When a Golf GTI TCR in full racing regalia is to be found alongside perfectly polished production models of the Polo, Golf, Passat, Arteon, Tiguan and T-Roc in the striking, futuristic handover towers at Autostadt in Wolfsburg, there has to be a special reason.
Instead of being handed over at Volkswagen Motorsport in Hannover, as is customary, a special honour was bestowed upon the 100th unit of the 350hp VW Golf GTI TCR: a handover in Autostadt.
This was much to the delight of the many visitors and customers in Autostadt. After all, it is not every day you get to experience such a thoroughbred racing machine at first hand.
The buyer of the 100th Golf GTI TCR is Franz Engstler. The racing team owner from the Allgäu region of Germany, who purchased the first customer model of the Golf GTI TCR to be delivered two years ago, received the symbolic key to the car from Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets and the head of vehicle delivery at Autostadt, Sebastian Wilhelms.
The Golf GTI TCR is based on the Golf GTI production model. Under the bonnet is the familiar 2-litre turbo engine with direct fuel injection, which generates up to 350hp of power and roughly 420Nm of torque in the racing version. The Golf GTI TCR accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in approximately 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of approximately 250km/h.
Visually, the biggest difference between the racing version and the production model is the chassis (about 15 centimetres wider) and the adjustable, aluminium rear wing. The optimisations for the racetrack also include an aerodynamic front splitter. A racing seat with head protectors, racing safety cell and an FIA-approved safety tank are among the features helping to ensure maximum safety for the drivers. 
Read about the Nurburgring lap record set by the VW Golf GTI Clubsport S in 2016.
