The Polo is celebrating its 50th anniversary in sporty aplomb with an impressive drifting video.

In it, the Polo R WRC and Polo R Supercar in a Harlequin livery selected by fans, as well as the electric Polo RX1e, show off their drifting abilities.

None other than motorsport star Johan Kristoffersson himself goes full throttle at unusual locations around the Polo factory in South Africa. However, even the World Rallycross Champion is outshone at the end by a surprise guest: the ID. Polo.

The video showcases the Polo R WRC and Polo R Supercar from the Volkswagen Classic collection, along with the all-electric Polo RX1e as the KMS racing team’s guest vehicle.

The shooting locations were not chosen at random. Gqeberha in South Africa has been the home of the Polo for many years, including Polos for the European market.

The cameras recorded captivating scenes at the harbour, on a closed-off highway in downtown Gqeberha, on the Volkswagen proving grounds and at the Volkswagen plant in Kariega.

The video was directed by none other than Jon Richards. With more than 20 years of experience in the automotive film industry and many years as a director of Top Gear, he is considered to be one of the most influential storytellers in this genre and he once again proves his mettle with the Polo drift video.

Jens Katemann, Head of Communications for the Volkswagen Brand and Brand Group Core, said: “In our communications regarding the Polo anniversary, we not only want to look back, but forward too and generate enthusiasm for the Volkswagen brand.

“That’s why we deliberately decided to showcase the ID. Polo’s first appearance in a spectacular and surprising way.

“This video stands for everything that is quintessential of the Polo: a small car that can do great things and that is geared towards the future.”

Seven-time FIA World Rallycross Champion and two-time Gymkhana Grid Champion Johan Kristoffersson added: “The shoot was a huge pleasure for me.

“It was a great experience to drive the sporty Polo models one after the other and push them to their limits. Their characters are different, but they all performed equally really well.”