Volkswagen R is heading back to the Nurburgring 24 Hours in 2027, marking the performance division’s 25th anniversary with a brand-new all-wheel-drive Golf R race car developed alongside Max Kruse Racing.
The German carmaker has confirmed that the project is already underway, while a new concept called the Golf R 24H has been revealed as an early preview of the machine that will tackle the legendary endurance race on the Nordschleife. The show car was displayed publicly at the Nurburgring Ring Boulevard, giving enthusiasts a glimpse of what Volkswagen describes as its “most spectacular Golf R to date.”
The return to endurance racing also reinforces the roots of the Volkswagen R brand, where the ‘R’ originally stood for ‘Racing’. Since the debut of the Golf R32 in 2002, Volkswagen R has evolved into the brand’s flagship performance sub-division, combining powerful engines, sharp chassis setups and 4MOTION all-wheel drive technology.
According to Reinhold Ivenz, Head of Volkswagen R, the Nurburgring remains one of the toughest proving grounds for any performance car. He noted that the circuit not only serves as a racing venue, but also as an important development and testing facility for Volkswagen R products.
The upcoming race car will be based on the current-generation Golf R and engineered specifically for the demanding 24-hour event. While Volkswagen has not disclosed technical details yet, the company says development work has already begun behind the scenes.
The project will once again involve Max Kruse Racing, Volkswagen’s long-time motorsport partner. Former racing driver and development specialist Benjamin Leuchter will play a key role in the programme, contributing both on the engineering side and in vehicle setup development. Leuchter has also been closely associated with fine-tuning several Volkswagen R road cars over the years.
Volkswagen’s Nrburgring campaign enters a new phase after three years of competing with the Golf GTI Clubsport. This time, however, the focus shifts toward the more powerful, all-wheel-drive Golf R platform, signalling a stronger connection between Volkswagen’s road-going performance models and motorsport ambitions.
Beyond production cars, Volkswagen R has an extensive motorsport legacy that includes four World Rally Championship titles with the Polo R WRC and multiple record-setting runs by the all-electric ID.R prototype. The upcoming Nrburgring entry is expected to further strengthen the brand’s performance identity while helping engineers test and develop future technologies under extreme racing conditions.
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