VW Golf GTI goes TCR racing 08 | 03 | 2016
VOLKSWAGEN HAS REVEALED its Golf GTI race car which will compete in this year's TCR International Series, the innovative, new-look touring car championship.
Essentially a very cleverly packaged low-cost version of the World Touring Car Championship, TCR has already attracted Audi TT, Ford Focus ST, Seat Leon and Honda Civic race cars to the grid.
Now the production-based Golf GTI TCR has arrived, and it looks stunning. Under the bonnet is the turbocharged four-cylinder engine of the Golf R: but it's been tweaked. In race mode it delivers 325bhp and 302lb/ft of torque, that's 9bhp and 22lb/ft more than the R.
Like the road car, the GTI TCR sends drive to the front wheels, but this time the power is delivered via a proper race-spec six-speed sequential gearbox, complete with steering-wheel mounted paddles.
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And as you'd expect, it's significantly lighter than the road-going version. In fact, it's a real skinny-minnie. While the road-going GTI weighs 1533kg, the TCR version tips the scales closer to 1200kg.
The combined package results in a race car which will hit 62mph from standstill in 5.2secs, and carry on to a top speed of around 142mph: both figures are dependant on race set-up.
The base set-up for the TCR version starts from a chassis which is around 40mm wider than the production Golf. And in combination with its 18in race wheels, and adjustable suspension, the GTI TCR's aggressive aerodynamic package — which generates downforce at both ends — means it's sure to be one of the best-looking, and feisty cars on the grid.
But here's the bad news. VW Motorsport are only building 20 GTI TCRs … and they've all been snapped up already.
The cars will be handed over to their new owners no later than March 11 for testing, which begins March 14 in Valencia.
The 11-race season starts on April 1, when TCR will be a support race for Formula 1's Bahrain Grand Prix.
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Jim McGill