Volkswagen Golf Racing wins on TCR debut

Team Engstler driver Pol Rosell won race 2 of the TCR International Series meeting at the Red Bull Ring on the weekend and in doing so gave the Golf Racing its maiden win. Not a bad effort for the car’s first competitive outing.

The Golf made its presence known early after Rosell’s teammate Mikhail Grachev set the fastest lap during the second free practice session with a time of 1:40.593.

Volkswagen Motorsport’s usual Monday morning newsletter had this brief report:

First appearance, first win: The new Volkswagen Golf for the racetrack made its debut in the Touringcar Racer International Series (TCR) and promptly claimed its first victory. The Golf run by cooperation partner Liqui Moly Team Engstler triumphed at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. Spain’s Pol Rosell won race two, finishing ahead of his compatriots Pepe Oriola (Seat) and Jordi Gené (Seat). Starting from pole position, Rosell defended his lead until the chequered flag at the 4.318-kilometre Grand Prix circuit. Mikhail Grachev (RUS) came sixth in the second Golf.

Rosell finished ninth and Grachev seventh in race one. Victory went to Switzerland’s Stefano Comini (Seat).

The racing version in action in Austria is the first such model based on the seventh generation of Volkswagen Golf. The production-based, 330-hp concept car is assembled in accordance with TCR Regulations and is intended to allow Volkswagen to evaluate a possible customer racing programme as of the 2016 season. In order to accelerate the development process, the new Golf will be tested under competitive conditions in the TCR between now and the end of the season.

The next races will take place in Singapore from 19 to 20 September, when they will share the bill with the Formula One World Championship.

EDIT: A brief highlights video has been added below. [Thanks to Tom for the tip]