Photo: WTCR

Volkswagen cancels TCR programme to focus on electrification

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Volkswagen has announced that a successor for the current Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR will not be offered, with the German manufacturer turning its focus to electric mobility.

The announcement comes less than a week after Volkswagen Motorsport director Sven Smeets confirmed to TouringCarTimes that the new generation Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR was undergoing testing.

As part of a move towards fully electric racing cars, Volkwagen will no longer run any factory-backed programmes using internal combustion engines, whilst customer programmes will also be electrified.

That means the replacement for the current Golf GTI TCR will not take to the track, with production of the existing car ending later this year.

“Volkswagen Motorsport’s customer sport programme will be electrified,” a statement from Volkswagen read. “The first stage will involve different disciplines, platforms and vehicle types being examined and evaluated.

“Parallel to this, the production of the Golf GTI TCR for the racetrack will expire at the end of 2019, and a successor based on the new generation will not be offered.

“Customer service and spare parts supply will be guaranteed in the long term.”