Volkswagen celebrates a GTI world premiere with the fans at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring – AutoMart Canada

Two Golf GTI Clubsport 24h in the ‘Green Hell’ for the first time

Volkswagen also has ambitious goals on the racetrack: the Max Kruse Racing team will compete in the 24-hour race with two Golf GTI Clubsport 24h for the first time. One familiar face behind the wheel will be Benjamin ‘Benny’ Leuchter. The professional touring car driver is also a development driver for Volkswagen and is therefore the perfect link between motorsport and the Volkswagen performance models. Last year, Leuchter celebrated victory in the AT class at the wheel of the Golf GTI Clubsport 24h alongside seven-time rallycross world champion Johan Kristoffersson and the two Nürburgring professionals Nico Otto and Heiko Hammel. With the same team, the quartet will also be back at the starting line in 2025 in order to try and defend their title. In the second Golf GTI Clubsport 24h from Max Kruse Racing, Fabian Vettel, younger brother of Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel, will take the wheel.

Preparations are underway: Testing in Portugal, racing at the Nürburgring

The preparations for the event are already in full swing: the Max Kruse Racing team completed a winter test in Portimão at the end of February. The days in Portugal offered an excellent opportunity to test the vehicles under racing conditions and further optimise their performance. Before the start of the 24-hour race itself, participation in races of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) is planned to ensure everything is ideally prepared for the highlight in the ‘Green Hell’. The NLS race season starts next weekend with the 70th edition of the ADAC Westfalenfahrt over a distance of four hours.