VW TO UNVEIL A SPECIAL GTI FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, ENTERS TRACK-PREPPED CLUBSPORTS AT THE 'RING IN THE MEANTIME.
Few places on Earth are as synonymous with petrol-fueled madness as the Nürburgring Nordschleife. And few badges hold as much street cred in the world of hot hatches as those three red letters: GTI. This June, Volkswagen is bringing the two together in spectacular fashion, unveiling a brand-new GTI model while also fielding two track-honed Golf GTI Clubsport 24h racers in the gruelling ADAC 24-hour race. With over 230,000 motorsport diehards expected to descend on the legendary circuit from June 19-22, 2025, VW is making sure they get a show to remember. The big news? A GTI special model will make its world debut, setting the stage for the Golf GTI’s 50th anniversary in 2026. Expect something built for driving enthusiasts, because let’s be honest - Volkswagen knows exactly what the fans want. They just need to work on affordability because these aren’t affordable sports cars for the masses anymore. Anyhoo, while the new GTI makes its grand entrance, the Max Kruse Racing team will be locked in a battle against the Green Hell itself. After securing class victory in 2024, they’re back with not one, but two GTI Clubsport 24h cars, ready to prove that front-wheel-drive and outright speed are not mutually exclusive. Benjamin ‘Benny’ Leuchter, Volkswagen’s go-to development driver and all-around GTI guru, will be leading the charge once again, joined by Nürburgring veterans Nico Otto and Heiko Hammel, plus seven-time rallycross world champion Johan Kristoffersson.
And if that wasn’t enough of a flex, the second car will have Fabian Vettel - yep, younger brother of four-time F1 champ Sebastian Vettel - behind the wheel. It’s not just about showing up and hoping for the best—preparations are already well underway. The Max Kruse Racing squad kicked off testing in Portimão earlier this year, putting their GTIs through their paces in full-race trim. Before the 24-hour showdown, they’ll also be sharpening their claws in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS), ensuring both cars are dialled in for the ultimate endurance test. And, of course, Volkswagen’s high-performance R models will also be making their presence felt over the weekend. The all-wheel-drive Golf R, Golf R Variant and the sinister Golf R Black Edition will be on display, flaunting their Nürburgring-tuned drive modes for those who like their Golfs with a little extra grip. One of the biggest races of the year. A brand-new GTI making its global debut. A motorsport-proven squad gunning for glory. If you’re a Volkswagen fan, this is as good as it gets. Any anyone needs local coverage of the event, I’ll happily offer up my services because a guy can dream, can’t he? While the pair of track-prepped Clubsports is interesting new, all we can focus on now is the car being revealed in June. What is it? Is it a Clubsport variant of the 8.5? Is it a new special edition we haven’t heard of? Is it all-wheel drive or is it a front-wheel drive setup as per the Clubsport recipe? Is it June yet?
Take a look at the YouTube video that doesn't show off these special Clubsports, but it does give some highlights that will give you an idea as to why one of the appointed drivers will be Max Kruse: 24h-Race Nürburgring 2024 | Volkswagen x Max Kruse Racing | Highlights | Volkswagen News
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