VW PoloCup Car: Driving the race machine

  • May 21, 2010
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Built for the track, the 2010 VW Polo Cup Car is a true blue high performance competition touring car that is set to take Indian motorsport to a new level...

Thirty five years ago, Volkswagen AG couldn't have guessed that their 11,111,111th globally produced Polo, now in its fifth generation, would roll out in India. But such is the ways of the developing world that scenarios change and new markets emerge. Today, Volkswagen has set up a plant in India and is going great guns; however when the company did announce their foray into the Indian market in 2007 no one thought that they would literally take like a fish to water. Just two years down, in October 2009, Volkswagen proposed to bring in a global standard motorsport event to Indian shores. For a country that has been deprived of manufacturer participation in motorsport, such an announcement caused a sensation, and this very sensation has evolved into a one make race, namely the Volkswagen Polo Cup 2010, and at the heart of this race lies the Volkswagen Polo Cup car, a special piece of machinery that ushers in a new era of motorsport for India.

Incidentally the Polo Cup Car and the fifth generation Volkswagen Polo have been developed alongside each other. Such is the synchronization between the product development team and the motorsport works department that the Polo shares its inherent good looks with the Cup Car; a requirement set by both departments. However, similarities end at the metal work, for the Cup Car is very different from its street brethren.

I had travelled down to Coimbatore to the Kari Motor Speedway to get a firsthand experience of this hatchback powerhouse. Setting my eyes on the VW Polo Cup Car for the first time, it was clear that the blokes at Volkswagen Design obviously had a great time designing the VW Polo Cup Car. The neatly sculpted front air dam, front, side and rear skirts, rear spoiler and of course the beautiful 17 inch alloys shod with 200/605 R17 slicks work their aesthetic magic in transforming the road going look into that of a purposeful race car set to tear up the tarmac.

The spartan interiors further established the fact that the VW Cup Car has been designed with a one point agenda of track racing. The driver gets a racing seat with integrated head protection, a 6 point safety harness prepared for the HANS system, and a Volkswagen sports car style steering wheel with electronic power steering, and a data logger system with an onboard camera. Further to this, the Cup Car boasts of a FIA approved roll cage, fire extinguisher with internal and external release, and an electrical cutoff system to avert any mishap. The only tools offered for driver comfort are the power windows and adjustable steering column. Now with all this gear on the inside, I can vouch that it is not an easy task to get in and out of this car. I had to pull a trick out of the hat to get my 6 foot 2 inch frame fitted snug into the driver's seat and get all buckled up. A few twists and turns like a body contortionist and the sheer determination to drive this track scorcher had me firmly in place and good to unleash this beast on the track.

Firing up the engine, I was taken aback by the sheer amount of noise in the cabin, and that is when I remembered that the VW Cup Car for the Indian series is powered by a diesel, a 1.6 liter R4 common rail motor at that. The engine is capable of unleashing 130 horses at 4400 rpm and develops a solid 250 Nm of torque between 1500 to 2500 rpm. Mated to a 6 speed manual gearbox, the drive promised to be a breathtaking experience and I was not disappointed. I should add that this is also the first racing car in India to be powered by a diesel motor, a historic moment if you may.

Unleashing the horses is an easy task in this car and as it surges forward, I found myself flying towards a tight right hander, quick off the gas and onto the brake, I managed to get the car to step out of line just a bit, but enough to unnerve me; these brakes were sure touchy. What was I to expect, especially considering the fact that the Cup Car comes fitted with a race brake system that boasts of a 312mm ventilated disc with four piston fixed calipers up front and a 232mm rear disc. So, taking my time to get used to the touchy brakes and the feather light steering system, I made my way around the track, each time pushing just a little more and taking those turns a little faster. Speaking of which, I was rather impressed at the way the car handled. Despite being pushed hard, she could sure hold a line, and though some credit goes to the wide racing slicks, the taunt SACHS racing suspension played its role to the 'T'.

Handling is great; however the tradeoff is in terms of ride quality. Not that I am complaining, after all, this is a race car and not a commuter hatchback that I am driving here, the ride experience as I should refer to it as is comparable to a go-kart. Every minor change in road surface just gets fed right through to you! Thank God for a smooth track, else this could have a rather bone jarring experience. But thanks to this very set up, the car sticks to the track and is an absolute joy to do laps in.

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The entire package from the exterior modifications to the driver's set up and car suspension all work together to offer a brilliant competitive touring hatch that is sure to change the landscape of Indian motorsport for the better. The VW Polo has written history the world over, and here too in India the marquee is off to a historic start yet again. As for the drivers in the 2010 VW Polo Cup Championship, all I can say is that I am jealous, very jealous!

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