PoloDriver

Volkswagen Motorsport launched the Polo R Cup 2012 last week, and with it, announced a major change to the popular one-make series. Instead of 1.6-litre 128bhp TDI Polos, the championship is switching to petrol power, with new 1.4-litre, 178bhp TSI racers. Which of course means that a 1195kg Volkswagen Polo R Cup 2012 tarmac-spec racing car is powered by the same engine as the European and South African Polo GTI 6R. And Volkswagen Motorsport has been brave with the gearbox choice, as only a seven-speed DSG unit will be offered to the young racing drivers, again, like the Polo GTI road car.

The field of 20 drivers was also announced last week, all ready to contest the six-round championship which runs from July to December. Now in its third season, the Volkswagen Polo R Cup India 2012 is still sponsored by JK Tyres, and the participants will be run in three categories: Junior, Pro, and Master. Drivers of 16 to 26 years-old and with only 8 races under their belts in a national championship will be grouped in the Junior classification, while those with 8 race finishes or more in the same age bracket will be in the Pro category. Drivers over 26 years of age make up the Master group. Prize money for the race winners is INR 50,000, INR 40,000 and INR 30,000 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.

‘After two successful seasons of the Polo R Cup, we are looking forward to this year’s championship with a brand new car. It is a strategic decision for us to shift from diesel to petrol as we want to offer our young drivers a more powerful racing machine. The Polo R Cup programme has set benchmarks in Indian motorsport by being focused on professionalism, technology and safety. It has grown stronger year-on-year and has cemented its place on the Indian motorsport map’, said Prithviraj Siddappa, Head of Motorsport, Volkswagen India Private Limited.

‘We are delighted to present the new 2012 TSI Race Polo along with the 20 promising drivers today. Volkswagen is committed to developing motorsport in India along with the young talent through our Polo R Cup programme. We had an excellent season last year and we are looking forward to the upcoming season’, Dr John Chacko, Volkswagen Group Chief Representative India, President and Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited, said. The first race in the 2012 championship will be under starter’s orders on 7 July at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore. Other rounds will take place at MMRT, Chennai and one round of the 2012 season will be hosted at the world-class Formula 1 race track in Noida, the Buddh International Circuit (BIC).