The iconic Golf GTI turns 35 in 2011 and boy has Volkswagen got a ripping birthday present in store. The Golf24, the scary beauty you see before you is that present. It’s Volkswagen’s latest balls out Nürburgring 24 hour race project.

“With the new Golf24 we are continuing our successful commitment at the Nürburgring 24-hour race. The event enjoys huge popularity, is one of the true classics in motorsport and, due to its extreme distance and unique race track, also represents a very big technical challenge,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen.

That big technical challenge involves a 440hp/540Nm engine and a race-tuned all-wheel drive system. The engine is a 2.5 litre turbo five cylinder (thanks to Audi for that) and the Golf24 has already seen test miles in Portugal and Italy.

The Golf24 will also see more test miles in a trio of VLN races before the big 24 hour enduro in late June.

24-Hour Race Nürburgring 2011

Spectacular: the new Volkswagen Golf for the 24-hour race

• Comeback in the “Green Hell”: In a spectacular new racing version the Volkswagen Golf returns to the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

Wolfsburg (10 February 2011). For the legendary 24-hour race from 23 to 26 June 2011, one of the toughest tests of all in motorsport, Volkswagen has developed a 440-hp race touring car with four-wheel drive based on its top seller. The new “Golf 24” has already reeled off its first kilometres at tests in Portugal and Italy.

“With the new Golf24 we are continuing our successful commitment at the Nürburgring 24-hour race. The event enjoys huge popularity, is one of the true classics in motorsport and, due to its extreme distance and unique race track, also represents a very big technical challenge,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “With our spectacular Golf we want to provide an additional highlight in front of a large audience – right in time for the 35th anniversary of the GTI.”

Volkswagen’s last “factory” fielding of the Golf on the famous roller-coaster circuit of the Nürburgring dates back to 2007 at which time the front-wheel drive vehicle that delivered about 300 hp finished in eighth place overall, in front of numerous favourites. As the competitiveness of the event has enormously increased since then a new technical concept was required. The new Golf uses an updated 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo engine from the Volkswagen Group with an output of 324 kW (440 hp) and maximum torque of 540 Nm. Power is transmitted to the permanent four-wheel drive by a sequential six-speed gearbox with paddle shifters.

To prepare for the 24-hour race in June, the Golf24 will complete an extensive testing and development programme. After initial tests at Portimão, Portugal, back in December and further tests at Vallelunga, Italy, in February three races in the Endurance Championship on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife are planned, among others.