Volkswagen Begins Rallying's New Era

The sport is due to introduce radical new regulations next season, designed to spice up the look and performance of rallying’s top-class machines. And this virtual beast may well be the German firm’s solution.

The image shows a wider (by 50 millimetres), more muscular and aerodynamically aggressive Polo that will bring back to the WRC the sort of spectacle not seen since the days of the monstrous Audi Sport Quattros, Peugeot 205 T16s and MG Metro 6R4s in the Group B era of the mid-1980s.

As well as visual improvements, power output is expected to be boosted by 60bhp, to 380bhp, thanks to the 33mm restrictor in the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine increasing to 36mm. The Polo will also shed 25 kilogrammes in weight, to a minimum of 1,175kg. 

VW Motorsport Director Jost Capito said: “The 2017 WRC regulations include many spectacular technical innovations for the World Rally Championship. The World Rally Cars of the future will incorporate all the experience that teams have gained in recent years. They will be considerably more dynamic, whilst at the same time being safer. As usual, we are working painstakingly on the development of the next generation of the Polo R WRC. The key between now and the start of next season is to achieve the best possible prerequisites to allow the 2017 Polo R WRC to be as successful as its two predecessors.”

In the meantime, VW heads to the fourth round of the 2016 WRC in Argentina with a clean sheet in both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ standings thanks to its clean sweep of victories in Monte Carlo, Sweden and Mexico earlier this year.