Entering the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) was one of the most successful motorsport endeavors German conglomerate Volkswagen ever undertook. Now continuing with the successful recipe they posses, the firm unveils the second-generation VW Polo R WRC rally car, all set for the new season.

The 2015 VW Polo R WRC will makes it rally debut at the legendary Rally Monte Carlo on 22 January in the hands of  double world champions Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) and Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N). So Volkswagen is sticking with the same drivers they know are dependable.

The car features substantial changes, though. The new VW Polo R WRC comes with a new hydraulically activated gearbox operated via a shift paddle and brand-new looks and aerodynamics, while three quarters of last year’s components are optimised in the 2015 model. The livery is updated with dark blue instead of white, garnished with white and light-blue stripes, and a large new rear wing.

“The new Polo R WRC has undergone intense further development, both on the inside and the outside,” said Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neußer, Volkswagen Board Member for Technical Development. “Not only does it look even more dynamic and sporty than it did before, but our engineers have also been working meticulously on technical innovations under the bonnet and have improved many detailed aspects of the package that has been so successful for the past two years. The focus of this further development was on efficiency, reliability and performance. We can hardly wait to see the new Polo R WRC in Monte Carlo and at the other twelve rallies on four continents.”