Volkswagen carried out a day of testing with the Golf GTI TCR at the Almeria circuit last week; the car with which they are to take part in the World Touring Car Cup (TCR) 2019. The German firm, represented by the Sebastien Loeb Racing team, has joined the training session planned by the I.D. R Pikes Peak to test their vehicle at the Spanish track.

The German brand is determined to shine in this new season of the championship and, to that effect, it has doubled its efforts and commitment. Its ambitious project consists of four Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR units that will compete in the next WTCR. Two of them will be driven by Rob Huff and Mehdi Bennani for the second year in a row.

The Sebastien Loeb Racing team has also been joined by Benjamin Leuchter and Swedish driver Johan Kristoffersson. The latter knows the car perfectly well as it is the same model with which he won the STCC (Scandinavia Touring Car Championship) in 2018. He wants to see the first checkered flag in 2019.

The Scandinavian driver has declared to be delighted with the results of the test day in Spain which he considered to have been very interesting: “I am very happy with the tests, we have made good progress. The cooperation with my three team-mates is also excellent. I think we are on the right track”.

Kristofferson’s teammate Benjamin Leuchter, had another goal for the training session on board the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCr in Almeria. The German driver has been familiarising himself with the Yokohama tires, the ones used at the WTCR, as he had only used Hankook tires before: 

“I have settled into the team well and got to know my colleagues – there is good chemistry between us. As far as I am concerned, it is now important for us to set the car up for the [Yokohama] tyres – that is my top priority. I am full of confidence ahead of the next tests.”

As an experienced member of the Volkswagen Motorsport family, Leuchter has been heavily involved in the development of the GTI TCr. The addition of the 31-year-old pilot from Duisburg closes one of the finest line-ups on the grid.

It remains to see if they can live up to their full potential on the track, but for that, we will have to wait until the start of the competition on the 5th of April at the Circuit Moulay El Hassan in Marrakech in Morocco.

There will be a total of 30 cars from eight different brands at the start line in Marrakech (Audi, Cupra, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, Hyundai, Honda and Chinese debutante Lynk & Co), all with their own dreams of glory.

The competition calendar consists of 30 races across ten weekends. Until then, the Golf GTI TCr of the Sebastien Loeb Racing team will continue sharpening its claws for a campaign that promises bags of excitement.

Images:  WTCR / OSCARO