The shape is a familiar one. The outline is already a symbol of success. The Petter Solberg Volkswagen Sweden team’s new Polo GTI Supercar for the FIA World Rallycross Championship is a winner, visually. At the official launch of Petter Solberg and Johan Kristoffersson’s new company car at the Volkswagen showroom in Stockholm, the two drivers were not the only ones to be excited about the look of the 570-hp monster Polo. The same could be said of the guests, media and sponsors invited to the event. The Rallycross Polo accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 1.9 seconds, making it without doubt the fastest Polo ever to grace a racetrack.
“It is a dream for me,” said two-time FIA World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg. “We have worked towards this for so long, and now we have made it. It is hard to put into words just how happy I am. Every time I climb out of the car at the end of a test, I do so with a broad grin on my face. Then I just want to get back in and continue driving. I am so happy to be able to work with Volkswagen Sweden and Volkswagen Motorsport this year. We now have the opportunity to make our dream a reality. The effort put in during pre-season preparations will pay dividends in the 2017 season. I have no doubt about that.”
Petter’s enthusiasm is shared by team-mate Johan Kristoffersson: “To line up with Petter, PSRX and Volkswagen Sweden is perfect for me. We have to convert this perfect start into a perfect middle, and then a perfect ending. We are driving for the Team competition in the championship, and obviously also have our sights set on the Drivers’ title. Petter has two titles to his name already, perhaps it is now time for him to help me out a little, as I strive to get my hands on my first!”
Pre-season preparations have been successful, and this success has increased expectations and stoked interest, not least from partner Volkswagen Sweden. “We have followed the team’s preparations with great interest, and they looked very promising. Volkswagen Sweden and all our dealers are looking forward to the season getting underway. Petter, Johan, the team and the fantastic car – we are very proud to be part of this set-up,” said Sten Forsberg, Head of Volkswagen Sweden. A smiling Solberg recalls the winter: “Our preparations went really well. They were perhaps the best preparations the PSRX team have had – as you would expect when you have Volkswagen Sweden and Volkswagen Motorsport behind you. However, we know all too well that we still have a lot of work ahead of us. The cars are quick, getting quicker, and the opposition is passionate and determined.”
Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets can hardly wait to see the Volkswagen Polo GTI Supercar in its natural environment – at the front of the field, out on the track. “We worked hard with PSRX and Volkswagen Sweden to get the car up and running in a very short amount of time. Now that the car is ready and we have tested it, we are all hugely looking forward to the first race in Barcelona. We all want to see how Petter, Johan and the Polo get on in an extremely strong field and an exciting championship.”
Bring on Barcelona. We’re ready!
Comments