PoloDriver

It’s been another busy and exciting year for the Volkswagen Polo. Of course, the big news of 2014 has been the worldwide launch of a comprehensively revised version of the fifth-generation Polo. New engines, safety technology, interior refinements and a gently restyled exterior update it against refreshed competition.

On the asphalt and gravel stages of the World Rally Championship, the Polo has, like 2013, once again come out on top. Taking 12 event wins out of 13, the 300bhp four-wheel drive Polo R WRC has claimed the Manufacturers’ Championship title for Volkswagen Motorsport, and also carried Frenchmen Sébastien Ogier the Julien Ingrassia to their second consecutive Drivers’ Championship prize.

Other Polo-based motorsport series have also continued around the globe, with Wolfsburg’s small car competing as a rally, rallycross and also a track machine. Here, we round up the Polo’s biggest achievements in 2014. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month.)

January

– Refreshed fifth-generation Polo (known as ‘6C’) presented in Wolfsburg
– Polo ends 2013 as the eighth best-selling car in the UK
– 2014-specification Polo R WRC rally car unveiled

– Sébastien Ogier wins 2014 Rallye Monte Carlo with Polo R WRC

– Polo Vivo and is the best-selling car in South Africa for 2013; Polo 6R is runner-up

– Polo is the fifth best-selling car in the UK.

February

– Jari-Matti Latavala takes Polo R WRC to victory in Rally Sweden
– New Polo MY2015 production starts at Volkswagen Navarra factory
– New Polo BlueMotion, BlueGT and CrossPolo revealed ahead of Geneva motor show
– Volkswagen Motorsport signs rallycross partnership with Marklund Motorsport
– Polo is the sixth best-selling car in the UK.

March
– Mathew Hodges and Daniel Rowe take wins at 2014 Engen Volkswagen Cup opener
– Sébastien Ogier wins Rally Mexico, with Jari-Matti Latvala in second place
– Polo hatchback and saloon prices reduced in Brazil
– Volkswagen Sasolracing Polo S2000 triumph at 2014 Tour Natal Rally
– New Polo released for UK ordering – prices and full specifications announced
– Dewald Brummer and Tasmin Pepper take Engen Volkswagen Cup spoils at Killarney
– Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK.

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The 2014 FIA World Rallycross Championship may be over, but the Volkswagen Polo RXs of Marklund Motorsport were in action over the weekend of 13-14 December at the annual Race of Champions.

The Carribean island of Barbados was the venue for the 2014 event which sees motorsport legends compete each other and teamed up with fellow drivers from the same country to fight the Nations Cup.

The 600bhp Polo RXs were piloted by motorsport stars such as nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, 2014 FIA World Rallycross Championship winner Petter Solberg, and overall victor F1’s David Coulthard. Duels were fought around a parallel course at Bushy Park.

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The penultimate round of the 2014 FIA World Rallycross Championship in Instanbul, Turkey on 11-12 October saw strong performances from Polo RX drivers Toomas ‘Topi’ Heikkinen and Anton Marklund, taking Marklund Motorsport to the top of the series’ team standings.

Heikkinen’s drive in his 500bhp Polo RX saw him hold on to second place in the Drivers’ Championship. His command over four gripping heats and battles with Timmy Hansen’s Peugeot 208 RX saw the young Finn score enough points to see him defend his runner-up position.

Former WRC ace Petter Solberg has already been crowned 2014 champion.

‘Volkswagen Marklund are now leading the teams’ standings by four points – we’ve been tied at the top on two separate occasions this year but now we are leading it by ourselves,’ explained Heikkinen.

‘My driving hasn’t been perfect this weekend, I made a few small mistakes but I’m happy to have got some crucial points for the team.’

Ford Olsbergs MSE driver Andreas Bakkerud was the overall winner of the World RX of Turkey. With Ford, Peugeot and Volkswagen all represented on the podium, the fight for the first ever Teams’ Championship will now be decided at the final round in San Luis, Argentina, on 28-29 November.

2014 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,

DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

1 Petter Solberg, 250

2 Toomas Heikkinen, 200

3 Reinis Nitiss, 182
4 Timmy Hansen, 179

5 Andreas Bakkerud, 173
6 Anton Marklund, 159

2014 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,

TEAMS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

1 Volkswagen Marklund, 359
2 Ford Olsbergs MSE, 355

3 Team Peugeot-Hansen, 335

4 PSRX, 237
5 Monster Energy World RX Team, 102

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The tenth round of the 2014 FIA World Rallycross Championship at the Autodromo di Franciacorta in Italy over the weekend of 27-28 September saw the Marklund Motorsport team edge closer to winning the series Team’s Championship title. Even though the Swedish outfit’s two drivers failed to make the Supercar final in their Polo RXs, enough points were scored to place the team within reach of the top of the championship table.

Anton Marklund and Toomas ‘Topi’ Heikkinen finished seventh and eighth respectively in Italy, meaning that Marklund Motorsport now tie with Ford Olsbergs MSE at the top of the Teams’ Championship standings table with 313 points – with only two rounds of the season remaining. Heikkinen is second in the Drivers’ Championship, but sadly lost out on the title to former WRC ace Petter Solberg, who finished third in Bresica, taking the top spot. Overall victory went to Timmy Hansen.

A surprise leader at the Autodromo di Franciacorta was Sweden’s Johan Kristoffersson, driving his Volkswagen Dealer Team Sweden Polo RX. Kristoffersson blitzed the opposition to take the lead at the end of day one, finishing fifth overall at the end of day two. The eleventh and penultimate round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship will take place at the former F1 venue of Intercity Istanbul Park in Turkey from 11-12 October.

2014 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,

DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

1 Petter Solberg, 235

2 Toomas Heikkinen, 175

3 Reinis Nitiss, 167

4 Timmy Hansen, 152
5 Timur Timerzyanov, 148

2014 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,

TEAMS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

1 = Ford Olsbergs MSE, 313

1 = Volkswagen Marklund, 313

3 Team Peugeot-Hansen, 300

4 PSRX, 227

5 Monster Energy World RX Team, 85

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After his first-day victory at the Red Bull Global Rallycross series in Los Angeles, it was a disappointing weekend for Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross driver Scott Speed when the championship visited Seattle on 26-27 September.

Speed brought home his 7UP-liveried no 77 Polo R in sixth place, four places above team-mate and Top Gear US presenter Tanner Foust, who was giving the new Volkswagen Beetle GRC another competitive outing.

Sverre Isachsen scored Subaru Rally Team USA’s first-ever Red Bull Global Rallycross victory in front of a sell-out crowd at DirtFish Rally School in Snoqualmie, finishing ahead of series points leader Joni Wiman and Brian Deegan.

2014 RED BULL GLOBAL RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,

SEATTLE: FINAL RESULTS

1 Sverre Isachsen, #11 Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI
2 Joni Wiman, #31 Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST
3 Brian Deegan, #38 Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta ST
4 Nelson Piquet Jr., #75 SH Racing Rallycross Ford Fiesta ST
5 Rhys Millen, #67 Hyundai/Rhys Millen Racing Veloster Turbo
6 Scott Speed, #77 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Polo R

2014 RED BULL GLOBAL RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,

DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

1 Joni Wiman, 332
2 Ken Block, 320

3 Nelson Piquet Jnr, 304

4 Scott Speed, 303

5 Sverre Isachsen, 247

2014 RED BULL GLOBAL RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,

TEAMS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

1 Ford, 841

2 Volkswagen, 481

3 Subaru, 420

4 Hyundai, 236

5 Chevrolet, 5

[Images: Alison Padron]

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