| The Golf GTI will soon turn 50. Volkswagen wants to celebrate this – together with the many fans of the three red letters. And there is no better way to do this than at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. After all, both the legendary racetrack and the GTI designation stand for driving pleasure, dynamic performance and sportiness. To mark the upcoming anniversary year in 2026, Volkswagen will present a sporty special model already at this year’s 24-hour race and reveal it simultaneously to both the media and spectators in the Eifel region. In addition to the world premiere, Volkswagen will be offering numerous other highlights for fans at the racing weekend – including the performance models from Volkswagen R. The all-wheel drive models Golf R02, Golf R Variant03 and the Golf R Black Edition04 special model represent the world’s fastest Volkswagen production models and offer a special driving mode for the particularly demanding Nordschleife. |
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Two Golf GTI Clubsport 24h in the ‘Green Hell’ for the first timeVolkswagen also has ambitious goals on the racetrack: the Max Kruse Racing team will compete in the 24-hour race with two Golf GTI Clubsport 24h for the first time. One familiar face behind the wheel will be Benjamin ‘Benny’ Leuchter. The professional touring car driver is also a development driver for Volkswagen and is therefore the perfect link between motorsport and the Volkswagen performance models. Last year, Leuchter celebrated victory in the AT class at the wheel of the Golf GTI Clubsport 24h alongside seven-time rallycross world champion Johan Kristoffersson and the two Nürburgring professionals Nico Otto and Heiko Hammel. With the same team, the quartet will also be back at the starting line in 2025 in order to try and defend their title. In the second Golf GTI Clubsport 24h from Max Kruse Racing, Fabian Vettel, younger brother of Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel, will take the wheel. |
Preparations are underway: Testing in Portugal, racing at the NürburgringThe preparations for the event are already in full swing: the Max Kruse Racing team completed a winter test in Portimão at the end of February. The days in Portugal offered an excellent opportunity to test the vehicles under racing conditions and further optimise their performance. Before the start of the 24-hour race itself, participation in races of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) is planned to ensure everything is ideally prepared for the highlight in the ‘Green Hell’. The NLS race season starts next weekend with the 70th edition of the ADAC Westfalenfahrt over a distance of four hours. |
Volkswagen celebrates a GTI world premiere
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