2021 Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 #21
Pilots: N. Gryazin / K. Aleksandrov
Team: Movisport
Race: 12th overall (RC2 class) at the Monte Carlo Rally 2021
Ixo - RAM793LQ (diecast)
Published 12/20/25
After very poor results with the Golf, Volkswagen officially abandoned the rally scene in 1997. Then, in 2011, Wolfsburg decided to get back to rallying, so they began development of a new car. They chose the current Polo as the basis, and in 2013 released the Polo R WRC. The Polo R WRC was a smash, and had a very dominant career in the WRC. However, in late 2016, VW announced that they would cancel further development of the Polo, withdrawing from the WRC. But, the following year, Wolfsburg surprised the specialized press and rally fans. In April of 2017, Volkswagen announced intentions to remain in the sport! In fact, they were even developing a new car for the WRC. This new car would be designed for the R5 class, therefore a rally car derived from a production passenger car. And Volkswagen elected the Polo 6th generation as the basis.
Volkswagen wanted to still be a part of rallying and the WRC, but without too much investment. Since a factory presence in WRC1 was very expensive, they focused on WRC2. In December 2017, Volkswagen R Motorsport officially unveiled the Polo GTI R5, specifically for the R5 rallying class. Or in other words, WRC2 and smaller regional events. While the WRC1 is the top class of the WRC, with mainly factory teams, the WRC2 is the “junior” class. That being so, the GTI R5 was intended for privateer drivers to use in the WRC2 races and regional events. The first cars were ready in early 2018, and the FIA granted homologation in July.
The GTI R5’s steel chassis is the same chassis used for the regular Polo, improved to R5 specs. The engine of the Polo GTI R5 is a turbocharged 1614 cm³ inline-4 with 16 valves. Transversely mounted up front, it delivers power to the four wheels through a 5-speed manual sequential gearbox. With the whole car weighing 1230 kg, it can reach 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds. Volkswagen debuted the car in the Catalunya Rally, and the GTI R5 came in third place in the RC2 class.
Based at Reggio Emillia, in Italy, Movisport was an Italian marketing agency, of all things. Founded by Zelindo Melegari, he decided to go rally racing, so in 1999 he created the Scuderia Campione Movisport. At first, the small team only participated in European Rally Championship events, with Melgari as the only pilot. The team got serious and expanded, and they even won the ERC in 2006 and 2009. By 2020, Movisport had won the Italian Rally Champions six times in a row. With the favorable winds, they decided to compete in WRC2. As always, the opening race of the season was “The Monte”, the 89eRallye Automobile Monte-Carlo. Movisport arrived with a two-car squad, a Polo GTI R5 and a Škoda Fabia R5. Though neither car took podium finishes, the GTI R5 #21 finished 12th overall and 5th in the RC2 class.
For the rally wing of the W-143 Garage, I’m focusing only on the “Big League”. Or in other words, I basically only have cars from the top class of the WRC. Though the other classes and even some smaller events have some FANTASTIC cars, I just can’t go bonkers. And in 1:43, just like for Le Mans, there’s a ton of cool models to collect. Though this GTI R5 #21 is not a WRC1 car, it is a Polo, and I have a very soft spot for the Polo. Besides, it’s a current Ixo rally car, which translates to a terrific model for a budget price. I must admit that my R WRC is nicer, but that’s because the real thing has more details. Nonetheless, Ixo did a great job on the GTI R5 #21, and it’s a beautiful model for a great price.