A real racer, the initial tests with the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR prove extremely successful.

• The first five of 20 production-based touring cars have already been delivered to customers
• Difficult weather conditions at Balance-of-Performance test (BOP) in Valencia
• Eight teams are putting their faith in the 330-hp Golf GTI TCR in 2016

The stage is set for the new circuit racer: the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR successfully completed the official TCR comparison tests in Valencia (E). Prior to this, the first five of 20 cars were delivered to two customers. The cars were then put through their paces during two days of testing at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. 

Engstler Motorsport from Germany and the W-Racing Team from Belgium, who line up in the TCR International Series in 2016, took to the racetrack for the first time with the new 330-hp touring car.

As well as familiarising themselves with the new car, the test programme also included the obligatory Balance-of-Performance test (BOP). 

This meant performance tests on the test stand, car measurements to determine the car’s centre of gravity, acceleration and deceleration tests with varying amounts of ballast and an official TCR driver at the wheel. 

The data gathered in the BOP is analysed and used to achieve a similar level of performance between the cars of different manufacturers, thus ensuring everyone has the same chance of winning. 

However, this task proved far from easy for the powers that be: heavy rain in Valencia repeatedly disrupted the two test days.

In total, eight customer sports teams will field the Golf GTI TCR in 2016: Engstler Motorsport, Kai Jordan, D&T Drive & Training (all Germany), W-Racing Team, Gtps Delahaye Racing Team (both Belgium), Milo Racing (Luxembourg), Gusto Technik Performance (Hong Kong) and Novaplus Gestão Desportiva (Portugal). 

The racing Golf will start in five TCR championships: in the international series, the Benelux and Asia series as well as in the German and Portuguese championships.

Quotes after the comparison tests with the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR

Eduard Weidl, Head of Customer Sports

“The comparison tests with the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR went well. We are happy, but we also know that we still have some work ahead of us – particularly when it comes to the cars’ traction. As such, the tests were very helpful and revealing. 

The Engstler team completed more than 50 laps with its three cars on both days, allowing it to make some valuable findings. The feedback received from the customer sports teams and drivers on the Golf GTI TCR was certainly very positive.”

Jordi Gené, test and development driver

“The Golf GTI TCR is a real racer. Compared to last year’s concept car, we have made good progress in many areas. Thanks to the new six-speed sequential racing gearbox, an improved braking system, and modifications to the aerodynamics, the Golf is now even better to drive. 

We will obviously continue to work on the car throughout the season, where the regulations allow it, in order to ensure that we improve continuously. As far as performance is concerned, I am sure that the customer sports teams will be able to challenge for the championship in the various TCR series.”

40 years of GTI: TCR version for the racetrack, Golf GTI Club sport for the road, this is one aggressive looking Golf.

• Ÿ40 years of GTI: TCR version for the racetrack, Golf GTI Club sport for the road
• Production-based touring car to be delivered to teams mid-March
• All 20 Golf GTI TCRs developed by Volkswagen Motorsport already taken

The new Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR has the seal of quality in its name: 40 years after the launch of the first Golf GTI, the customer sports version also possesses the acronym that, since 1976, has been synonymous with the Wolfsburg-based car maker’s sporting character, powerful engines and maximum performance. 

Since it was first unveiled in July 2015, the Golf GTI TCR has been hugely popular on the racetrack: all the customer sports models for the 2016 season had already been snapped up by mid-January. 

The teams can field the 20 cars, which were developed by Volkswagen Motorsport, in up to 16 national and international TCR touring car championships. 

The cars for the international TCR championship are to be handed over to the customer sports teams from 11th March in Abrera/Barcelona (E). An initial roll-out with the opposition is planned for the test drives at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia (E) from 14th March.

Dynamic appearance: production-based Golf GTI TCR embodies racing genes

The acronym GTI stands for Gran Turismo Injection and is more than just a seal of quality – it is a trademark and an identity. Even to look at, the Golf makes no secret of its motor racing genes: 18-inch racing rims, a chassis that is roughly 40 centimetres wider than the production Golf, and a striking rear wing also guarantee optimal handling. 

An aerodynamic front splitter and carbon rear wing are among the modifications for the racetrack. Among the features that ensure maximum safety for the driver are a racing seat with head protectors, racing safety cage, and an FIA-approved safety tank.

Powerful and efficient: turbo engine with direct fuel inject, generating 330 PS

A powerful straight four-cylinder engine, a sequential gearbox with shift paddles located on the steering wheel, a consistently developed racing chassis – the new Golf has been meticulously prepared for its outings on the racetracks of this world. 

Volkswagen Motorsport developed the car in cooperation with the sport department at SEAT. This made it possible to call on the extensive experience gained with the SEAT Leon Cup Racer. 

As with the Volkswagen Group’s production cars, the MQB platform also offers many synergies when it comes to racing cars, thus reducing the costs involved in assembling and running the touring car. 

The 2-litre turbo engine with direct fuel injection is the same one used in the top sporting model, the Golf R. The racing version generates 243 kW (330 PS) and produces 410 Nm of torque.

Successful start: concept car shows great potential at TCR outings

The racing car based on the seventh generation of Golf has already enjoyed success in competition. In 2015, cooperation partner Liqui Moly Team Engstler fielded two cars in the TCR International Series. The production-based concept car showed great potential: at its first race weekend, the Golf promptly won the second race at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport: the most powerful production GTI ever celebrates its anniversary

The racetrack is not the only place the Golf GTI is celebrating its 40th birthday. To mark the anniversary, Volkswagen is launching the most powerful production GTI ever: the Golf GTI Clubsport. Volkswagen presented sketches of the new car at the GTI meeting at the Wörthersee in May 2015, before unveiling a production model at the German International Motor Show (IAA) in September. 

The 2-litre TFSI engine generates 265 PS – that is 35 PS more than the previous most powerful Golf GTI. Another feature of the turbocharged direct- injection engine is a boost function, which allows the driver to briefly increase the engine power by ten per cent to 290 PS.

Quotes on the customer sports project with the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director

“The Golf GTI TCR allows customer sports teams to partake in reasonably-priced motorsport with a Volkswagen. Furthermore, the teams can expand their motorsport commitments innumerous TCR championships, both at national and international level. 

We are providing them with a car that is ideally suited and prepared for this purpose: the Golf has not only made an outstanding impression at tests, but also shown its great potential in competition. We are delighted by the high demand for the car among customer sports teams, which confirms that we are doing a good job.”

Eduard Weidl, Head of Customer Sports

“The use of the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR in customer sports is a great opportunity, the likes of which we have not seen before on the motorsport scene at Volkswagen. When developing the technology, our main focus was on keeping the running costs at races as low as possible.

Together with the customer sports teams, we now face the challenges in the various TCR championships. We will provide on-site contact partners on race weekends, to ensure that the Golf GTI TCR is perfectly prepared when it takes to the grid. Furthermore, a co-operation is planned with SEAT in the TCR International Series.This will deal with service, logistics and on-site supervision, in order to make the outings as efficient as possible for the teams.”

TCR International Series – Calendar 

01/04–03/04/2016 Bahrain* 

22/04–24/04/2016 Portugal (Estoril)

06/05–08/05/2016 Belgium(Spa-Francorchamps) 

20/05–22/05/2016 Italy (Monza) 

03/06–05/06/2016 Austria (Salzburg) 

17/06–19/06/2016 Germany (Oschersleben) 

01/07–03/07/2016 Russia (Sochi) 

26/08–28/08/2016 Thailand (Buriram) 

16/09–18/09/2016 Singapore* 

30/09–02/10/2016 Malaysia (Sepang)* 

18/11–20/11/2016 Macau

* On support programme for the FIA Formula One World Championship.