Super Golf to race

The 450hp Golf24 races this weekend at the Nürburgring.

The Golf24 has been built by Volkswagen specifically for the 24 Hours race at the Nürburgring and each examples packs 450hp.

As part of the Golf GTI's 35 anniversary celebrations, the Golf24 has been equipped with a five-cylinder 2.5-litre engine borrowed from the Audi TT RS. The Golf24 also comes with the Audi's four-wheel drive system, six-speed double-clutch gearbox and paddle shifters.

Developed by Volkswagen Motorsport, the team has drafted in some top drivers to help out. They include Brits Johnny Herbert and Mark Blundell, alongside Peter Terting, Patrick Simon and young guns René Rast and Edoardo Mortara.

Another Volkswagen team will run a pair of Scirocco GT24-CNG cars that run on compressed natural gas. In one car will be the Paris-Dakar winners Carlos Sainz, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Giniel de Villiers. Splitting driving duties in the other Scirocco are Le Mans racer Vanina Ickx and Peter Wyss and Bernd Ostmann. A fourth driver, DTM racer Klaus Niedwiedz, will divide his time between the two Sciroccos and lend his expertise as a two-time Nürburgring 24 Hours winner.

Published on: June 22, 2011