We use cookies (our own and those of third parties) to make our websites easier for you to use. Please refer to our Data Protection Statement and our Cookie Policy for information on cookies and on how you can restrict the use of cookies.
Not your normal test drive
Not your normal test drive
Driving a Golf GTI TCR at Nürburgring
7.45 a.m., Nürburgring. It's loud and wet as the day kicks off in the paddock: a fully clad racing car is being pushed backwards, out of the pit. Mechanics are enjoying their first cup of coffee, and somewhere an engine is revving. The rain's coming down in torrents most of the time. This weather is typical of the region and one of the contributing factors to Nürburgring Nordschleife's nickname ‘Green Hell'.
Ready to rock: the track testers are marching in.
Golf GTI TCR – the car that rocks
A young woman is standing on the rain-soaked pit lane. Lost in thought, she takes a bite of the sandwich she's brought along and closes her eyes. In her mind she is going through the sequence of bends again in the Grand Prix course, which she'll be driving soon enough. The leather jacket over the racing suit protects her from the rain. It matches somehow – because the car she's waiting for really rocks: a genuine Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR. A thoroughbred racing car developed by Volkswagen Motorsport for competing in touring car championships and customer motorsport events.
The driver: Eve Wallenwein. She's one of seven Nürburgring newbies. Today they all will be gaining experience for the first time behind the wheel of a GTI TCR. They're all beginners – or, even better, climbers. They all have a racing licence and limited racing experience. Before the sixth race of the VLN Endurance Racing Championship, Volkswagen Motorsport is giving them the opportunity to put the Golf GTI TCR through its paces.
Young racing pilot Eve Wallenwein is getting ready for testing the Golf GTI TCR on the track.
There are two vehicles available: one with the starting number 7502 and DSG, but without ABS; the other with starting number 7501, equipped with the set up for endurance on Nordschleife, i.e. the sequential racing transmission and ABS. Eve Wallenwein belongs to an all-women team headed by initiator Nicole Kösters. They're thinking about getting involved as an independent team next season. But they're still looking for the right car.
A pro offers practical tips
Pro racing driver Benny Leuchter (GER) who successfully competes in the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring at the wheel of a Golf GTI TCR.
Volkswagen Motorsport's Golf GTI TCR already has everything you'll ever need, according to someone who should know: Benny Leuchter, TCR racing driver by trade and self-proclaimed ‘true fan of rain'. He's on the Mathilda Racing customer motorsport team, competing for the title in the TCR class of the VLN Endurance Racing Championship. And Benny is considered to be a top favourite. In developing the Golf GTI TCR, he played a key role, and knows it like the back of his hand. The same could be said about Nürburgring, where he stopped counting laps after the first 1,000', he admits with a grin.
The Duisburg resident likes to pass on practical, first-hand knowledge to Nürburgring newbies. ‘Ask away,' says the TCR driver. Eve and the others are only too happy to oblige. But vehicle instructions are the next item on the agenda.
‘Lights would be the black lever here,' explains Leuchter, holding the removable steering wheel. ‘If you're out on the course and need some fresh air, press the blue button,' he says, briefly explaining the most important switches and buttons. ‘This button here is for launch control when in race mode, but you probably won't need that today', says Leuchter. ‘That's when it's important to concentrate on changing gears and braking.' The technology helps with gear change recommendations. ‘When it turns red, shift.' His instructions are to the point.
And the pro has a few other valuable tips to offer. Take for example the rule of thumb – ‘Drive 50% offline when it's raining' – which means: maintain a distance of one-half vehicle from the ideal line, as that's where most of the rubber abrasion occurs. ‘And rubber on rubber is always slippery,' explains Leuchter. The newbies are nodding.
‘Awesome!': one word says it all
They already have an unbridled passion for racing. On the Grand Prix course, the brake lights flicker in the battle for fast lap times and last-minute braking points. By the time the TCR-Racer re-enters the pit after four laps on the 5.148-kilometre Formula 1 course, eyes are glowing under each helmet. ‘Awesome' – you don't need more than one word to sum up the GTI TCR experience on Nürburgring.
Not even the terrible weather can change that. ‘The car drives really well in the rain,' Benny Leuchter says, reassuring his protégés. ‘Smooth set up, wide track. Perfect.' Test driver Laura Luft can only confirm that, climbing out the car after her first ‘test drive'. ‘The car's a lot of fun,' she says beaming. ‘You press on the accelerator and immediately have a huge grin in your face.'
Test driver Laura Luft is having fun at the wheel.
And there's good reason: the GTI TCR is designed for fun on the racecourse. It relies on technology that has proven itself on the road. ‘Around 65 per cent of all the components are also used in production vehicles, like the Golf GTI Performance production model,' explains Eduard Weidl, Head of the TCR Project at Volkswagen Motorsport. Here in the pit lane, everybody calls him ‘Eddy'.
Reliable and flexible – a Golf is always a Golf
The Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR during a pit stop
The front axle is a motorsport development through and through, whilst the rear axle was modified for use on the racecourse. A mechanical limited-slip differential ensures optimal traction on the road. The six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DSG) and the entire powertrain, on the other hand, are very similar to those in production vehicles. The power of the four-cylinder engine of the Volkswagen Golf R Performance production model has been increased to 237 kW/350 hp for use on the racecourse, propelling the Golf GTI TCR at racing speeds. Displacement of 1,984 ccm facilitates maximum torque of 420 Nm. That said, this engine no longer has to prove anything.
‘Gutted' for use in motorsport and enhanced with specific parts, the TCR is a genuine Golf and, as such, exceptionally flexible. And it has to be: ‘We're involved in customer motorsport after all. So you need a set-up that also allows newbies to achieve good lap times,' explains Eddy Weidl. ‘It's a truly good match for everyone,' he adds, laughing.
And then there's a commotion at pit six. Just before the turn-off to Nordschleife, Jose Inacio, a guest driver from Portugal, has spun 180 degrees on the rain-soaked course. The rear is sliding into the barrier. In a flash, the mechanics are at his side and assess the damage to the car. ‘Could be worse!'
Test driver Jose Inacio (POR) is trying to explain why his car went off the course.
The rest is routine. Remove the rear apron. Three cable ties for securing. Put the apron back on. Tape it up. And done. Just a few strips of tape over the slightly misshapen surface are the only signs of a spin-out on the rain-soaked course. ‘Now it actually looks like a racing car,' someone says jokingly.
The Golf GTI TCR is back on track after being fixed by the mechanics.
One step closer to the dream
Not even 30 minutes after the spin-out, the engine of the Golf GTI TCR starts up again and the car sets off for another lap on Nürburgring, its 350 hp engine roaring. The eyes of those who were able to race it on the ‘Ring' for the first time are twinkling nearly as much as the brake lights.
Nicole Kösters is getting closer to fulfilling her dream of building up a "girls only" racing team.
At the end of the test day, it's not only Nicole Kösters and her team who are ‘thrilled by the car and the opportunity to improve our driving skills'. You can read what they have to say on Facebook: ‘We're one step closer to our dream'.