Bigger, more crowded, harder fought: Nine Golf GTI on the grid for the new TCR Germany season
The TCR series with the largest field in the world gets underway this weekend in Oschersleben
Large Volkswagen customer racing contingent
Further-developed version of the production-based, 350-hp Golf GTI TCR out to continue success story
A record number of participants and nine further-developed Volkswagen Golf GTI TCRs will take their place on the grid at the opening round of ADAC TCR Germany: the majority of international TCR series are already in full swing, and the lights are now set to turn green in Germany too. With more than 40 drivers, the field at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben will be bigger than ever, thus making success even more hard-earned than ever.
Four international Volkswagen customer teams are well-equipped to do battle for the title in the biggest TCR series in the world. They will put their faith in the 350-hp Golf GTI for the racetrack, which was developed and built in Wolfsburg and claimed the title at the first attempt in its debut season in the International TCR Series. Team Engstler – official partner of Volkswagen Motorsport, which markets the Golf GTI TCR and spare parts in Germany and also offers technical support – will field no fewer than six Golf GTI TCR: two for Team Engstler Denmark (with drivers Roland and Kristian Poulsen, both DK), two for Team Engstler USA (Stefan Goede, D, and Jason Wolfe, USA), and two for the Engstler Junior Team (Luca Engstler, D and Florian Thoma, SUI). The three remaining drivers at the wheel of the Golf GTI TCR are Kai Jordan (D) of the Racing One team, Sebastian Steibel (D) of Steibel Motorsport, and Juuso-Matti Pajuranta (FIN) of Positione Motorsport.
Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets: “Golf GTI TCR further developed in key areas”
“We started to realign the Volkswagen motorsport programme at the start of the year, and focussed on providing customers all over the world with top products for various motorsport categories. The Golf GTI TCR for the racetrack is one such product. It has already exceeded expectations in its debut season,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets. “The Golf GTI TCR for the current season is another milestone in our focus on customer racing, and is set to continue its success story, which began last year. After speaking to the teams, the Golf GTI TCR has been further developed in key areas and is now ready for a TCR season in Germany with a remarkable field, which will create even more competition and thus excitement in the race for the title. My fingers are crossed for all our customer racing teams.”
To ensure there is close cooperation with the customer teams, Volkswagen Motorsport will be present at the racetrack at every round of the 2017 season of ADAC TCR Germany. As well as the parts service for Volkswagen customers, private teams from manufacturers Audi and Seat will also be looked after.
As in 2016, the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben is the venue for the opening round of the season in ADAC TCR Germany. The race weekend at the demanding 3.696-kilometre near Magdeburg (D) is followed by a further six dates, of which two will be held outside Germany. ADAC TCR Germany travels to the Red Bull Ring in Austria at the start of June, before visiting Zandvoort (NL) at the end of July.
