Peugeot-Hansen: 246
3 EKS: 201
4 Hoonigan Racing Division: 201
5 MJP Racing Team Austria: 142

[Images: FIAWorldRallycross.com / PSRX Volkswagen Sweden]

Following his stellar performance at the World RX of Great Britain, PSRX Volkswagen Sweden driver Johan Kristoffersson swept all before him and took his 570bhp Polo GTI Supercar to victory at the 2017 World RX of Norway on 10-11 June, the sixth round of the 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship.

The win at the 1.019km-long mixed surface circuit in Hell saw the young Swede extend his lead in the 2017 drivers’ points table, and, with 151 points, Kristoffersson is now ahead of current world champion Mattias Ekström by eight points who sits in second with 143.

Fastest driver
Setting the pace in free practice where he was the fastest driver, Kristoffersson never let up. The Swedish driver’s second victory of the year was even more impressive as he was driving in pain, with a badly injured right foot, sustained when it got caught under Sebastien Loeb’s car at a ‘pre-grid’ gathering earlier in the weekend.

A visibly pained Kristoffersson explained: ‘The car needed to be reversed to get my foot back out which was really painful but nobody’s fault. It was really painful between the semi-final and final races, but painkillers helped and I will go to the hospital to get it properly looked at.’

Even a puncture in the fourth qualifying heat couldn’t stop his pace-setting progress, and the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden young gun was also the fastest in the third qualifying heat where he passed Team Peugeot Hansen’s Loeb with a round the outside overtake in the joker on lap one of race four.

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Norway: Kristoffersson

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Norway: Kristoffersson

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Norway: Kristoffersson

2017 PS2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Norway: KristofferssonRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Norway: Solberg and Kristoffersson

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Norway: Kristoffersson and Holberg

‘Really fantastic’
A jubilant Kristoffersson was elated at his victory: ‘It is fantastic. I cannot say it often enough, but our team is rather special. The way we work and achieve these results together is really fantastic. That was a tough weekend. The wet conditions were not easy yesterday. However, my Polo GTI was just superb.’

Speaking ahead of the event, the 28 year-old said: ‘It’s great to lead the World Championship. I was equal with Petter after the first round a couple of years ago but now finally I’m leading on my own. It’s started to sink in a bit more and it’s a very, very good feeling.’ Kristoffersson had never made the final race in Norway until this year.

Team boss and PSRX Volkswagen Sweden driver Petter Solberg enjoyed limited success at his home event. The Norwegian failed to qualify for the final race for the first time this season and finished in seventh place overall. However, a consistent performance helped the ex-world rally star keep his third place in the Drivers’ Championship behind Ekström.

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Norway: Solberg

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Norway: Solberg

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Norway: Solberg and Kristoffersson

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Norway: Solberg and Kristoffersson

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Norway: Solberg and Kristoffersson

‘So disappointed’
The ex-World Rally and World Rallycross Champion was frustrated at being knocked out in the semi-final: ‘Obviously it’s disappointing that we can’t keep this incredible run going for getting two cars to the final. I have to say I am so, so disappointed with what happened in the semi-final; this is the second time I have been pushed out by this guy in my home race. I don’t know what else to say. It’s not right.

‘It’s been a tough weekend, but still we made some good results. The win in Q4 was really good for me and I was positive coming to the semi and then this happens. But we have to look on the positive. Johan won and I’m so proud for him and for the whole team. We extend the lead in the championships and that’s what we take away. Norway and Hell bite me again, but I’ll be back next season,’ the 43 year-old continued.

Elsewhere in Hell, 2017 European Rallycross Championship leader Anton Marklund finished second in his Marklund Motorsport-prepared Polo RX. Kristoffersson’s Norwegian victory meanwhile was a sensational second win from three rounds, the third in a hat-trick which boosted the Volkswagen Motorsport-supported Torsby squad.

With 285 points, PSRX Volkswagen Sweden is now a massive 81 points clear of its Team Peugeot Hansen rival as the World RX circus rolls onto Sweden for round seven of the 2017 series at Höljes Motorstadion. There’s no doubt Kristoffersson will be keen to make it two consecutive wins as he entertains his home crowd. See what happens on 1-2 July.

https://youtu.be/hh6l9e2TzHI

2017 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,

DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1 Johan Kristoffersson, Volkswagen Polo GTI: 151
2 Mattias Ekström, Audi S1: 143
3 Petter Solberg, Volkswagen Polo GTI: 134
4 Timmy Hansen, Peugeot 208: 102
5 Sebastian Loeb, Peugeot 208: 102

2017 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,

TEAMS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden: 285
2 Team Peugeot-Hansen: 204
3 EKS: 198
4 Hoonigan Racing Division: 166
5 MJP Racing Team Austria: 115

[Images: FIAWorldRallycross.com / PSRX Volkswagen Sweden]

Following their dominance at the 2017 World RX of Belgium two weeks ago, Petter Solberg and Johan Kristoffersson were once again the World Rallycross Championship drivers to beat at the World RX of Great Britain over the Bank Holiday weekend of 27-28 May.

The fifth round of the 2017 series saw the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden take their Polo GTI Supercars to first and second spots on the podium, with Solberg rewarded for a third consecutive best qualifying time performance at Lydden Hill. Kristoffersson’s runner-up place moved him to the top of the drivers’ standings: the young Swede is now 4 points clear of EKS’ and current world champion Mattias Ekström.

A perfect performance
The last-ever World RX of Great Britain at Lydden Hill – the British round moves to Silverstone from 2018 – got off to a good start for Solberg. The Norwegian blew apart last year’s lap record in the free practice session, and from there on in, the double World Rallycross Champion didn’t put a wheel wrong. In fact, Solberg and his 570bhp Polo put in a perfect performance: the 42 year-old even delivered a lights-to-flag lead in the final!

Unsurprisingly, it was an emotional couple of days for Solberg: ‘You know I’m quite an emotional guy, but this is really something special. To see all of these people here at this fantastic track is so amazing and then for the team to go so well in front of them is unbelievable. We started this adventure in January and look where we are. I think this one really is unbelievable,’ he enthused.

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Great Britain: Solberg

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Great Britain: Solberg

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Great Britain: Solberg

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Great Britain: Solberg

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Great Britain: Solberg

‘I talk a lot about the team and the team performance, but that’s absolutely the way we work at PSRX Volkswagen Sweden. Every single person in the team – and I mean everybody – puts 100 per cent into what we do. But recently, we’ve been putting 110 per cent in and we’ve been getting the results. 2017 is the 50th anniversary of rallycross. And we have won this anniversary race: how incredible is that. That’s a really, really nice feeling,’ Solberg continued.

‘An incredible feeling’
‘And, with the move to Silverstone next year, this will be the last time the World Rallycross Championship will be here at Lydden for a while, so to win this race is fantastic for me. It’s been a while since I was on the top step of the podium, so to be back here is such an incredible feeling. To have Johan right there with me makes it perfect. Everything went the way we wanted it to – and when we got out of the car the sun was shining. It’s a beautiful day,’ he added.

Kristoffersson’s move to the leading points-scoring driver in the championship was also cause for celebration. ‘This result really is for the team,’ said the superstar Swede. ‘I still can’t believe what we have achieved in just a matter of a few months – and still the car is getting better and quicker.

‘This team just never stops working and Petter and I are the ones who get the chance to show off what the team can do. That’s a real honour and a real privilege. But today, like the last round in Belgium, we were able to give something back to everybody in the team,’ he reported.

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Great Britain: Kristoffersson

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Great Britain: Kristoffersson

2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Great Britain: Kristoffersson

‘Quite an emotional win’
‘This one-two is the perfect way to say “thank you” to everybody in PSRX Volkswagen Sweden for all the hard work. It’s also quite an emotional win for the team. Rallycross is a very, very big part of my life and to score such a result on a weekend when we celebrate 50 years of this incredible sport is something which makes me and the whole team very proud,’ Kristoffersson said elatedly.

In addition to Kristoffersson’s catapult to championship leader, the Torsby squad’s first one-two of the season opens PSRX Volkswagen Sweden’s lead to 69 points in the teams’ championship – and also follows hot on the heels of a double podium last time out in Belgium. The next round, the World RX of Norway takes places in Hell on 10-11 June, and you can bet the Polo GTI Supercars of PSRX Volkswagen Sweden will certainly be raising all sorts of… hell!

https://youtu.be/s_yT0El6ekc

2017 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,

DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1 Johan Kristoffersson, Volkswagen Polo GTI: 124
2 Mattias Ekström, Audi S1: 120
3 Petter Solberg, Volkswagen Polo GTI: 117
4 Timmy Hansen, Peugeot 208: 91
5 Sebastian Loeb, Peugeot 208: 81

2017 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,

TEAMS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden: 241
2 Team Peugeot-Hansen: 172
3 EKS: 166
4 Hoonigan Racing Division: 125
5 MJP Racing Team Austria: 103

[Images: FIAWorldRallycross.com / PSRX Volkswagen Sweden]