Called the Golf24, the racer is a (permanent) all-wheel drive touring car based on the VW Golf VI which boasts an output of 440 PS (324 kW) and has already been tested in Portugal and Italy. The Golf24 features a revised 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged power plant from VW Group with a maximum torque of 540 Nm mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox with paddle shifters.
The last time a 'factory' Golf was fielded at the Nurburgring race was in 2007 with a front-wheel drive, 300 PS (221 kW) Golf coming in 8th overall.
"With the new Golf24 we are continuing our successful commitment at the Nürburgring 24-hour race. [The race] represents a very big technical challenge...[and] we want to provide an additional highlight in front of a large audience - right in time for the 35th anniversary of the GTI," said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen in the press release.
The 24-hr race at Nurburgring takes place between June 23 to and June 26, 2011.
