Awesome news! These guys are even running the 6-speed DSG boxes under 300hp!
The two Golfs entered by Volkswagen Motorport are going to tackle the traditional 24-hour race at the Nürburgring from grid positions one and five in their class (cars with two-litre turbo engines) at 3 p.m. on Saturday (live on DSF).
Volkswagen Junior René Rast in the 300-hp number-111 Golf, at 9m46.058s, set the best time in his class on the 25.378-kilometre combination of the Grand Prix circuit and the legendary Nordschleife. 20-year-old Rast shares the cockpit with the second Volkswagen Junior Jimmy Johansson, Florian Gruber and Dieter Depping. The second Golf sporting the “R-Line” look of Volkswagen Individual GmbH, bearing number 101 and driven by Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board for the Development Division, “auto motor und sport” editor-in-chief Bernd Ostmann, François Verbist (Belgium) and Dieter Depping, achieved fifth place, after setting a time of 10m01.114s.
“All seven drivers and the entire team did a perfect job in both practice sessions,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen, expressing consummate satisfaction. “We completed our entire programme and prepared ourselves for the endurance classic in the best possible manner. It’s great that Volkswagen takes part in this public racing festival. We want to show the many Volkswagen and Golf fans these two beautiful GTI cars.”
The two silver-coloured Golfs fitted with Michelin tyres, which are powered by two-litre turbo engines, and transmit their power to the front wheels via an innovative six-speed DSG double clutch gearbox, reeled off a total of 16 (#111) and 17 (#101) laps without any problems.
“The Golf is running perfectly,” said René Rast. “But in this heavy traffic you have to constantly watch what’s going on in front or behind you.” No less than 228 touring cars participated in the qualifying session in mid-summer temperatures. “The suspension set-up for the demanding Nordschleife has been achieved superbly. The Golf’s handling is very ‘good-natured’, and in such a long race that’s very important,” commented Dieter Depping.
“The ‘Green Hell’ is absolutely beautiful, particularly when it is lined by as many fans as in this race. But we’re also aware of how difficult and tricky the Nordschleife can be. That’s why we want to strictly follow our strategy and complete our laps sensibly and quickly while avoiding unnecessary risks,” said Kris Nissen, explaining the game plan for the 24-hour chase.
- Volkswagen Motorsport
Technorati Tags: VW, Volkswagen, GTI, Nurburgring, 24 Hours of Nurburgring, oneighturbo
