Volkswagen have become the third manufacturer to commit to the newly formed FIA World Rallycross Championship joining Ford and Peugeot in its inaugural year.

Volkswagen Motorsport have joined forces with Swedish Rallycross team Marklund Motorsport in a three-year deal, poaching current Global Rallycross champion Toomas “Topi” Heikkinen as their lead driver.

The Finn and teammate Anton Marklund will line-up in their new Marklund Motorsport Volkswagen Polo RX Supercars at round one of the World Rallycross Championship in Portugal on 03 May.

“Rallycross is attracting ever-increasing levels of attention in Europe and overseas and is one of the fastest growing motorsport disciplines out there,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito.

“The races are short and sweet, the cars are spectacular and look almost like factory models. Marklund Motorsport ranks among the most ambitious independent teams and has single-handedly developed the Polo for the 2014 FIA RallyCross World Championship.”

The collaboration between Marklund Motorsport and the reigning FIA World Rally Championship victors Volkswagen Motorsport is an exciting prospect for the World Rallycross Championship.

“The FIA World Rallycross Championship is going from strength-to-strength at the moment,” said Martin Anayi, Managing Director of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

“With Peugeot Sport and Ford Racing both pledging their support to World RX over the past month, it’s excellent news that Volkswagen Motorsport has partnered with Marklund Motorsport and the Polo RX Supercars will also be unleashed on the 2014 grid.”

The inaugural Australian Rallycross Championship was held at the Tailem Bend circuit on 24 June 1979 and was won by Larry Perkins, driving a 2.0-litre Volkswagen Beetle for Kruger Motors.

2014 FIA World Rallycross Championship – Event Calendar:
RXRD1 // May 3-4 // Portugal // Montalegre
RXRD2 // May 24-25 // Great Britain // Lydden Hill *
RXRD3 // June 14-15 // Norway // Hell *
RXRD4 // June 28-29 // Finland // Kouvola
RXRD5 // July 5-6 // Sweden // Holjes
RXRD6 // July 12-13 // Belgium // Mettet *
RXRD7 // August 7-8 // Canada // Trois-Rivières, Québec
RXRD8 // September 6-7 // France // Loheac
RXRD9 // September 20-21 // Germany // Estering *
RXRD10 // September 27-28 // Italy // Franciacorta *
RXRD11 // October 11-12 // Turkey // Istanbul Park
RXRD12 // November 22-23 // Argentina // Cordoba/Missones

*Competitions counting toward the FIA European Rallycross Championship