Wednesday 27th November 2019

Golf GTI TCR clocks 8:04 at the 'ring

Think the Touring Car Racing Golf a little soft? It's just gone quicker than a Focus RS...

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In some regards, it's hard not to feel a bit sorry for the Golf GTI TCR. The valedictory special for the Mk7 GTI - a very good car in its own right - was meant to draw upon the influence of the tin-top racing car with which it shares its name.

Trouble is, that influence seemed pretty mild - to say the least. And the problems for the TCR as a result were two-fold: this Golf had already delivered as a memorable driver's car, in the form of the Clubsport S, and the hot hatch market is currently fiercely competitive. It finished fourth in our recent group test, never looking to trouble the top spots, as rivals offered more excitement, better value or sharper dynamics. With the Mk8 Golf GTI presumably not far off, the TCR didn't look like the best celebration of the Mk7's success.

Perhaps this might help. The team at sportauto has recorded a spectacular 8:04.97 at the Nurburgring in a TCR. That's on the optional Cup 2 tyre, yes, but that's not a figure to be sniffed at: sportauto has recorded similar times with an original R8 V8 (8:04), a 996 GT3 (8:03), the previous Aston Martin DBS (8:02) and even a Lamborghini Diablo GT, which also needed eight minutes and four seconds to complete the lap back in 2000.

Furthermore, while the Golf hardly requires Diablo-like hustling skills, it's clear that Herr Gebhardt is trying about as hard as he can. Note the huge commitment up through the Foxhole and into Adenauer Forest, using every inch on the run between Kesselchen and Klostertal, doing the same again out of Brunnchen II. There's no doubting the effort and, beyond a little understeer and the DSG's changing up with wheelspin, the Golf looks pretty composed. Impressive.

Now, of course, it would be remiss when talking about Golf Nurburgring lap times without mentioning that Clubsport S. While this TCR puts in an impressive show, it goes to show just how good the CS is that it went 16 seconds quicker with precious little extra power and not a great deal less weight. So the TCR is perhaps more competent than you thought, but the Clubsport S, by experience and by the numbers, indisputably remains the best fast Golf there is. By a margin.

 

Search for a Golf GTI for sale here.

[Kawasicki]

Wow. I have experienced a 996 GT3, this golf must be much faster through the bends than that, as the Porsche was a pretty nippy car in a straight line!

Chassis, including tyres, development has come on so far recently.

[rare6499]

Slower than the new MINI GP though...

[Ashtray83]

rare6499 said:

Slower than the new MINI GP though...

Not really comparable as the Clubsport S is the GP’s equivalent which I think was 9ish seconds faster

[Antj]

Sometimes i think they should state the BTG time instead of the full lap as thats more relative for most people. That lap was a 7m37 BTG which is till blisteringly quick for an off the shelf family hatch.

[Chrismawa]

Ashtray83 said:

rare6499 said:

Slower than the new MINI GP though...

Not really comparable as the Clubsport S is the GP’s equivalent which I think was 9ish seconds faster

A Polo is actually a MINIs equivalent.

Edited by Chrismawa on Wednesday 27th November 15:17

[Terminator X]

Impreza Spec C was under 8 mins 15 years ago, that's progress for you!

TX.

[jakesmith]

Terminator X said:

Impreza Spec C was under 8 mins 15 years ago, that's progress for you!

TX.

And a 2004 mk4 golf GTi?
Different classes of cars

[Ashtray83]

Chrismawa said:

Ashtray83 said:

rare6499 said:

Slower than the new MINI GP though...

Not really comparable as the Clubsport S is the GP’s equivalent which I think was 9ish seconds faster

A Polo is actually a MINIs equivalent.

Edited by Chrismawa on Wednesday 27th November 15:17

Fair point makes the initial comment irrelevant too

[rare6499]

I’m pretty certain a MINI GP is more closely aligned specification, power and ability wise to a Golf than a Polo. No one buying even a standard JCW hatch is also shopping for a Polo...

[Uhu]

Since 2016, when the RS did a 8:06 on Pilot Supersport, the track was changed and "smoothed out" in many places, which made it a lot quicker. Count in also that the TCR did the lap on Cup 2 tires and those 2 seconds are not that big of a difference anymore.

In fact, I bet that if you run an RS on Cup 2s, on the current layout of Nordschleife you could get it under 8 minutes, no problem.

[ZX10R NIN]

That's a good point about the bumps I'd forgotten about that, it would be interesting to see the Megane/Type R/Leon/Clubsport times on the revised track.

[Sean207]

ah I might as well chuck in the Type R's 7:43 time...get all the 'no but it wasn't production, had sticky tyres' crew worked up...

[Wills2]

Kawasicki said:

Wow. I have experienced a 996 GT3, this golf must be much faster through the bends than that, as the Porsche was a pretty nippy car in a straight line!

Chassis, including tyres, development has come on so far recently.

Its the tyres, put a set of modern track day tyres on a healthy 996 GT3 and see what the difference is, the GT3 was tested 20 years ago not really a comparison plus you have to also look to the track and the surface a lot can change in 20 years.

[jjones]

rare6499 said:

I’m pretty certain a MINI GP is more closely aligned specification, power and ability wise to a Golf than a Polo. No one buying even a standard JCW hatch is also shopping for a Polo...

and price, 10k more than a polo gti

[0ddball]

Pisonheads said:

Golf GTI TCR clocks 8:04 at the 'ring

So what?

[Chestrockwell]

Sean207 said:

ah I might as well chuck in the Type R's 7:43 time...get all the 'no but it wasn't production, had sticky tyres' crew worked up...

Yes be careful, the mob will be after you.

It was a pleasure owning the fastest FWD car in the world with rear seats, time to be sensible. I miss that car

[Don Roque]

Civic Type R still rules the roost then. It's funny how quickly the most recent Focus RS has faded into the background, it was never the top car even when new and now just about everything beats it at everything. Hopefully the next Focus RS will be fit to wear the RS badge.

[FaNtheMaN26]

Chestrockwell said:

Yes be careful, the mob will be after you.

It was a pleasure owning the fastest FWD car in the world with rear seats, time to be sensible. I miss that car

It is sensible! Well, it's got 4 doors and a big boot...

Sorry you've sold it, what did u get instead? I've got some plans for mine after warranties up in sept

[Chestrockwell]

FaNtheMaN26 said:

Chestrockwell said:

Yes be careful, the mob will be after you.

It was a pleasure owning the fastest FWD car in the world with rear seats, time to be sensible. I miss that car

It is sensible! Well, it's got 4 doors and a big boot...

Sorry you've sold it, what did u get instead? I've got some plans for mine after warranties up in sept

I meant sensible in a ‘ stop spending so much on cars’ type of sensible. I had a lot of equity tied up in the car and it’s time to get onto the property ladder! I would have eventually have sold it as couldn’t get more than 22 mpg unless I drove like a saint which then defeated the purpose of the car. I’m just going to lease a C-Class Merc, boring but comfortable and frugal.

I may buy another Type R in a few years, the amount of performance on offer and kit on offer can’t be ignored!

The best part about mine is that I lost £1400 in 6 months after putting 8500 miles on it

[burger81]

Is there a benefit to him sitting that closer to the steering wheel? It looks really uncomfortable to me!