A little bit over a decade in the past, Volkswagen Motorsport launched their single-make racing collection in India. Since then, the Motorsport workforce has consistently developed and fine-tuned their purpose-built race automobiles to supply one thing quicker and extra thrilling for every season of the championship. This time round, we get a style of the 2021 iteration of the Volkswagen Polo Championship automobile.
Parked alongside the pit lane in a surprising shade of matte pink, the 2021 Polo race automobile appears to be like the half. It sits a lot decrease to the bottom than the road-going model, flaunts light-weight multi-spoke wheels wrapped in slick MRF racing tyres, and will get a purposeful, outsized spoiler bolted on its roof. These apart, just about all different physique panels are lifted off the usual Polo on sale at this time. Apparently, this Polo (together with the driving force) suggestions the scales at 1,220kg, which is a little more than the Vento Touring automobile that weighs roughly 1,150kg. Sirish Vissa, head of Volkswagen Motorsport, explains that his workforce might go for completely different supplies to cut back its weight, however that may solely escalate prices, therefore they’ve determined to make use of as many domestically sourced components as potential to maintain a test on precise and alternative prices. The workforce, nonetheless, has no choice however to import sure parts just like the engine, gearbox, driveshaft, brakes and electrical parts, to call just a few. Because of this, every automobile prices VW a jaw-dropping determine that ranges from Rs 45-50 lakh to construct.
Most locally-sourced components used to maintain prices in test.
Like all different race automobiles, the interiors are barebones and have simply the fundamentals. So, what’s obtainable is a half-cut dashboard, with the controls positioned on the fascia, a sporty steering with paddle shifters, a race show, three pedals, a hearth extinguisher, and a race seat with a racing harness. The automobile in focus had a passenger seat, however the competitors model received’t have one, “in order that’s about 10 kilos knocked off there,” chuckles Sirish. In comparison with the outgoing Ameo cup automobile, this additionally options completely different damper settings, new springs, a distinct brake pad compound, in addition to a stiffer roll cage.
1.8-litre turbo-petrol makes a complete of 230hp.
We received an opportunity to expertise the way it drives, and the best way this 210hp, 1.8-litre, turbo-petrol EA888 engine performs is astonishing. This is identical engine that does responsibility within the Ameo race automobile and the Vento touring automobile, however this one feels a bit stronger. Energy supply is brutal and it catapults you forward every time you squeeze the accelerator pedal. Transmitting energy to the entrance wheels is a 6-speed sequential handbook transmission, which by the way additionally will get an computerized mode. Every gear change is instantaneous and actually aggressive. The unassisted steering provides a really uncooked expertise, and with leech-like grip and 0 physique roll, this automobile goes round corners like a scorching knife via butter. As can be the case with the Ameo, this one makes use of upgraded brakes from the Golf within the entrance and the road-going Polo’s entrance discs on the rear. So, braking efficiency is high notch, and it infuses sufficient confidence within the driver to brake a lot later and far more durable.
However the actual speaking level of this iteration is that this one is accessible with a ‘Push to Move’ perform, which provides the driving force a further 20hp increase for a brief burst of 10sec, bumping up the facility to 230hp. The VW Motorsport workforce is incorporating this ‘Push to Move’ characteristic of their championship automobiles, whereby the trailing driver can bump up the increase stress for a further burst of energy on the press of a button, with the intention to make an overtake after exiting a nook or on a straight part of street throughout a race. In concept, it’s a idea just like DRS (drag discount system) in F1. Sirish says {that a} driver can avail this characteristic a most of 5 occasions in a 10-lap race, and every time a driver is utilizing this over-boost perform, the automobile’s hazard lights activate to intimate different race drivers.
The Polo Championship automobile has come a good distance when it comes to pace, dealing with steadiness, braking and driver aids. Options like ‘Push to Move’ will definitely make this single-make racing collection much more thrilling, and it is going to be very attention-grabbing to see its software within the races going ahead.
Narain’s Drive Impressions
Narain Karthikeyan lapped the MMRT in 1m54.59s within the 2021 race Polo, beating the 2018 Ameo cup automobile’s time of 1m54.88s. “This automobile has a bit extra horsepower than the Ameo race automobile, and it’s fairly evident in the best way the Polo builds pace,” says Narain. This explicit automobile was operating increased increase pressures than regular, therefore Narain had entry to all of its 230hp on the monitor.
“There’s a good bit of understeer dialled in, however I suppose when setting it up for a person’s choice, it may be tuned otherwise. For an entry-level skilled motorsport collection, this single-make championship spells phenomenal worth, and serves as an excellent studying platform for drivers who aspire to take the touring automobile racing route.”
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