PoloDriver

Following Marklund Motorsport’s announcement of the signing of Global Rallycross Championship winner Toomas ‘Topi’ Heikkinen, the Swedish outfit has teamed up with Volkswagen Motorsport to mount a factory-approved assault on the 2014 FIA Global Rallycross Championship.

The start of a three-year partnership, Heikkinen and current Marklund Motorsport driver Anton Marklund will drive newly-developed Polo RX Supercars. The series kicks off in Montalegre, Portugal on 3 May.

‘Rallycross is attracting ever-increasing levels of attention in Europe and overseas and is one of the fastest growing motorsport disciplines,’ said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito.

‘The races are short and sweet, the cars are spectacular and look like factory models. Marklund Motorsport ranks among the most ambitious independent teams and has single-handedly developed the Polo RX Supercar for the 2014 FIA RallyCross World Championship.

‘Jan Marklund’s professional approach was our condition before embarking on this collaboration, in which Volkswagen Motorsport provides the team experience and expertise from rally sport,’ he continued.

Jan Marklund, Marklund Motorsport team owner, added: ‘Volkswagen’s pedigree in motorsport is there for everyone to see, there is no better manufacturer for us to be partnered with than the current WRC champions.

‘Volkswagen is looking to make an immediate global impact in the world of rallycross and I’m happy that Marklund Motorsport is their chosen partner for the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

‘We will now continue the hard work we have put in so far this pre-season and with the support of Volkswagen we are very much looking forward to delivering results from the first race of the new season.’

The Polo has proved its motorsport pedigree, winning the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship and with this announcement, its race-winning credentials cannot be denied.

It looks to be another exciting year for the Polo in motorsport, and we look forward to bringing all the Polo action from motorsport events around the world.

Fresh from its debut season running Volkswagen Polo Supercars, rallycross team Marklund Motorsport has announced that Global Rallycross and double X Games champion Toomas ‘Topi’ Heikkinen has signed with the Swedish outfit.

For 2014, the FIA European Rallycross Championship has become a global series, and Heikkinen will join Anton Marklund in a 500+bhp rallycross-prepared Polo.

The 22 year-old Finn will lead Marklund’s charge for the upcoming season and he and Marklund will debut new for 2014 Volkswagen Polo RX Supercars which are currently being built in the team’s workshops.

Heikkinen helped test and develop the car last season. After investment, team manager Jan Marklund believes Heikkinen will allow Marklund Motorsport to enter the new world championship as immediate title contenders.

‘Signing Topi shows the sort of progress that Marklund Motorsport is making going into the new season. His results speak for themselves and we are incredibly happy to have a champion leading our driver lineup,’ Marklund commented.

‘It’s a very exciting period in our project and shows the hard work and planning that we have put in is really paying off.’

Heikkinen agreed. ‘After a successful year winning the 2013 Global Rallycross Championship, my goal now is to win the new FIA World Rallycross Championship with Marklund Motorsport, and nothing less.

‘I’m confident that together we can develop a winning car and team. I want to thank Jan Marklund for this great opportunity to join Marklund Motorsport. I’m pumped for the season ahead.’

Existing Polo driver Anton Marklund battled against Topi in last year’s GRC and at each Global X Games and is fully aware of the talent and fighting spirit his new teammate possesses.

‘Topi is a great driver and a real competitor – I’m looking forward to working with him and seeing what this season brings.

‘We have been working extremely hard over the last 12 months and securing a driver as talented as Topi is testament to the incredible development the team has made. We want to win and be the best team in Rallycross,’ he said.

Marklund Motorsport has recently announced that it is helping develop Polo RX Supercars for the new Andretti Autosports team until its pair of Volkswagen Beetle Supercars are ready later in the season.