Volkswagen unveils camouflaged Golf R at Ice Race in 50th year of Golf celebration
Even though the official debut of the refreshed "R" is not slated until summer, the schedule for the formidable Golf is already packed. This year, Volkswagen is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Golf, promising more celebrations on the horizon.
Ice Race attendees had the opportunity to appreciate the Golf R alongside other 8th-generation Golfs post-upgrades - including the GTI, GTE, and E-hybrid - and their sporty ancestors. For this special event, selections from the Volkswagen museum were exhibited, including the Golf GTI I, Golf I GTI "Pierburg", Golf II Rallye G60 (in both road and performance variants) and the Golf IV R32. The event attracts a diverse range of classic, sporty, and high-performance vehicles: Highlights included a Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato, a rally Skoda Fabia, a rallycross Audi S1, a Porsche 911 in various rally iterations, and even an off-road or ... a Meyers Manx beach buggy equipped with tracks!
At Volkswagen's invitation, prominent sports personalities showed up: two-time 24h Le Mans winner and touring car race champion Hans-Joachim Stuck and six-time world rallycross champion Johan Kristofferson. They were selected to pilot the specially stickered Golf R prototypes, showcasing their impressive abilities. Regrettably, above-average temperatures in Zell am See caused the Ice Race's snow track to melt, and during the runs, drivers found themselves contending with slush, holes, and even mud.
"The Ice Race is an absolute spectacle. While other drivers need snow chains to cope with these conditions, the real excitement kicks in for us seasoned racers," commented Hans-Joachim Stuck. "Getting behind the wheel of the brand new Golf for the first time was a great pleasure. Although the Golf R hasn't officially been launched, I can reveal that beneath its camouflaged exterior lies a true sports car, one that fans of the R brand are certainly eager to see," added Johan Kristoffersson.
