What's the news?
Volkswagen Motorsport has revealed the new Golf GTI TCR; aimed at customers who want to enter touring car racing. In its first full season of racing last year the Golf won seventeen races and two championships. The new model features improved aerodynamics and is available from Volkswagen Motorsport for €90,000 plus VAT.
It is hard to miss the boxy, extended wheel arches; designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency within the technical regulations for the Golf's racing class. Overall drag is said to be reduced but downforce increased.
Other technical changes include optimisation of the power delivery from the 350hp, 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. There is also improved control of the sequential gearbox and electric power steering. Volkswagen Motorsport's engineers have also worked on increasing the durability of components subject to great strain.
One of the teams running the new Golf GTI TCR is Liqui Moly Team Engstler, which this year will compete in the German ADAC TCR season, TCR Asia and TCR Middle East. There is an international TCR series, which Team Leopard Racing starts as defending champion. New for this year are TCR championships in Scandinavia and Italy.
Anything else?
In the car's debut year more than 20 Golf GTI TCRs were delivered to customers. Volkswagen Motorsport expects another 30 cars to go to teams this year.