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.
Volkswagen became the first manufacturer in the Dakar Rally’s 30-year history to win the car classification of the desert classic with diesel power. Natural Gas technology also provides advantages for motorsport: EcoFuel models generate their power from fuels with 130 octane and fill a motorsport asset with life: Efficiency. The high-performance Natural Gas engine in the Scirocco GT24-CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) unites the performance of 282 hp with optimal economy – a particular benefit in a marathon like the 24-hour race.
“Natural Gas engines have rather unjustifiably a sedate image,” says Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Volkswagen AG responsible for Technical Development. “We aim to correct this by fielding two Sciroccos with CNG technology. Volkswagen is market leader with Natural Gas models. The Passat EcoFuel already successfully combines fun at the wheel with economy on the highway. It formed the basis to bring a high-performance system like the Scirocco GT24-CNG to the Nordschleife. The goal is clear: With the fully-fledged race version of a car with Natural Gas power we aim to assert ourselves in the high-caliber field of gasoline powered cars.”
Scirocco GT24-CNG combines aspects of economy, efficiency and dynamic
The Volkswagen brand already represents the aspects of economy, efficiency and dynamic with its road cars, and recently received the environmental prize for its Natural Gas technology and won the ADAC Eco-Test. Development Board Member Dr Ulrich Hackenberg (D) drives one of the two factory prepared and entered Scirocco GT24-CNG with the journalists Bernd Ostmann (D), Peter Wyss (CH) and John Barker (GB). The touring car professionals Vanina Ickx (B), Peter Terting (D), Klaus Niedzwiedz (D) and Thomas Klenke (D) compete in the second orange-red sport coupés.
By racing, Volkswagen demonstrates the potential in EcoFuel models. “Just the tests around the Nordschleife showed that the Natural Gas Scirocco can more than keep up with the three gasoline powered sister cars,” says Volkswagen driver Peter Terting. “In the 24-hour race we now want to demonstrate that the familiar saying ‘step on the gas’ deserves a new definition.”
