Celebrate 50 Years of the Golf GTI at the Nürburgring: Volkswagen’s Ultimate Racing Showcase
The Golf GTI will soon mark its 50th anniversary, and Volkswagen plans to celebrate alongside fans of these iconic three red letters. There is no better venue than the Nürburgring Nordschleife, as this legendary circuit and the GTI name epitomise driving enjoyment, dynamic performance, and sportiness. To commemorate the upcoming 2026 anniversary, Volkswagen will unveil a sporty special edition at this year’s 24-hour race, revealing it simultaneously to both media and spectators in the Eifel region.
In addition to this highly anticipated world premiere, Volkswagen will present numerous other highlights for fans during the racing weekend, including performance models from Volkswagen R. The all-wheel-drive Golf R, Golf R Variant, and the special Golf R Black Edition rank as the fastest Volkswagen production cars in the world. These models also feature a tailored driving mode for the particularly challenging Nordschleife.
Volkswagen also aims for success on the track, with the Max Kruse Racing team entering two Golf GTI Clubsport 24h in the 24-hour race for the first time. One of the drivers, Benjamin ‘Benny’ Leuchter, is a professional touring car racer and a Volkswagen development driver, making him the ideal bridge between motorsport and Volkswagen performance vehicles. Last year, he tasted victory in the AT class in a Golf GTI Clubsport 24h, partnering with seven-time rallycross world champion Johan Kristoffersson and Nürburgring specialists Nico Otto and Heiko Hammel. The same team will reunite in 2025 to defend its title. Meanwhile, Fabian Vettel—younger brother of Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel—will handle driving duties in the second Golf GTI Clubsport 24 hours from Max Kruse Racing.
Preparations for the event are already well underway. The Max Kruse Racing team completed a winter test in Portimão at the end of February, using the days in Portugal to test vehicles under competitive conditions and optimise performance. Before the primary 24-hour race, they plan to compete in Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) events to ensure everything runs perfectly in the famed ‘Green Hell’. The NLS season starts next weekend with the 70th edition of the ADAC Westfalenfahrt, spanning a four-hour race distance.
