Volkswagen builds a TCR competitor

Volkswagen Motorsport has transformed the seventh-generation Golf into a race car that’s set to enter the TCR International Series.

The TCR touring car championship - which is in its inaugural season and was originally known as TC3 - aims to provide global competition at a reasonable cost.

So far, the Seat Leon Cup Racer has dominated by winning nine out of fourteen races. That’s actually good news for Volkswagen, because Seat is helping its sister brand with the Golf’s development.

Volkswagen Golf TCR 2015 Front Side

Power is provided by a 2.0 litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine with direct fuel injection. Its 325 bhp (243 kW / 330 PS) and 410 Nm (302 lb/ft) of torque is delivered to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Along with 18” wheels that sit beneath widened arches, a front splitter plus a prominent rear wing visually differentiate the Golf TCR from a regular showroom model. As expected, the stripped-out interior features a substantial roll cage and a single seat.

Liqui Moly Team Engstler is going to run two cars at each of the four remaining rounds of 2015. The campaign starts at the Red Bull Ring in Austria this weekend.

Officially, the Golf TCR is still a concept. Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director, commented: “We will use the rest of the season to test the car under competitive conditions and evaluate a possible customer racing project from 2016.”

Of course, being ready to race means it’s not really a concept. And the talk of ‘testing’ in such a public environment? That just seems like a PR insurance policy in case the Golf fails to perform well.

Volkswagen Golf TCR 2015 InteriorVolkswagen Golf TCR 2015 Rear Side

Related post:
Provisional 2015 TC3 calendar published

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