Car News

Refreshed race-spec Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR ready for the track

The Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR has been revealed 40 years after the Golf GTI was launched. Every 2016-spec Golf GTI TCR already has an owner and is eligible for 16 international races.

THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI TCR was first launched in July 2015 in production-ready concept form with two cars competing in the TCR international series. It won its second race at the Red Bull Ring in Austria… it’s now in series production as a customer racing car for the TCR championship.

In all, 20 cars were built for 2016, and all were sold by mid-January. Customer cars will be handed over this month and, yes, we’re jealous we’re not one of those customers. 

The Golf GTI TCR is 40cm wider than a standard seventh-generation Golf GTI with a bespoke rear wing designed to improve downforce at speed, a wind-tunnel-tested front splitter is also fitted. The standard seats have been binned in favour of a racing seat with head protectors, roll cage and an FIA-approved fuel tank.

The Golf GTI TCR benefits from learnings of those involved in the build of the SEAT Leon Cupra Racer (essentially a twin under the skin). The engine is the same as that in the Golf R and in GTI TCR trim produces 243kW and 410Nm of torque.

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director said: “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 said: “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.

[To keep costs down for customers] 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.”


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Isaac Bober

Isaac Bober