First the world premiere, then a class win: successful 24h Nürburgring for the VW Golf GTI

Anniversary model Golf GTI EDITION 50 makes its debut in front of a large crowd
Class win for the Golf GTI in the 24h race at the Nürburgring
280,000 spectators attend Germany’s largest motorsport event

Unique weekend of motorsport for Volkswagen at the Nürburgring: the world premiere of the new Golf GTI EDITION 50 in front of cheering fans was followed by a strong showing at the 24h race. The Golf GTI Clubsport 24h driven by Benny Leuchter (Germany), Johan Kristoffersson (Sweden), Heiko Hammel (Germany) and Nico Otto (Germany) repeated last year’s success in the AT3 class for vehicles with alternative fuels, taking position 24 overall out of 135 participating vehicles. The 397 PS (291 kW) Golf GTI for the racetrack is powered by an innovative fuel consisting of 60 percent renewable raw materials. 280,000 spectators set a new attendance record for the classic endurance race, which is held in Germany’s Eifel region.

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Premiere of the Golf GTI EDITION 50 in front of the fans at the Nürburgring.

On Friday, the new Golf GTI EDITION 50 had its world premiere: the anniversary GTI in the colour Tornado red was unveiled in front of enthusiastic fans on the Ringboulevard by Martin Sander, Member of the Board of Management for Sales, Marketing and After Sales at the Volkswagen brand, and Benny Leuchter, Volkswagen racing and development driver. The Golf GTI EDITION 50 is the fastest and most powerful production GTI Volkswagen has ever built. Leuchter recently set a new record on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a pre-production vehicle with a lap time of 07:46.125 minutes.

The Golf GTI Clubsport 24h at legendary 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.

Thomas Schäfer with the VW driver team before the start of the 24-hour race.

Benny Leuchter started the 24h Nürburgring on Saturday from pole position in the AT3 class. The initial phase was marked by high summer temperatures and a power outage in the pit lane, which caused a race interruption of more than two hours. The Golf GTI Clubsport 24h with start number 19 driven by Leuchter, Kristoffersson, Hammel and Otto defended its class lead all the way to the finish line on Sunday, leaving behind several significantly more powerful sports cars.

"The 24-hour race provided a great stage for celebrating the world premiere of the Golf GTI EDITION 50 and then gave the Golf GTI the chance to prove itself in the famous "Green Hell". GTI and the Nürburgring simply belong together," explained Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, who was at the Nürburgring to watch the race. "Thank you and congratulations to our team from Max Kruse Racing for all the preparation work and the excellent result. The spectators experienced a true festival of motorsport here."

Volkswagen Golf GTI EDITION 50 and Golf GTI Clubsport 24h

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The Golf GTI Clubsport 24h racing car (left) and the anniversary model "Golf GTI EDITION 50".

"Of course, we are proud and happy to have won the class again and finished in 24^th place overall with our Golf GTI," said Benny Leuchter. "It was a really hot and difficult race. Our goal was to be fast without taking too much risk. In the end, it paid off. Our Golf GTI ran like a clockwork," enthused the 37-year-old German from the Max Kruse Racing team.

Luck was unfortunately not on the side of the second Golf GTI Clubsport 24h with start number 76 driven by Jasmin Preisig (Switzerland), Fabian Vettel (Germany), Timo Hochwind (Germany) and Christian Gebhardt (Germany). After a slip off the track, grass and dirt blocked the cooling air supply, meaning that Preisig had to stop the car after 31 laps with an overheated engine.