VW Polo R WRC testing

... two-time World Rally Champion and "Dakar" winner Carlos Sainz. The vehicle has completed its first test kilometres without any problems in the vineyards of Veldenz near Trier in Germany. Deutschland.

It's not scheduled to start competition in WRC until 2013 but the all wheel drive, 220kW Polo will undergo continual testing in the run up to the season kick off in a little more than  a year. 

VW says it's well on schedule and are able to start testing concepts and developments in reality.

The first Polo represents a preliminary stage of the subsequent rally car and during the upcoming months will serve as a test vehicle for various components such as engines, gearboxes or suspension parts.

The findings obtained in these tests will be directly fed into the first thorough-bred Polo R WRC. The intensive testing program is on tarmac, gravel, mud and snow.

Sainz said "I immensely enjoy being involved in the development and testing of the new Polo R WRC and having the privilege of driving the first kilometres is naturally a great honour." "The car is still in an early stage but already feels very good.

For the whole team, whether engineers, mechanics or drivers, it's very important to get to know the first real car as early as possible and to test and continue to develop it."