Hardcore Clubbing: PH Blog
How a rain-soaked Donington proved PH's man wrong about the GTI Clubsport S
Last week, at a rain-soaked Donington, I discovered its wild side. Around the 'ring it demonstrated a keenness to turn in, hitting apex after apex, even taking into account my rudimentary track knowledge, while the hot track and those chewing gum Pilot Sport Cup 2s combined to keep it unflinchingly pinned to the Tarmac. Donington couldn't have been more different, with water sheeting off the circuit for much of the day. In these challenging conditions the Clubsport S remained just as predictable and just as friendly as it did in Germany, but the Michelins lost their magical powers and the mechanical grip loosened, nay washed away, to reveal just how aggressive that chassis balance really is. That front end is fully pinned, while in contrast the rear is utterly mobile, and it feels fantastic. Lifts and trails into corners pivots the car around the front axle, the steering wheel naturally relaxes in your hands and you quickly find yourself pointing straight ahead while still en route to the apex.
Keep your inputs neat and small and it'll dance its way round a greasy track devouring pretty much anything in its path. Be more aggressive and it'll get very lairy indeed. Consequently it's as enthralling to try and keep neat and tidy as it is to play silly buggers.
What this second drive also underlined for me is just how cohesive and well calibrated the Clubsport S is as a package. All that time spent by the development team, pounding out laps of the 'ring with an engineer in the passenger seat, laptop open, playing with damper and VAQ 'diff' settings, has really paid off. There are no bad manners, no rough edges - everything just gels together, from the steering, to the throttle map to the diff response. This is a polished product, and yet it still grabs you by the throat and gets your heart rate racing every time you drive it. If you're one of the lucky 150 with your name down for one in the UK, you're in for a treat.
Danny
Onboard round Donington in the GTI Clubsport S
More on the Golf GTI Clubsport S here with our UK roadtest and videoblog.
Thanks to Bookatrack
Photos: Sim Mainey (additional photography by Dan)
UK car in Oct? I've not even got a build date yet
Are you able to track your car or is it just for VW dealers?
I'm just going by what my dealer told me - probably not accurate.
What colour are you getting?
UK car in Oct? I've not even got a build date yet
Are you able to track your car or is it just for VW dealers?
I'm just going by what my dealer told me - probably not accurate.
What colour are you getting?
My only disappointment is that there's no cage and that would make the absence of a rear seat a little more credible
I've had to order a std Clubsport too as I need a rear seat for the next year or so. That's also white
https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/track-my-order
https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/track-my-order
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