In recent years, the Clubsport badge has signified the hardest, most focused and some of the best versions of the Volkswagen Golf GTI. It was the only version of the pre-facelift Mk8 GTI we reckoned was worth buying, so we’re very pleased that there’s an updated VW Golf GTI Clubsport on the way very soon.
It’s set to debut on 31 May at the Nürburgring, the day before this year’s punishing 24-hour race kicks off. While it’s still under an eyeball-searing camouflage wrap for now, VW has confirmed that it’s got a revised front end with new headlights and bumper, as well as tweaked rear lights. It’ll also, for the first time, have an illuminated VW logo up front. Hmmm.
VW Golf GTI Clubsport 24h, new Clubsport and Mk1 GTI Group 2
New to the Clubsport will be a set of 19-inch alloys with a five-hole teledial design, a tribute to the similar and excellent wheels found on the Mk5 GTI. They’re not being worn by this prototype, though – it’s got the new 19-inch forged ‘Warmenau’ alloys, which weigh just 8kg a corner. The camo wrap can’t hide that larger rear spoiler, either. Inside, the Clubsport will get a new steering wheel and a model-specific infotainment system.
Up front, there’s VW’s tricksy electronic front differential, and continuing with the Nürburgring theme, Clubsport drivers will be able to select a special, predetermined suite of chassis settings specially tweaked for the Green Hell.
Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 24h
VW hasn’t given any performance specs yet, but we know the standard Mk8.5 GTI makes 261bhp from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot. Even the pre-facelift Clubsport produced 296bhp and 295lb ft of torque, though, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see both figures creep over 300 in the new one. What it almost definitely won’t have, as with the rest of the new GTI range, is a manual gearbox. Sad face.
VW isn’t just unveiling the car before the N24 and calling it a day. A 343bhp racing version, named the Golf GTI Clubsport 24h, will be entered in the gruelling race by Max Kruse Racing, although it’s actually based on the old car – it was developed by Volkswagen Motorsport, which wound up its factory racing activities in 2021. It’s been brought back out for this year’s race, though, and will run on a new E20 fuel, comprising 20 per cent bioethanol.
VW Golf GTI Mk1 Group 2
Finally, to round out this Golf and Nürburgring extravaganza, as well as help add to this year’s celebration of 50 years of the Golf, three Mk1 GTIs will run in the 24h Classic, a three-hour historic race taking place on the Friday evening before the main event. That’s a whole lot of Golfs.
