While touring car racing now occupies a niche market, it once drew global attention. It was a platform for automotive giants like BMW and Datsun to shine, and it helped transform ordinary vehicles like the Ford Cortina into legendary racecars. The concept of a budget-friendly car becoming a racing champion is a nostalgic one, which is what makes the 2016 VW GTI TCR race car so remarkable—along with its striking fender flares.
Constructed for the TCR touring car series, the VW GTI TCR features a chassis that is an impressive 15 inches wider than its street version. This wider chassis, combined with an aggressive front splitter, 18-inch Michelin slick tires, and a substantial carbon fiber rear wing, provides the vehicle with exceptional high-speed stability. Powered by a 330-horsepower turbo inline-four engine from the Golf R, the TCR efficiently transmits power to the front wheels using a sequential racing transmission with paddle shifters. Also included in this turnkey racecar are a full safety cage, a racing seat, and a race-ready fuel tank.
However, there’s unfortunate news. Volkswagen produced just 20 units of the GTI TCR, and all have already been purchased—racing teams grabbed the full allocation by mid-January. Nonetheless, later this year, enthusiasts will have the chance to buy the street-legal VW GTI Clubsport. Volkswagen promises that this model, equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 265 horsepower under normal conditions and reaching 290 horsepower with overboost, will be the most powerful production GTI to date.*
*This claim is made under the assumption that the Golf R is not included, which could be considered a bit misleading. But when has VW ever encountered issues with such marketing tactics?
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