Built and Developed by VW Racing South Africa, this ex-Works Polo comes to our shores fully rebuilt and fresh from Victory in the 2007 South African Rally Championship where, in the hands of 2007 South African Rally Champion Jannie Habig, it regularly dominated over the local Toyota Corollas, Subaru STi’s and Evo Lancers.
Powered by a Lehmann Built normally aspirated 2.0ltr engine, developing 273+ HP at 8,500RPM, its drive is generated through all four wheels via a SADEV 6 Speed Sequential Gearbox – a control element common to all S2000 cars.
Queensland business owner , Marius Swart has imported the vehicle after prolonged negotiations with the South African VW Works Team that commenced in April last Year. He was able to finally clinch the deal, to bring The King of Africa down under, late in November.
Now, after a full refurbishment the car has been delivered to Swart’s Brisbane based workshop in anticipation of a Maximum Attack on the Australian Rally Championship, beginning at the Rally of Canberra in May.
Rally of Canberra will be the cars’ first event and Swart, along with co-driver Gerard McConkey, is working hard at putting the new team – OZ2000 Rallyesport - and budget together for the full ARC season.
Swart today emphasized his enthusiasm for the car and its potential while talking about his plans.
“There is a very exciting year ahead of both Gerard and myself,” said Swart. “The design principals and build quality of the Polo is absolutely world class and we can’t wait for the first event, to get on with it.
“We hope to put together decent sponsorship to enable us to mix it with the big boys but come what may, we will give it our best shot.
“Still, I have to familiarise myself with the Polo and how it behaves, but having come through the ranks of RWD , N2 FWD and N4 AWD in the tough South African Rally Scene, I am confident that I will come to grips with it fairly quickly and should be able to drive it to its full potential; as much as a true privateer can afford to do.
“The pedigree of this VW Polo S2000 shows that it has Event and Championship winning capability – it is now up to us to prove it,” he continued.
Team OZ2000 Rallyesport is currently engaged in rigorous pre-event testing and promotional activity with interest in the VW Polo S2000 already huge.
A dedicated group of fans and admirers have already started to grow and they are about to become known as the ‘OZ2000 Polo Club’ as Corporate and local financial backing comes to fruition.
Swart is urging all motor sport fans to come and spectate at the Australian Rally Championship events and experience first hand the mighty roar of The King of Africa!!
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