Overview
To transport the GTI genes to the racetrack, Volkswagen Motorsport developed the Golf GTI TCR at its headquarters in Hannover in 2015. During the test and development, Volkswagen worked closely with the racing department at Seat, in order to leverage synergies in assembly and to call on the wealth of experience gained with the Seat Leon Cup Racer. As with the Volkswagen Group’s production cars, the MQB platform also provides many synergies for racing cars, thus reducing the cost of assembling and running the TCR touring car – one of the defining goals during development.
Under the bonnet, the Golf GTI TCR houses the familiar two-¬litre turbo engine with direct fuel injection from the Golf GTI, the latest racing version of which can generate up to 350 hp (257 kW) and boasts about 420 Nm of torque. Visually, the Golf GTI TCR differs through its 18-inch rims and a chassis that is roughly 15 centimetres wider than the production golf. An adjustable, aluminium rear wing – standard for all TCR cars – ensures optimal handling. The modifications for the racetrack also include an aerodynamic front splitter. Among the features guaranteeing the driver maximum safety are racing seats with head protectors, a racing safety cell, and an FIA-approved safety tank.