| Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen R Motorsport |
| Model years | 2018–present |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | R5 |
| Layout | Front-engine, four-wheel drive |
| Platform | Volkswagen Polo |
| Related | Volkswagen Polo R WRC |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.60 L (98 cu in)transversely-mountedturbochargedinline-416-valve |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Volkswagen Polo R WRC |
TheVolkswagen Polo GTI R5 is arally car built byVolkswagen Motorsport and based upon theVolkswagen Polo road car. It is built toR5 regulations and is a successor to theVolkswagen Polo R WRC.[1] The Polo GTI R5 made its competitive début at the2018 Rally Catalunya, where it was driven by2003 World Drivers' ChampionPetter Solberg andEric Camilli.[2][3] The car currently competes in theWorld Rally Championship-2 where it is entered by variousprivateers.[4][5]
After four years of extremely dominant success in the outright category of the WRC with theVolkswagen Polo R WRC, in 2016 Volkswagen Motorsport began development of a new Polo WRC for the 2017-specification regulations. Despite extensive testing undertaken with the car, in November 2016 Volkswagen announced they would cancel development of the new Polo, along with a withdrawal from the World Rally Championship. In April of 2017, however, Volkswagen announced intentions to remain in the sport, with plans to develop the new Volkswagen Polo GTI for theR5 class, to be used mostly in the hands of privateer drivers in theWorld Rally Championship-2.[6]
The R5 Polo was developed in collaboration withSkoda, one of Volkswagen's subsidiaries, who also hadan R5 car of their own, based on theSkoda Fabia. In December of 2017, Volkswagen officially unveiled the R5-specification Volkswagen Polo GTI. The car's engine developed 272 brake horsepower from 1.6 litres. Volkswagen's plans were to have the first completed model passing international homologation by the summer of 2018, and begin delivery to customers soon afterwards.[7]
Shortly afterwards, Volkswagen confirmed fifteen cars had been ordered by various European and South American customers. Austrian rally teamBRR Baumschlager Rallye & Racing had purchased three of them, with other cars going to other high-end teams such asPrintsport andKristoffersson Motorsport.[8]
| No. | Event | Year | Driver | Co-driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  2020 Rally Estonia | 2020 |  Oliver Solberg |  Aaron Johnston |
| 2 |  2021 Safari Rally | 2021 | Onkar Rai |  Drew Sturrock |
