The Volkswagen Polo R WRC is a World Rally Car built and operated by Volkswagen Motorsport and based on the Polo for use in the World Rally Championship. The car, which made its début at the start of the 2013 season, is built to the second generation of World Rally Car regulations that were introduced in 2011, which are based upon the existing Super 2000 regulations, but powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine rather than the 2-litre engine found in Super 2000 cars.
The Polo R WRC marks Volkswagen’s second entry into the World Rally Championship as a manufacturer. Volkswagen Motorsport had previously entered the Golf GTI and GTI 16V in rallies between 1983 and 1988, while the company also made the Golf Mk3 and Mk4 available as a kit car to privateer entries during the Group A era from 1933 to 1997.
The car was extremely successful from its début, winning 43 of the 53 rallies that it entered, and scoring 37 more podiums. Sebastien Ogier won 31 rallies and four consecutive FIA World Championships For Drivers between 2013 and 2016, whilst Volkswagen Motorsport secured the FIA World Championships For Manufacturers in all four years. The Polo R WRC was retired from competition at the end of the 2016 season when Volkswagen withdrew from the category. A Polo built to Group R5 specifications was later commissioned for use in the World Rally Championships.
