Former Norwegian Rallycross driver Petter Solberg will drive Volkswagen’s the Polo R WRX at the Simola Hillclimb. Image: Petter Solberg / Youtube
Polo R WRX: Volkswagen announces special motorsport machine to tackle Simola Hillclimb
Volkswagen Motorsport South Africa has revealed which special car will compete at the 2023 Simola Hillclimb in Knysna from 4 – 7 May 2023.
Former Norwegian Rallycross driver Petter Solberg will drive Volkswagen’s the Polo R WRX at the Simola Hillclimb. Image: Petter Solberg / Youtube
Petter Solberg will tackle the Simola Hillclimb in the Polo R WRX at next month’s motorsport event in Knysna. The Norwegian won two drivers’ titles in the Polo R WRX and has come out of the retirement to take on the famous hill.
Famed Norwegian rally driver Petter Solberg will spearhead Volkswagen’s four-car line-up at Simola Hillclimb next month after the motorsport arm of the German carmaker announced it had secured the Rallycross car to compete at the event in Knysna, Motorpress reported.
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SOLBERG WON TWO DRIVERS’ TITLES AT THE HELM OF THE POLO R WRX
Volkswagen teased fans on social media with an image of a container destined to Knysna from Wolfsburg, Germany. I initially thought Volkswagen would bring electric prototype race car, ID R.
I traveled to Riga, Latvia to watch a World Rallycross event and witnessed how rapid the race car is off the line. It’s powered by a four-cylinder in-line engine with exhaust turbocharger and intercooling to produce 419kW and 650Nm.
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It weighs just 1300kg with the driver and its sequential, six-gear racing transmission and permanent four-wheel drive helps it get off the line to 100km/h in under two seconds.
Solberg posted as video on Instagram hyping his appearance at the event. The 48-year-old said: “Very excited to reveal I’ll be taking on the Simola hillclimb in South Africa, May 4-7! When Volkswagen asked me to be there and drive the Polo R it was a no-brainer – looking forward to putting on a show and enjoying this amazing car again, see you there!”
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Mike Rowe, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport said: “We are very excited to announce that Petter Solberg will be making his way to South Africa to race. Solberg’s partnership with Volkswagen started in 2017 where he set up the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team in partnership with Volkswagen Motorsport. Solberg won the Team’s Championship in both 2017 and 2018 before his retirement from full-time racing. We are thrilled to have Petter come out of retirement to race for us in South Africa.”
THE POLO RACE CAR CAN REACH 100KM/H FROM STANDSTILL IN 1.9 SECONDS
Volkswagen will also feature two Golf R models. The eighth generation of the flagship hatchback will be driven by factory drivers Jonathan Mogotsi and Daniel Rowe. The Golf 8 R is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder EA 888 engine and accelerates to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h.
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