The Volkswagen Scirocco cars powered by natural gas and petrol engines superbly mastered the world’s most difficult circuit marathon, the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring, by clinching two class victories.
The Scirocco GT24-CNG with innovative EcoFuel technology of Vanina Ickx, Peter Terting, Klaus Niedzwiedz and Thomas Klenke won the category for vehicles with alternative powertrains (AT) and finished 17th overall, outperforming numerous more powerful cars. The petrol-powered Scirocco GT24 of youngsters Jimmy Johansson, Florian Gruber, Nicki Thiim and Martin Karlhofer achieved a remarkable 15th place and Volkswagen’s third consecutive victory in the class of cars with two-litre turbo engines (SP3T).
Continue reading ’24hr Nurburgring: Volkswagen Scirocco clinches class wins with natural gas and petrol power’
We’ve updated the gallery as well. Check out the shot below from the 24hr Nurburgring classic!
Successful beginning for Volkswagen at the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring: The five Scirocco GT24 cars with natural gas and petrol engines made a good start to the motorsport marathon and are the front runners of their respective classes after four hours of racing.
The Scirocco GT24-CNG of Vanina Ickx (B), Peter Terting (D), Klaus Niedzwiedz (D) and Thomas Klenke (D) advanced to 31st place overall, the “sister car” of Volkswagen Executive Board Member for Technology Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, which is powered by natural gas as well, was running in 41st overall at the same time. The Scirocco GT24 of Jimmy Johansson (S), Florian Gruber (D), Nicki Thiim (DK) and Martin Karlhofer (A) took the lead in the two-litre turbo class SP3T and was in 20th place overall after four hours. Carlos Sainz (E), Dieter Depping (D), Wolfgang Kaufmann (D) and Patrick Simon (D) as well as Altfrid Heger (D), Cheng Congfu (CN), Carlo van Dam (NL) and Franck Mailleux (F) occupied places two and three in class as well 21 and 33 overall.
Continue reading ’24hr Nurburgring: Volkswagen Motorsport 4 hour race report’
Motorcade around the Nordschleife and taxi rides
From the toughest rally to the toughest race track: Giniel de Villiers (ZA) and Dirk von Zitzewitz (D), winners of the 2009 Dakar Rally, support Volkswagen at the Nürburgring in different ways.
Giniel de Villiers in the Race Touareg will lead a Volkswagen motorcade around the Nordschleife shortly before the start of the 24-hour race at which the new Scirocco R celebrates its world debut and is presented to the audience at the “Ring”. Originally, the South African was scheduled to contest the 24-hour race again in the Scirocco GT24 but, due to back surgery, opted not to run in the event. His co-driver, Dirk von Zitzewitz, used the opportunity to grab the wheel of the Race Touareg. At the “Camp4Fun” off-road area, he demonstrated the qualities of the Race Touareg on rough ground to numerous guests during so-called taxi rides. “The 24-hour race is a mega event like the ‘Dakar’ and we’re proud to be part of the action,” said the winning “Dakar” duo in unison. Lucas Cruz Senra (E), Carlos Sainz’s new co-driver, is visiting the Nürburgring as well.
Continue reading ‘Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz at the 24hr Nurburgring’
Two engine concepts and best in class twice: The Volkswagen Scirocco cars powered by natural gas and petrol engines set the pace in qualifying for the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring in their respective classes.
In the classification for vehicles with alternative powertrains, the natural gas-powered Scirocco GT24-CNG of Vanina Ickx (B), Peter Terting (D), Klaus Niedzwiedz (D) and Thomas Klenke (D) set the best time ahead of the “sister car” of Volkswagen Executive Board Member Dr Ulrich Hackenberg (D) and journalists Bernd Ostmann (D), Peter Wyss (CH) and John Barker (GB). In the overall classification, the two orange EcoFuel cars occupied places 40 and 49. Last year’s winning car of Jimmy Johansson (S), Florian Gruber (D), Nicki Thiim (DK) and Martin Karlhofer (A) grabbed the lead as the best-in-class vehicle and 41st overall. The trio of the blue petrol-powered Scirocco GT24 was the front runner in the category of cars fitted with two-litre turbo engines. Carlos Sainz (E), Dieter Depping (D), Wolfgang Kaufmann (D) and Patrick Simon (D) clinched fourth place in class and 47th overall, Altfrid Heger (D), Carlo van Dam (NL), Congfu Cheng (CN) and Franck Mailleux (F) finished fifth and 51st overall.
Continue reading ’24hr Nurburgring: Volkswagen Scirocco GT24 cars set the pace’
We decided to put together a separate gallery for the 24hr Nurburgring race. This will be updated as soon as we get new shots in. Bookmark if ya want!
You can still view the press gallery here
24-hour race Nürburgring 2009
An environmentally friendly energy source in sporting endurance test: Volkswagen competes with two Scirocco GT24-CNG powered by Natural Gas in the 24-hour race at the Nurburgring-Nordschleife (23/24 May).
The Wolfsburg based automobile brand’s aim: By racing in the “Green Hell” to demonstrate an alternative power concept in motorsport, as was the case in cross country rallying with TDI technology.
Continue reading ‘Scirocco GT24-CNG: green power for the “Green Hell”’
“You’ve got to respect the ‘Green Hell’ or it’ll show you in its own special way to respect it,”
says Volkswagen factory driver Carlos Sainz. “And this means lap by lap, you can never lean back.”
The two-time World Rally Champion and the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring – this is both an unusual and emotional combination. The Volkswagen “Dakar” driver will contest the race on the legendary Nordschleife in the Eifel region in a Scirocco GT24 – a challenge the Spaniard is now tackling for a second time after his maiden run in 2008. Last year, he clinched second place in the ultra-competitive two-litre turbo class.
Continue reading ‘Volkswagen driver Sainz: Spanish fire for “Green Hell”’
R-Concept – sports car project. Powerful, fast, fuel efficient and clean: The new Scirocco R – a sports car without compromises
Clear the ring: World premiere of the Scirocco R at the 24 hour race
R-values: 350 Nm, 265 PS, 250 km/h, 8.3 l/100 km, 6.5 s, Euro 5, 2.0 TSI
It is certainly the perfect venue for the world premiere of a new sports car: the Nürburgring. On May 23, at the legendary 24 hour race held there – the toughest in the world – Volkswagen will be presenting the new Scirocco R. Power: 195 kW / 265 PS. Character: genuine sports car. Performance: at its fullest. Handling: just like it should be. Fun factor: maximum. Market launch: sometime in 2009.
Continue reading ‘The Scirocco R – World Premiere at the Nurburgring’
