Click above for a high-res gallery of the Volkswagen Scirocco.
Volkswagen will use the 24-hour endurance race at the Nurburgring in Germany to showcase the new Scirocco's sporting credentials when the event gets underway the weekend of May 24 and 25. The race-prepped version of the low-slung, Golf-based coupe will be spitting out 300 hp from its tuned 2.0-liter TFSI engine. Volkswagen didn't reveal a lot of details about the Scirocco racer in its press release (after the jump), but you can be assured that serious suspension and brake tweaks will be accompanied by all the prerequisite safety equipment to make the Scirocco competitive in the 2.0-liter turbo class. And VW isn't skimping on drivers, either. The Scirocco will be piloted by two-time WRC champ Carlos Sainz and two-time Le Mans winner and 'Ring legend, Hans-Joachim Stuck.
[Source: VW via WCF]
PRESS RELEASE
Stuck and Sainz in Volkswagen Scirocco on the Nordschleife
The two-time Le Mans winner Hans-Joachim Stuck and the two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz are leading Volkswagen's line-up of drivers for the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. The three factory-developed racing versions of the Scirocco, which is making its début on the race track before its market launch, will be piloted by an unusual mix of seasoned rally and circuit drivers as well as young talent and journalists at the legendary motorsport marathon staged at the "Green Hell" on 24 and 25 May.
Alongside factory driver Carlos Sainz (E) his rally team-mates Giniel de Villiers (RSA) and Dieter Depping (D) from cross-country rally sport are part of the line-up as well as Volkswagen Junior Jimmy Johansson (S) and the seasoned touring car racers Florian Gruber (D), Thomas Mutsch (D) and Francois Verbist (B). Prominent support from the Volkswagen Group will be provided to them by Hans-Joachim Stuck (A), who has been the company's motorsport representative since the beginning of this year, as well as by Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Volkswagen board member for technical development. Other Scirocco drivers are journalists Bernd Ostmann (auto motor und sport) and Matthias Malmedie (Grip das Motormagazin)
Board member Dr Ulrich Hackenberg: "A demanding project"
"The new Scirocco's entry in what is arguably the world's toughest auto race is a demanding as well as an exciting project," states Dr Ulrich Hackenberg. "The objective should be for one of the three Scirocco teams to repeat the 2007 class victory of the Golf GTI. This would be an excellent way to support the market launch of the production model in autumn."
Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen is convinced that the drivers as well as the Scirocco will cause a sensation at this tradition-rich race. "With this fantastic drivers' squad and the racing début of the Scirocco, which has attracted a lot of attention since its unveiling in Geneva, we're offering a real highlight to the crowd of some 200,000 spectators lining the circuit and the many TV viewers during the long live coverage on DSF," says Kris Nissen. "Last year, the successful running of the Golf GTI with class victory and eighth place overall made a strong impression. Now, the Scirocco's entry means that a legend, which made its mark in racing as early as in the seventies and eighties, returns to the race track."
Three-time Nürburgring winner Stuck: "A dream combination"
The Volkswagen Group's motorsport representative, Hans-Joachim Stuck, will tackle the 24-hour race on the 25.378-kilometre combination of the Grand Prix circuit as a proven Nürburgring veteran. As many as three times – in 1970, 1998 and 2004 – "Strietzel" Stuck won this prestigious race in the "Green Hell".
"I'm proud about the fact that, at my age, I have the chance to take part in the racing début of a newly introduced car like the Scirocco. In addition, it's a great thing for me to compete alongside Carlos Sainz as a team-mate. In rally racing he's a shining light, similar to Michael Schumacher in Formula 1," says Stuck. "For me, the 24-Hour Race at the Nürburgring along with the Monaco Grand Prix, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indy 500 is one of the world's four most attractive races. With the Scirocco we can compete for class victory and a good result overall. In all, a dream combination."
Factory drivers from cross-country rally sport take turn as circuit racers
For the Volkswagen factory drivers from the brand's cross-country rally programme - Carlos Sainz, Giniel de Villiers and Dieter Depping – contesting the 24-hour race barely a month after competing in the Central Europe Rally in Hungary and Romania from 20 to 26 April represents a welcome, contrasting change. All three have experience in circuit racing. Giniel de Villiers won the touring car championship in his native South Africa in 1994 as well as from 1997 to 2000. Dieter Depping clinched class victory at the 24-Hour Race at the Nürburgring in the Golf GTI last year."
"My last circuit race dates back to the 1980s at the beginning of my career," says Carlos Sainz, who won the 2007 FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup with Volkswagen. "I've never driven a 24-hour race and am looking forward to it very much. I only know the Nürburgring from what others have told me about it and have heard that this race poses a very special challenge. I want to support the team as best I can, that's why I'm going to prepare myself thoroughly and will compete in a test race as well."
2007 class winners in the field again: Johansson, Gruber and Depping
As three of the four drivers who clinched class victory in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring last year, Jimmy Johansson, Florian Gruber and Dieter Depping are part of the field again this year. In 2007, together with René Rast – the Volkswagen Junior will not be part of the line-up at the "ring" as he will be contesting the Porsche Supercup race in Monaco at the same time – they were victorious with the Golf GTI in the two-liter turbo engine class and, in addition, achieved an outstanding overall finish in eighth place. The racing version of the new Scirocco is based on last year's successful technology and, like its predecessor, is powered by a 300-hp 2-liter TFSI engine.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
rouse42 @ Apr 18th 2008 3:35PM
this is gonna be great.
now just bring the damn thing to the US!
wow, thats gonna be like 160 laps...
ugg.tryptophan @ Apr 19th 2008 3:27AM
I'd watch every 24 hours, because for some odd reson this has become my new dream car; theres faint a chance i could own it, i mean you can import it, right?
Mr. Oak @ Apr 18th 2008 3:43PM
I'm betting that it'll belly up by hour 5.
zmf001 @ Apr 18th 2008 5:46PM
"I'm betting that it'll belly up by hour 5"
And why is that? We're not talking about a Mexican built Jetta here. Fortunately for VW, their race prepped cars are built exceedingly well. And with these drivers at the wheel, should compete very well too.
Shiftright @ Apr 18th 2008 9:42PM
Yeah, your statement is completely unfounded. There have been some quality and reliability issues with Mexican built VWs, but nothing serious. Hmmm, Chevys aren't exactly known for quality, reliability or durability, but hey, the 'Vette has done just fine on the racing circuit.
nagmashot @ Apr 18th 2008 11:24PM
"I'm betting that it'll belly up by hour 5."
I am wondering how VW managed it to finish 8th overall winnig it´s clas, last year after 24h...
just a other brainwashed brand hater..
Mr. Oak @ Apr 21st 2008 10:40AM
Not brainwashed, I know the brand. I also remember the last time the Sirocco was marketed here, both generations SUCKED.
The Corrado, a Sirocco in drag, because they knew that some of us here would remember the nightmare that it was. A couple of Navy buddies and I were left stranded numerous times on RTE 13 in Delaware, on the Chesepeake Bay bridge and the NJ Turnpike. Or, the night I met this really hot chick in Va. Beach, we left the nightclub, and the damn Sirocco wouldn't start, AGAIN.
My personal experiences plus the fact that VW still hovers near the bottom of the auto industry when it comes to reliability are proof.
Would be nice if they could prove me wrong, but for now, the facts bear me out.
naggs @ Apr 18th 2008 3:47PM
good to see any production car be campaigned. it forces automakers to deal with the shortcomings of their performance vehicles and ensures that the next gen is actually better than the current one.
the total lack of factory racing is evident in models like the euro civic type r
nagmashot @ Apr 18th 2008 11:20PM
naggs better get your facts together...
Honda has in Europe
tv14 Civic Cup (for the current Civic model)
Honda Sport Cup (for older Civic and S2000)
both cups race all 10races of the BF Goodrich endurance championship, including the 24h at the Ring.
http://www.honda-vln.de/img/honda-vln_01.jpg
picture of a Euro Civic Type R race car
There are so many race series were nearly any "perfromance" procudction car is raced in Europe...
Eric D-J @ Apr 18th 2008 3:48PM
I'd be more interested in watching it if I could buy it, but VWOA doesn't care about us.. I'll wait and just read about it after its over.
Aki @ Apr 18th 2008 3:54PM
I don't need an affordable hot hatch from VW. Just give me an overpriced, overweight, gas-guzzling luxo-sedan in the same niche as an Audi A6, and I'm totally sold.
tankd0g @ Apr 18th 2008 3:56PM
I wonder if they expect to ever sell a 2 door GTI in Europe again?
Paul @ Apr 18th 2008 4:05PM
Dear VW,
I have never purchased one of your cars before. I never really thought about it until I first saw the Scirocco. Unfortunately not this car is all I can think about. The sad part is since you are refusing to meet the needs of this market I will have to go suicide myself.
Mr. Oak @ Apr 18th 2008 4:11PM
Dear Paul:
After owning a VW for a while, you start to get those suicide feelings all over again.
Eric D-J @ Apr 18th 2008 4:56PM
Mr Oak, please go away with your annoying one liners. We get that you like american cars. Others are happy with VW and we don't need your useless replies.
Thank you,
EricDJ
epilonious @ Apr 18th 2008 5:21PM
Dear Eric DJ... please take your VW up to 100 MPH on a deserted stretch of street somewhere.
Then the fates will decide whether you live or die when a suspension component, pump, ignition module, or some other over-engineered hunk of crap glued on in Mexico decides to fall off.
(Please note: Survival does not pre-empt you from any repair bills as the above parts will cost $700 to replace. Each.)
Chase @ Apr 18th 2008 7:35PM
Epilonious, I've seen, ridden in, and driven many VWs 100 mph and greater and I have yet to see any of the above mentioned consequences.
And seriously, who shoved the stick up your butt? Every time I read one of your comments I cringe -- you really make yourself out to be a dick. Personally, I welcome your comments, and I know they have some truth in them, but there is no need to be so derogatory or absolutistic.
Steveboss @ Apr 19th 2008 12:22AM
Dear epilonious,
I would be willing to take up your meager 100 mph test in either my 92 SLC or my Mkiv R32, neither of which laid a wheel inside of mexico. I dont think its an unreasonable request with these two models.
Eric D-J @ Apr 18th 2008 10:42PM
I have had our new Jetta past 100, as well as my old Scirocco's. Nothing fell off, nothing magically broke, no wreck, etc.
Some people seem to forget the deep pool of engineers behind VW that include sub brands like Audi, Seat Skoda, Bugatti, Bentley, Lamborghini.
I can't see any of the parts you mention costing $700 bucks. You understand that a lot of parts are sourced from suppliers over a single network. So some parts mentioned may be in other car brands too. Because its in a different brand of car, does that make it magically exempt from problems?
Were all sorry you got a used Jetta with problems, our used one is great and the 2 year cpo warranty on top of the four it had has been great. I will say again, that cars will last when cared for. My 82 320i BMW speaks for that. Things break sure, but it goes and goes. For the record it goes over 100 with no problems either
Mr. Oak @ Apr 21st 2008 11:07AM
Eric D-J:
Ah! Didn't understand you being so chaffed, now I see that you own one of the VW heaps.
Son, I have owned VW, Volvo, MB, Toyota x 4, Audi, Ford, Chevy.
Worse reliability was from 78 Sirocco, most embarrassing piece of junk I ever owned. A buddy of mine really liked the new 1992 version and bought one, then got mad at me for not warning him off. Yes it sucked too.
My next worse car was a 4th generation Audi 100S of 1994 vintage. Someone who posted earlier used the term "Over Engineered". That was the most accurate description one could come up with for that car. Was so happy when it was totalled (accident). Thankfully no one was hurt.