volkswagen

Volkswagen is a German brand (Volkswagen Group) that, although it has not always been present in rallying like other brands, has signed some of the most serious and technologically advanced programs in both WRC and raid/off-road (Dakar-style). In modern WRC, its key car was the Volkswagen Polo R WRC (2013–2016), a World Rally Car designed on the basis of the series Polo but built as an FIA prototype. That Polo achieved 4 manufacturers' titles and 4 drivers' titles between 2013 and 2016, and then Volkswagen closed the official program at the end of 2016. In off-road / rally-raid, the modern "icon" of Volkswagen is the Race Touareg saga, especially the Race Touareg 2 and Race Touareg 3: specific 4x4 prototypes for raids with a 2.5 TDI diesel engine (in the RT3 referred to as twin-turbo), sequential transmission, and a chassis/suspension approach designed to withstand kilometers of stone, dunes and heat. The RT3 is directly associated with the final stage of the winning program at Dakar (2010–2011).