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For 2021, Polaris is pleased to be supporting Catie Munnings, British rally driver, Red Bull athlete and 2016 FIA Ladies European Rally Champion, and Timmy Hansen, Swedish rallycross driver, Red Bull athlete and 2019 FIA World Rallycross Champion.
With both Catie and Timmy involved in various off-road racing activities throughout 2021, the pair, who are both currently racing for the Andretti United Extreme E team, have chosen the hugely capable Polaris RZR to stay sharp between races, getting in crucial practice in Polaris’ renowned off-road side-by-side.
“With the championships we race in, we’re very limited on the number of practice sessions we get in the car, so the Polaris RZR is perfect for that crucial seat time that we need to keep our speed up,” said Timmy Hansen. “I’ve always been a big fan of side-by-sides, but I’ve mostly driven on circuits for my whole career, so developing my off-road skills is really important to me; I personally don’t think there’s a better way to do that than in a Polaris RZR.”
Catie Munnings added, “I grew up driving rear-wheel-drive side-by-sides and quad bikes on my family farm; I always loved how raw it feels, and all that adrenaline. I think watching Dakar is what really made me aware of what they’re capable of, and now i’ve got one of my own at home to train with, which is ideal. The RZR is capable of so much more than I expected; it’s really fast so it’s a great way to keep the feeling when there are long gaps in the season, and it’s much easier to understand than anything I’ve driven before – the simplicity of the dash and the controls make you able to really focus on the pure sensation of driving, without worrying about loads of different settings and dials.”
Recently returning from a training trip in the United Arab Emirates, the team were able to get some off-road seat time in the Polaris RZR Pro XP across some of the best sand dunes that the Middle East has to offer, ready for the pairs first competitive outing in Saudi Arabia in April. At home, both Timmy and Catie have Polaris RZR machines to aid practice throughout the season.
“My first impression of the RZR was that it’s very fast, got great all-wheel-drive traction and handles bumpy, difficult terrain incredibly well thanks to the huge damper travel,” continued Timmy. “After a while I almost felt invincible riding out there in the desert for miles and miles. It’s not often you get the chance to learn something completely new like we did there, it was amazing.”
“When Timmy and I went to the sand dunes, it completely blew our minds – the gradients the RZR could ride up, the suspension and how it soaks up massive bumps, and the resilience,” added Catie. “I was too cautious at first, braking for the bumps, and not going up any dune too steep – which I know now would have been easy for the RZR to achieve. Step by step we built it up and in the end, I felt like I would be able to cross any terrain with this vehicle. It’s been a hugely valuable asset to go into such an important season for me.”
Catie and Timmy will be practising their off-road driving skills in the Polaris RZR between their racing duties throughout the season. To follow their story and progress, follow their social channels.
Timmy Hansen: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Catie Munnings: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
FOR FURTHER MEDIA INFORMATION ON POLARIS ORV PRODUCTS, PLEASE CONTACT THE POLARIS ORV MEDIA OFFICE ON +44 (0) 1525 270100 OR EMAIL US AT PRESS@POLARIS-ORV.MEDIA.
About Polaris
As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. With annual 2019 sales of $6.8 billion, Polaris’ high-quality product line-up includes the Polaris RANGER, RZR and GENERAL side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman all-terrain off-road vehicles; Indian Motorcycle mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot moto-roadsters; snowmobiles; and deck, cruiser and pontoon boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with parts, garments and accessories, along with a growing aftermarket portfolio, including TransAmerica Auto Parts. Polaris’ presence in adjacent markets includes military and commercial off-road vehicles, quadricycles, and electric vehicles. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe.
