Wolfsburg, Germany – June 2025 — In a landmark weekend at the Nürburgring, Volkswagen electrified crowds with the world premiere of the Golf GTI EDITION 501, celebrating over five decades of the GTI legacy with its most powerful production GTI ever. Unveiled amid fanfare on the iconic Ringboulevard, the new model set the tone for a thrilling 24-hour race that culminated in another class victory for the Golf GTI Clubsport 24h² — proving once again that GTI and the Nürburgring are an inseparable force in motorsport.
With a record-breaking 280,000 spectators in attendance at Germany’s largest motorsport event, the weekend served both as a tribute to Volkswagen’s heritage and a showcase of its racing prowess. At centre stage stood the Golf GTI EDITION 501 — an exclusive near-production concept painted in signature Tornado Red, embodying the spirit of the original hot hatch with modern performance at its core.
The debut was led by Martin Sander, Member of the Board of Management for Sales, Marketing and After Sales at Volkswagen Passenger Cars, alongside Benny Leuchter, the brand’s development and racing driver. Leuchter had recently set a blistering 7:46.125 lap time on the Nordschleife in a pre-production model, underlining the EDITION 501’s status as the fastest GTI ever to wear the badge.
But Volkswagen didn’t just celebrate history — it made it.
GTI Clubsport 24h² Dominates the AT3 Class Once Again
Fresh off the world premiere, Benny Leuchter returned to the cockpit to contest the gruelling Nürburgring 24 Hours, starting from pole in the Golf GTI Clubsport 24h² (car #19). Joined by Johan Kristoffersson (Sweden), Heiko Hammel (Germany) and Nico Otto (Germany), the team piloted the 397 PS (291 kW) racer — fuelled by a sustainable blend made of 60% renewable raw materials — through extreme heat and a two-hour race suspension caused by a pit lane power outage.
Despite fierce competition and challenging conditions, the Golf GTI Clubsport 24h² once again claimed victory in the AT3 class, finishing 24th overall out of 135 entrants — a remarkable result for a vehicle running on alternative fuel and competing against considerably more powerful rivals.
“The 24-hour race provided a great stage for celebrating the world premiere of the Golf GTI EDITION 501 and then gave the Golf GTI the chance to prove itself in the famous ‘Green Hell’,” said Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand. “GTI and the Nürburgring simply belong together. Congratulations to our Max Kruse Racing team — they delivered a true motorsport festival for the fans.”
Mixed Fortunes for Volkswagen’s Second Entry
Volkswagen had entered a second GTI Clubsport 24h² (car #76), driven by Jasmin Preisig, Fabian Vettel, Timo Hochwind and Christian Gebhardt, which showed strong early pace. However, their campaign was cut short after Preisig ran off track, causing grass and debris to block the cooling system. The resulting overheating forced the team to retire after 31 laps.
“It was a really hot and difficult race,” said Benny Leuchter. “Our goal was to push without taking unnecessary risks. In the end, everything worked — the car was flawless. We’re proud to have proven the GTI’s reliability and performance once again.”
A Celebration of Heritage, Performance, and Innovation
Volkswagen’s presence at this year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours was a masterclass in brand storytelling — blending nostalgia and innovation with the unmistakable sound and spirit of GTI. The EDITION 501 not only honours its origins but signals a confident future for one of the world’s most enduring performance nameplates.
With its global reach, forward-looking ACCELERATE strategy, and growing range of sustainable mobility solutions — including both electric models from the ID. family and alternative-fuel racing efforts — Volkswagen continues to blend tradition and transformation.
As fans and drivers parted ways after a record-breaking weekend in the Eifel, one message rang clear through the roar of engines and the applause of the grandstands: GTI isn’t just back — it never left.
