Photo: Volkswagen
On January 19, 2019, in an Austrian town south of Salzburg called Zell am See an unusual race will be held. Called the Ice Race, the event will pit cars one against another in extreme conditions, with drivers both amateur and professional going for the win.
For Volkswagen, the event will be the first major motorsport outing of the year, and the Germans have planned what they call a blending of past, present, and future in motorsports.
On the icy tracks of the region, two VW models will be racing for the win: the 1986 Golf Mk2 GTI, the carmaker’s last entry in the hill climb before the ID R this year, and the present-day Polo GTI R5.
The Golf is the same one that has been revived as a means to celebrate Volkswagen’s return to the Pikes Peak this year. The machine is a unique build, featuring two four-cylinder engines pumped with a large KKK turbocharger.
Both engines have a displacement of 1.8-liters and together develop 652 horsepower,
The Polo GTI R5 is Volkswagen’s latest proposal for the customer rally car segment. This one is powered by only one engine, a 1.6-liter turbocharged that develops 272 hp.
Accompanying the two cars at the event will be the ID R Pikes Peak, the car that this year shattered both the electric car record on the world-famous hill climb and the overall time for the race.
The difference is this special machine will not see action in Zell am See, but will only be there to be admired.
Next year, however, it’s likely will get to see the ID R on the racetracks some more, as Volkswagen said the car will not be turned into a museum piece but used at other races as well.
“One thing is certain: the ID. R is far from ready to take its place in a museum,” said in a statement Volkswagen Motorsport Director, Sven Smeets.
“As a company, Volkswagen has a clear strategy regarding electromobility, and we want to support this objective with our involvement in motorsport. We already have a few interesting ideas.”
On the icy tracks of the region, two VW models will be racing for the win: the 1986 Golf Mk2 GTI, the carmaker’s last entry in the hill climb before the ID R this year, and the present-day Polo GTI R5.
The Golf is the same one that has been revived as a means to celebrate Volkswagen’s return to the Pikes Peak this year. The machine is a unique build, featuring two four-cylinder engines pumped with a large KKK turbocharger.
Both engines have a displacement of 1.8-liters and together develop 652 horsepower,
The Polo GTI R5 is Volkswagen’s latest proposal for the customer rally car segment. This one is powered by only one engine, a 1.6-liter turbocharged that develops 272 hp.
Accompanying the two cars at the event will be the ID R Pikes Peak, the car that this year shattered both the electric car record on the world-famous hill climb and the overall time for the race.
The difference is this special machine will not see action in Zell am See, but will only be there to be admired.
Next year, however, it’s likely will get to see the ID R on the racetracks some more, as Volkswagen said the car will not be turned into a museum piece but used at other races as well.
“One thing is certain: the ID. R is far from ready to take its place in a museum,” said in a statement Volkswagen Motorsport Director, Sven Smeets.
“As a company, Volkswagen has a clear strategy regarding electromobility, and we want to support this objective with our involvement in motorsport. We already have a few interesting ideas.”
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