VW will line out three 'eco-friendly' gas-powered Scirocco GT24-CNG racers for the legendary Nürburgring 24-hour endurance event, which will take place in Germany over the weekend of May 14-16.
All three cars will be fitted with a 2.0-litre TSI engine fuelled by natural gas, which emits 80 per cent less CO2 compared to a conventional petrol engine.
The eco-friendly engines will output 326bhp and the cars will also feature an active electro-hydraulic differential instead of the conventional item, in an effort to improve handling and reduce understeer.
Further modifications to the Sciroccos include a larger braking system to reduce maintenance intervals during the punishing 24 hours, and the integration of two extra lights on the front bumper to improve visibility for those on the night-time stages of the race.
As with previous years, VW will draw on the expertise of experienced race drivers as well as fielding a number of up-and-coming young drivers.
Peter Terting will join the team as an experienced gas-powered driver having piloted the Scirocco GT24-CNG to victory in the alternative powertrains category last year.
The VW team will also include Jimmy Johansson, Florian Gruber and Nicki Thim who finished the top-placed Volkswagen team in last year's race, as well as endurance racing legend Dieter Depping and two-time winner of the Nürburgring 24-hour, Klaus Niedzwiedz.
The three Scirocco GT24-CNG racers will continue to be put through their paces in the run-up to the Green Hell endurance race as they all contest another Endurance Championship race on the Nürburgring at the end of April.
Aoibhinn Twomey - 19 Apr 2010
