Latest news with #HotHatch
Top Gear
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
VW's ‘Ring record breaker: 'One of the best laps I've ever driven'
Hot Hatch TG speaks to Benny Leuchter, fresh off the back of his latest Green Hell record lap time Skip 5 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Advertisement - Page continues below 'It feels amazing," he said, just moments after stepping out of the car. "I think with these conditions today, I was not expecting that lap time to be honest. I knew the potential of the car from testing, but even so this is the fastest lap time we've seen. 'I squeezed out everything from the car. I knew after the first sector there wasn't much grip in the track, there was only potential for a proper lap time if I pushed in the fast corners very hard… that lap was phenomenal.' You might like What makes it all the more impressive is that Benny had just one attempt to set the record following heavy rain overnight, with the team having spent the entire morning waiting (and praying) for the track to dry out. So, could he have gone any quicker? 'On the Nordschleife you can always find time, in perfect conditions I think there is potential for two and a half seconds [faster], but I think that lap I put down today was one of the best laps I've ever driven. Advertisement - Page continues below 'I was just saying to Florian [Umbach, head of vehicle dynamics], I think my stress level was the highest it's been in the past five years. I was really, really committed.' Where does he think the most improvements have been made compared to the record breaking Golfs of past gone by? 'If I look back now, especially the steering and reaction of the car, this car is much quicker, it offers much more feel for the driver, so I can squeeze out more of the car. I have a better connection to the car. 'The Clubsport S particularly was quite wild [comparatively], this car is a little bit more calm, but you can push it easier on the limit. I think an unexperienced driver is much faster with this car than a Clubsport S.' Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. And given the 13-mile, 154-corner track, how does he stay 100 per cent focused throughout the lap and make sure he's hitting the correct line every time? 'Enjoyment. With enjoyment, everything comes from itself. I enjoy the car, and as a driver if you enjoy the car, you're happy to drive it to the limit. 'For me it's very nice looking back where everything started. My first ever car was a GTI Mk6, my mother drove a GTI, I set a lap record with the Clubsport S, now I set a lap record with the 50 Years Edition, so it's really nice for me.' Some kind of celebration must surely be in order. 'I've been monitoring my body weight a lot the past two weeks," says Benny, "so today it's a nice pizza or steak, I don't care! It's another race weekend this weekend for me, so a little bit of celebration, but tomorrow focus on race weekend.' And not long after that, another blummin' record no doubt...
Top Gear
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
The new Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 is its fastest-ever car around the ‘Ring
Hot Hatch It's slam-dunked on the Golf R by over a second, thanks to an upgraded chassis, tyres and aero kit Skip 5 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Volkswagen is celebrating half a century of the Golf GTI next year with this legacy-surfing Edition 50 of the Mk8.5, which is now officially its fastest-ever car around the Nürburgring. The lap time (7m 46.13s) was over a second quicker than the current Golf R (7m 47.31s)... awks. And it was set by a near-production-ready version of the Edition 50 on its first and only attempt, due to poor weather conditions. Impressive. Advertisement - Page continues below Changes are being kept hush for now, but we do know a Performance Package will be offered, which brings improvements to the chassis and semi-slick Bridgestone Potenza tyres developed specifically for this car. Forged 19in lightweight alloys are supplied too, reducing unsprung and rotating mass - ideal for sharp cornering. According to VW test driver, Benny Leuchter, the Performance pack was a "decisive" factor in hitting that record time. You might like Other differences include extra attachments for the front bumper, a sleek extension to the trim above the lower grille and a sharper fin just ahead of it. The body kit gets a black finish for an angrier look, and the connecting light bar between the front lamps has changed from red to white. No proper rear images have been provided, though we can spot what appears to be a slightly extended wing back there. Advertisement - Page continues below Technical info is also being held back for now, but we're expecting a slight increase to the standard GTI's 261bhp/273lb ft from its front-biased 2.0-litre turbo-four. The Clubsport version itself gets a power bump to 296bhp, cutting three-tenths off the 0-62mph time to 5.6s. Plus, a suite of other mechanical changes like stiffer springs and dampers, lighter brakes and an Akrapovic exhaust. Because Akrapovic exhausts are necessary in every hot Golf driver's life. Expect the 50 Years to tread the lines closely here. More details are set to follow at the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race next week, but in the meantime, check out the video of the GTI Edition 50's run out at the Green Hell above. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
