PoloDriver

Manitou Group Volkswagen Polo R2 co-driver Henry Kohne looks back on the challenging and disappointing 2014 Volkswagen Rally

 
The Volkswagen Rally which took part on the weekend of 11-12 July 2014 presented the Manitou Group Rally team with yet another character-building weekend. This being the home event for Volkswagen, the team had the VW Polo R2 prepared to perfection and was ready to put in the effort for a good result.
 
The event started in Uitenhage – the South African home of the Polo and where it is built – and after the first gravel stage the team found themselves right among the top competitors in the S1600 class. Unfortunately soon after, in the following stage, the Manitou Group VW Polo R2 lost third gear, presenting a huge challenge to the team to complete the next three gravel stages without third gear.
 
Managing to get to the service park at the end of day one, the service crew did a great job in changing the gearbox of the Polo R2 in 45 minutes. Without losing too much time the team was in seventh position at the end of day one with only seconds separating them to fifth position, the challenge was on.
 
Bad luck continued on day two, getting a puncture on the second gravel stage of the day the team lost even more time. Just as the team thought things couldn’t get any worse, they picked up engine trouble in the next super special stage and were forced to retire from the event.
 
‘This was truly a frustrating event for the Manitou Group Rally team, we had plain bad luck. The whole team put so much effort into this event. Although it was a disappointment to retire we have once again learned a lot and would be working harder towards the next event,’ added Paulus Franken.
 
The Manitou Group Rally team can be seen in action again on 15-16 August at the Ford Dealer Rally in the Cullinan, Gauteng area.
 
Thanks to the support we receive from Manitou Group, Volkswagen Motorsport and SASOL Racing. Follow us at: www.facebook.com/Manitougroupsarallyteam

Volkswagen India launched the New Polo today to a blaze of publicity. The latest model hits Indian shores after being revealed in European specification back in January. Just as that car, the ‘new’ Polo is a refreshed 6R fifth-generation model, with both major and minor detail changes. And the Indian version carries a few differences from European-spec cars, too.

Just as in Europe, styling changes are limited to a silver chrome strip linking the fog lights in the front bumper, a slightly restyled grille and headlights, redesigned tail lights and rear bumper, as well as new 15-inch ‘Tosa’ alloy wheels and a new six-colour paint palette (which includes the new ‘Copper Orange’ shade).

Inside, there’s a new aluminium finish for the infotainment and air vents in the centre console (as the European car), a new three-spoke steering wheel – multifunction on higher-specification variants – and a new infotainment system, which is more basic than the version offered in Europe.

The instruments remain the same, therefore losing the ‘tunnels’ which new mainland Europe models receive. The biggest difference between Indian and European models seems to be the lack of comprehensive safety equipment that the latter gains with the 2014 refresh. Indian models seem to do without.

The big news is the arrival of a new four-cylinder 1.5-litre TDI engine. Available in 89 and 104bhp outputs, it replaces the three-cylinder 1.2 TDI. The more powerful version is only available in the Polo GT TDI which is due to arrive later in the year. European cars have 1.4-litre three-cylinder TDI engines.

The lower-output unit is respectable enough, though, with 230Nm of torque available between 1500-2500rpm (the 104bhp version has 250Nm). The 74bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine stays. All models have five-speed manual transmissions.

Trendline, Comfortline and Highline versions are available to choose from. Standard equipment on the entry-level Trendline includes air-conditioning, power steering, body-coloured door handles and wing mirrors, and dual front airbags.

It misses out on ABS, a heated rear window and rear wash/wipe system (it’s like it’s the 1970s!), and only receives radio ‘preparation’. It rolls on 14-inch steel wheels with 175/70 R14 tyres.

The Comfortline adds dual-beam headlights, ambient cabin lights, electrically-adjustable wing mirrors, electric windows all round, remote central locking, ABS, a four-speaker CD/MP3 audio system with USB, AUX-IN, Bluetooth and SD card compatibility, and 15-inch steel wheels with 185/60 R15 rubber.

Finally, Highline versions build on that specification with an added-capability multifunction instrument display, climate control, multifunction steering wheel, rear parking sensors and 15-inch ‘Tosa’ alloys (‘Lyon’ in Europe).

Cross Polo, Polo GT TSI and Polo GT TDI versions are all expected to arrive by the end of the year. It is reported that current localisation of the Polo is 70 per cent. Volkswagen India are targeting 90 per cent, but that would depend on the outcome of an engine plant consultation.

All refreshed Polo models for India have a galvanised body with a six-year anti-corrosion warranty. Petrol models start at Rs 4.99 lakh to Rs 6.07 lakh, while TDI versions start at Rs 6.27 lakh, topping out at Rs 7.37 lakh. Visit Volkswagen India’s website for more information and comprehensive specifications.

It was success all round for the Volkswagen Sasolracing team at the Volkswagen Rally on 11-12 July. Not only did the pairing of Hans Weijs Jnr and Björn Degandt claim third on the podium, but Volkswagen Sasolracing won both the Team and Manufacturer’s Award at the event on the Eastern Cape.

Weijs and Degandt drove their Polo S2000 in challenging conditions over 15 stages, crossing the finish line at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium just ahead of their team-mates Gugu Zulu and Carl Peskin.

Weijs and Degandt ended the first day in third place, while Zulu and Peskin were sixth. ‘The Longmore Forest stages were just as good as I expected,’ Weijs reported. ‘We are doing well in the championship and our goal now is not just to finish on the podium – now we want to win.’

With two second-fastest stage times for the pair in the Volkswagen Rally, Zulu and Peskin are picking up the pace in their first S2000 season. ‘The Volkswagen Rally is renowned for being a very testing event, but it rates as one of the best in the country,’ said Zulu.

‘We have some work to do in terms of rhythm inside the car to make it a bit smoother, but the team have provided me with a fantastic car, now we just have to get it all together.’

The rally started well for Henk Lategan and Barry White as they produced the second-quickest time in the opening stage and were among the top five in nine of the 15 stages. Unfortunately hitting one of the many tree stumps in the forest forced them into a ditch and early retirement.

Mike Rowe, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport South Africa, was pleased with his team. ‘Hans and Björn drove well to achieve a podium position. The team is making good progress and now, with a second in the championship with four rounds to go, we are in a strong position for the fight to the end of the season.’

Raimund Baumschlager and his navigator Klaus Wicha joined the team for the Eastern Cape event. Volkswagen received the Manufacturer’s Award for the most points scored, while Weijs and Degandt and Lategan and White received the Team Award.

Other Polo finishers included Chad Van Beurden and Nico Swartz who came home sixth in their Polo S1600, 10th place AC Potgieter and Tommy du Toit (Polo S1600), 11th place Andrew Heine and Robbie Coetzee in another Polo S16000, and Paulus Franken and Henry Kohne who drove the Manitou Group Polo R2 to seventeenth place.

Polos which didn’t complete the event included the cars of Thilo Himmel and Armand Du Toit, and Raimund Baumschlager and Klaus Wicha. The fifth round of the 2014 South African National Rally Championship will see the Volkswagen Sasolracing team head to Gauteng on 15 and 16 July for the Ford Dealer Rally.

It was Mathew Hodges who showed the rest of the field how to set the pace at the fourth round of the South African 2014 Engen Volkswagen Cup in East London on the Eastern Cape. The two races saw many close battles and fierce competition over the races’ 16 laps.

Masters class driver Hodges was dominant throughout the race day on 6 July and was rewarded with overall victory at the event. This moves him up to fourth place overall in the championship drivers’ standings and first place in the Masters category.

Hodges had competition in race one from Daniel Rowe and Dewald Brummer, with both fighting for the front of the field. Brummer was fastest qualifier while Rowe started on pole as a result of the top-six driver draw.

Hodges took advantage of contact between the pair and led the pack before a red flag stopped the race two laps early after an accident which saw Noel Greyling’s Polo Vivo suffer significant damage.

Brummer took victory in race two after 10 laps, with Sheldon van der Linde finishing second and posting the fastest lap time in the process. Hodges rounded out the podium, boosting him to the top of the race day results and sending him to the top of the Masters’ points table.

The fifth round of the 2014 Engen Volkswagen Cup will be at the Phakisa Freeway in Welkom on 2 August.

RACE RESULTS

Race 1

1 Mathew Hodges (M3: ITR Africa / 959 Panelbeaters)
2 Daniel Rowe (11: Ferodo Racing)
3Dewald Brummer (2: MAD Racing / Grand Prix Models)

Race 2
1 Dewald Brummer (2: MAD Racing / Grand Prix Models)
2 Sheldon van der Linde (16: Ferodo Racing)
3 Mathew Hodges (M3: ITR Africa / 959 Panelbeaters)

Overall
1 Mathew Hodges (M3: ITR Africa / 959 Panelbeaters)
2 Dewald Brummer (2: MAD Racing / Grand Prix Models)
3 Daniel Rowe (11: Ferodo Racing)

MASTERS
Race 1
1 Mathew Hodges (M3: ITR Africa / 959 Panelbeaters)
2 Trevor Bland (M6: PG Glass / Suburban Panelbeaters)
3 Juan Gerber (M8: Haupt Racing)

Race 2
1 Mathew Hodges (M3: ITR Africa / 959 Panelbeaters)
2 Trevor Bland (M6: PG Glass / Suburban Panelbeaters)
3 Juan Gerber (M8: Haupt Racing)

The Polo emerged as the best-selling vehicle during June 2014 in South Africa, according to sales figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA). 2994 South African Polo 6Rs were sold last month, 367 more than the Toyota Hilux.

The Polo sat at the top of the best-selling passenger car tables, too, outselling its cheaper Polo Vivo sibling by 357 units. In May 2014 it was the reverse – the Vivo sold 2467 units, while 2326 Polos found new owners.

The Polo Vivo was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market, replacing the Series 1 Golf-based CitiGolf, and is available as a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines.

Costing from R138,200 for the base-model 1.4 hatchback to R178,800 for the top 1.6 Polo Maxx, the 2013 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009. A new version of the fifth-generation Polo (6R) is now available as a three and five-door hatch, in addition to the four-door Polo Sedan.