Volkswagen Unveils Golf R 24h Race Car for 2027 Nürburgring 24-Hour Endurance Race

Volkswagen’s R division has unveiled the Golf R 24h, a race car specifically developed for endurance racing, and confirmed its entry in the 2027 Nürburgring 24 Hours. The race coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Golf R32—the model that launched Volkswagen’s R lineup when it debuted in 2002. Volkswagen will compete in partnership with Max Kruse Racing, a team that has campaigned front-wheel-drive Golf GTI Clubsport 24h race cars over the past three seasons. Based on the production Golf R, the Golf R 24h features a more aggressive aerodynamic package, including a large front splitter, a vented hood, widened wheel arches, a prominent rear wing, and a rear diffuser. Ride height is significantly lowered, and the car rides on racing wheels shod with slick tires. Unlike the GTI Clubsport 24h, the new racer employs an all-wheel-drive system. Power is expected to come from an upgraded 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, likely building on the GTI Clubsport 24h’s output of 343 horsepower and its use of E20 bioethanol fuel. Reinhold Iwens, head of Volkswagen R, described the Nürburgring 24 Hours as “the toughest test under real competitive conditions” and stated the new race car will be “the most spectacular Golf R to date.” This return to endurance racing continues Volkswagen’s motorsport legacy: from 2013 to 2016, the brand achieved success in the World Rally Championship with the Polo, and in 2018 and 2019, it set multiple track records with the all-electric ID.R. Additionally, Volkswagen R plans to expand its performance lineup with future models including the T-Roc R and an R-badged Tiguan.