“The car has plenty to offer and is great fun to drive,” says Benjamin Leuchter. And the Volkswagen driver should know. He is one of the men behind the wheel of the racing version in the WTCR and the VLN Endurance Championship, while he also drives the road-legal production model away from the racetrack. Together, the two variants of the Golf GTI TCR spearhead the current GTI range – and are equally at home in motorsport and on the streets.

The racing version does indeed look more powerful when the two cars are viewed side by side. The Golf GTI TCR for the racetrack is 20 centimetres wider than its production counterpart and also sits significantly lower on the road. The motorsport influence goes beyond what is hidden under the bonnet on the road-going version: According to Leuchter, aerodynamic elements like the front splitter, rear diffusor and roof-edge spoiler have clear performance benefits, as well as looking good.

There are many parallels between the two variants: Roughly 60 percent of the components are identical – from simple parts like the bonnet, doors and headlamps, to the dual-clutch transmission and two-litre turbo engine. There is a discrepancy between the two versions, however, when it comes to the engine power: The power unit in the racing variant churns out 250 kW (340 PS), while the road-legal production version also generates a proud 213 kW (290 PS). Technically, the engines are virtually identical – truly production-based motorsport.

While the racer has everything you would expect of a racing car, with roll cage and a very sparse interior, the interior of its road-going counterpart features an elegant and sporty design. “Sure, the design of the production Golf GTI TCR is by no means uncompromising, right down to the last detail. However, it has its brother’s motorsport genes, whilst at the same time offering a complete package with greater comfort and sporty design elements,” said Leuchter.