Car Features
The VW Polo Super 1600
By by: Blake Bradford
Apr 17, 2002, 22:14

A Polo on steroids, that would the best description of the new Volkswagen Racing Polo Super 1600 rally car. Presented at the Essen Motorshow and based on the Polo 4, the car is equipped with a 1.6 litre engine that delivers 215 hp (158 kW). The Polo Super 1600 also features a six-speed sport gearbox with sequential gearshift and the self-operating multi-plate differential. Designed for the FIA Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC) as well as national rally championships, the Polo must adhere to the FIA regulations which dictates the car can cost no more than $100,000 US dollars. On July 1, 2002 the Super 1600 Polo is scheduled to be homologated with the Federation International de l'Automobile (FIA).

Before the planned sales start of the Polo Super 1600, the Volkswagen Racing team will put the car through extensive development and test sessions. These will start at the end of February 2002. Threefold German rally champion Dieter Depping has been hired as a test driver. His experience with front-wheel-driven cars will be used by Volkswagen Racing in the development of the new Polo. During the test days, the focus will especially be on the development of the chassis for various types of surface. Furthermore, the engine development will focus on performance and reliability. The planned competition debut for the Polo Super 1600 is also the day the car is planned to be homologated with the FIA, on July 1, 2002.

It is the goal of Volkswagen Racing’s development team to provide a successful package with the Polo Super 1600 to interested privateer teams and talented junior drivers by the start of the 2003 season. The playing field for the Polo 4 are the FIA Junior World Rally Championship as well as national rally championships. Designed to compete against fellow JWRC cars such as the Suzuki Ignis, Ford Puma and Peugeot 206 XS the Super 1600 Polo is a car that provides drivers with a stepping stone to the World Rally Championship. The sequential gearbox and multi-plate differential are very similar to the gearboxes used in the WRC. The biggest differences between the JWRC cars and the WRC cars is that the WRC cars have turbocharged 2 litre engines producing a restricted 300 horse power and all wheel drive. Wereas the JWRC cars have 1600 cc’s of displacement and front wheel drive.

In order to meet FIA regulations, the Polo Super 1600 will cost no more than 100,000 US Dollars. The strict regulations focus is on providing complete cars and spare parts at reasonable prices, which will facilitate junior drivers looking to gain experience in top level rallying. Thus, materials such as carbon fiber, magnesium and titanium have been ruled out as parts constructed from these materials have proven to raise the price of competition. Since the JWRC is the direct feeder series to the World Rally Championship, the price caps implemented by the FIA allow junior drivers to compete in all rounds of the Junior World Rally Championship on a smaller budget than otherwise. The price caps also level the playing field between privateers and factory supported young drivers who are using JWRC as a stepping stone to WRC.

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