PoloDriver

If you were excited by the idea of the Polo going rallying when Volkswagen unveiled the Polo R WRC a couple of weeks ago, then you may be pleased to learn that a pumped-up Polo rally car isn’t the only way with which the model can flex its motorsport muscles. The Polo has been a circuit racer since the mid-1980s when Volkswagen ran the one-make Polo Cup, and similar, later championships have been staged in the China, Germany, India, Turkey and the UK, using all generations of Polo. 2011 for example, sees the Engen Volkswagen Cup (Volkswagen Polo Cup South Africa) in South Africa and the Volkswagen Polo Cup India 2011 in – surprise!– India. And while the former uses last-generation Polo-based Polo Vivos, the latter uses fully-fledge Polo track racers, based on the latest fifth-generation 6R model.

Now, added to all that track-based activity, is the introduction of the Polo-T touring car. Run in the 2011 Chinese Touring Car Championship (CTCC), the five-door shell is powered by an FIA-approved 1.6-litre turbocharged engine producing 250bhp/184kW. Shanghai VW 333 Racing have entered four cars into the 2011 CTCC, and we’ll be keeping an interested eye on the cars for the rest of the season. Three classes make up the CTCC. There is the China Production Class (CPC) – formerly the 1600cc class – and the Super Production Class with naturally aspirated engines (SPNA), as well as the new Super Production Turbo class (SPT) class for cars with 1.6 litre turbocharged engines, in which the Polo-Ts compete.

The wide-arched and big-winged Polo-Ts will rub body panels with Suzuki Swift Turbos and Chevrolet Cruzes over the eight race weekend series (which ends in November), and are driven by Han-Han, Wang Rue, Gao Hua Yang and Sun Chao. The first round on 9 and 10 April saw moderate success, with Gao Huayang’s Polo-T winning the SPT class, beating Chen Huping’s Suzuki Swift Turbo into second place. The only SPT class finishers at the STC circuit in Shanghai, the next round of the series takes place on 28 and 29 May at the ZIC circuit in Zhuhai.

[Source: vwwatercooled.org // Images: Shanghai VW 333 Racing]

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We can exclusively reveal that Milltek Sport is currently in the final stages of testing a full turbo-back exhaust system for the new Polo GTI. Although it’s still in testing, Milltek confirms it sounds fantastic and really suits the mini-Golf GTI character of the car perfectly.

While the Polo GTI is closely related to the SEAT Ibiza Cupra and Bocanegra 1.4 TSI, the exhaust design still required some subtle changes to suit the slightly different aesthetics of the Volkswagen variant. As you can see from the photos, the tailpipes really add a bit of glamour to the rear of the car and let other drivers know the GTI in front is a little bit special. Not that they won’t be able to tell that from new sound coming from the enlarged twin tailpipes.

The Milltek exhaust system will be available in cat-back form (which does not require ECU tuning), or for those wishing to take full advantage of the engine’s tuning potential, a full turbo-back option featuring a large-bore downpipe and hi-flow sports catalyst. Milltek only uses the highest quality German HJS catalysts to ensure that the car will remain emission-legal and pass the UK MOT test – even with an ECU remap and a full exhaust system. Through an extensive development process, Milltek engineers have been able to develop an exhaust that is rich in its depth of sound with an aggressive undertone but have also been able to ensure that the Polo GTI’s everyday cruising integrity within the cabin is preserved intact.

The Milltek performance exhaust packages for the Polo GTI will be available from your nearest Milltek stockist very soon. Visit www.millteksport.com/dealers to find your nearest Milltek dealer or contact Milltek Sport for further details on +44 1332 227 280. We’ll bring you more details on the performance exhaust packages available and pricing when they are released.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original hot hatchback, Volkswagen has announced the first details of the latest special edition Golf GTI model – the Golf GTI Edition 35. With an increase in power of 23bhp over the ‘standard’ car, the Edition 35 develops 233bhp and is the most powerful production Golf GTI to date.

Since the debut of the first Golf GTI in 1976, the iconic model has enjoyed an uninterrupted history of success which now spans 35 years. During this time, the GTI has become a car with cult appeal as well as an independent brand and milestone GTI anniversaries have been celebrated with exclusive special models (in 1996, 2001 and 2006 – 20th, 25th and 30th anniversary models respectively), and Volkswagen continues this tradition with the Edition 35.

In addition to the increase in power, the Edition 35 combines classic GTI design elements with features specially created for this latest anniversary model. A revised front bumper is joined by lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels while, in the cabin, the traditional golf ball gearknob makes a return. To mark out this special edition further, the ‘35’ signature appears on the front wings, sill plates, head restraints and on the centre panel of the seats. The car will cost €30,425 (£26,627) in Germany when it goes on sale in mid-June.

This latest anniversary model will make its world debut at the legendary GTI event at Wörthersee in Austria at the beginning of June, alongside other GTI anniversary models. The Golf GTI Edition 35 will open for order in the UK later this year. Prices and full UK specification will be announced in due course.

[Source: Volkswagen UK]

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The BP Volkswagen Polo Vivo S2000 team fought a hard HMC Rally in Mpumalanga, South Africa, over 13-14 May, and while all four factory cars crossed the line within the top 10 finishers, the fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth places were some way off 2010’s form. The pairing of Jan Habig/Robert Paisley were the top placed VW team, despite Paisley still suffering from a broken collarbone from the Sasol Rally. The duo remained in the top five throughout most of the two days of stages, slipping on three of the eleven trials. Team mates Hergen Fekken/Pierre Arries were unfortunate on stage six, when an accident with a photographer halted their progress and the stage was stopped. The event resumed on stage seven. After much deliberation, the pair continued the rally, and scored a fifth-placed finish, just behind Habig/Paisley.

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2011 marks 35 years of the Stanford Hall Volkswagen event, and this year saw the return of fine, sunny and warm weather, absent from 2010’s proceedings. Held on the traditional May Day Bank Holiday weekend, more than a few handfuls of Volkswagens descended upon Swinford-on-Avon (borne out by the fact that getting out of the venue took us at least 30 minutes), to kick-off the VW show season proper. Leicestershire and Warwickshire VW Owners Club once again put on a fantastic show, although if we were nit-picking, the lack of water-cooled trade stands was disappointing, as was the lack of entries in the Polo concours class, but the blame for either point shouldn’t be laid at the organisers’ door.

Overall, the Concours d’Elegance was well-stocked, with ‘classic’ Volkswagens of all classes, shapes and sizes, and it’s traditionally been one of the draws of the event. One of our favourite classes was the Mk 1 Scirocco peg, with a stunningly immaculate 1978 TS model in Viper Green rubbing shoulders with an equally pristine 1979 Storm. Now few and far between, this pair represented the absolute best of the breed. Moving onto Class 18, Polos and Saloons (Derby, Polo Classic), the sole two cars entered were notable not only because of their fantastic condition, but also by the lack of compatriots. The 1980 GLS of classic Polo stalwart Dan Higgins was once again vying for honours, fighting it out with the 2001 Polo GTI of Gianni Ciarciaglini. Ciarciaglini won with 119 points, and we can see why, but after years as a runner-up, it would have nice to have seen Higgins walk away with the top prize. Especially as we thought comparative age was supposed to have come into the judge’s score of 113.

There was a good sprinkling of Polos elsewhere. In the outer reaches of the car park, there were several interesting examples, and along with our editorial GT (no stand for us this year), made walking the formation-parked aisles worthwhile. Inside the show area, Club Polo represented the Polo brand, with a varied display of 10 cars, stretching from Dan Higgins’ other Mk 1 – a 1981 N model with a 100bhp 16V engine – to Jon Gallant’s 2000 Polo TDI. Away from the club stands, a solitary Polo Dune on the Volkswagen Owner’s Club GB caught our eye, as did a mid-1980s ‘rat-look’ Polo C hatchback representing the same organisation. Meanwhile, a Polo trailer made from a rear end of a coupé sold for £450, while numerous Mk 2 Polo coupés seemed to have been brought out of the woodwork to bask in the glorious sunshine. Click on the gallery below to see some of our favourites from Sunday 1 May’s event.

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