MADCAT

The world's first racing development of the award-winning new Golf GTI was unveiled in Britain today (Wednesday) by Volkswagen Racing UK.

The wraps came off the GTI racer in the paddock at Silverstone, less than a month ahead of its scheduled race debut at Donington Park.

The Golf GTI is destined for the country's best-supported and most exciting saloon car championship, the Volkswagen Racing Cup, where it will join 30 other Volkswagens of all shapes and sizes - including GTI models from the Golf's first, second, third and fourth incarnations - for a season of competitive action.

The new car will be handled by a variety of journalist drivers during the season, and Volkswagen Racing UK director Sam Roach believes it will be a competitive prospect: 'Twelve months ago we introduced the new Golf to racing - another world first - and the lessons we learned adapting the 2.0 TDI version for circuit racing, in particular with the chassis tuning, suspension, steering, brakes and electronics, will be a great help with the GTI. I am sure it will be a front-running car.'

Under the GTI's bonnet is the standard road car's sophisticated turbocharged 2.0-litre FSI direct injection petrol engine which, with its electronic mapping modified for the track by Superchips and with a bespoke race exhaust system from Milltek, will develop 239 PS - a 20 per cent improvement on standard.

Larger front brakes have been employed to cope with the greater stresses imposed on the track, and the suspension is enhanced by the adoption of two-way adjustable KW dampers. Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres are fitted.

Inside, the GTI's already enviable safety systems have been bolstered by the addition of an FIA-approved multi-point roll cage, plumbed-in fire extinguisher system and a Recaro racing seat with six-point harness and HANS device.

In other areas the GTI has undergone very few alterations. 'We have deliberately kept the car as close to showroom specification as possible,' said Roach.

The new Golf GTI is already a winner - even before it hits the track. In December it was crowned Car of the Year by BBC Top Gear, and in January earned What Car? magazine's Best Hot Hatch accolade.

The opening rounds of the 2005 Volkswagen Racing Cup take place at Donington Park over the weekend of 2/3 April, as a supporting event to the British Formula 3 Championship and the British GT Championship.

The championship will feature 12 rounds, with two races at each of six meetings between April and September, and it will for the first time venture to the Scottish circuit of Knockhill and the ultra-fast Castle Combe track in Wiltshire.

The Volkswagen Racing Cup enjoys the support of Augustus Martin, Castrol, ECM Vehicle Delivery, Europcar, Experian, Inchcape Automotive, ISG Occupancy, Milltek Sport, Mondial Assistance, Pirelli, Proximity London, KW Automotive, Superchips, TNT Logistics, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Volkswagen Financial Services UK.

astro

i bet that is the closest thing to a go cart on 4 wheels short of an Elise.