A bright blue sky welcomes Benny Leuchter to Wolfsburg on a mild Monday, shortly before the Wörthersee GTI fan convention, which was originally planned for May. The grey parking level, right next to the plant and within sight of Wolfsburg Castle, is about to be upgraded by a piece of Volkswagen history. Eight GTI special editions, from every generation of Golf, have been assembled here – from the Golf 1 GTI Pirelli to the latest member of the GTI family: the Golf GTI Clubsport 45, which is based on the eighth generation of Golf.
When the racing driver and Volkswagen test and development driver arrives, he is visibly impressed by the Golf GTI Clubsport 45: “It looks mega. The colour really suits it. With its black accents in a high-gloss finish, the rear wing really comes into its own,” he says, clearly satisfied. “The oval exhaust pipes are framed superbly, and what an awesome size they are. I would definitely tick that on the extras list!”
“The Golf GTI Clubsport 45 is quite simply an incredibly good car!”
Benjamin “Benny” Leuchter has a long GTI history and was directly involved in the development of the Golf GTI Clubsport 45. Right on time for the Wörthersee GTI fan convention, which has unfortunately been cancelled again in 2021, he introduces the highlights of that car – and meets the most important models of previous generations.
The Golf GTI Clubsport 45 should actually have been making its first appearance at this year’s “Wahnsinn am See” (“madness on the lake”). However, the continuing pandemic has led to the cancellation of the event for the second time in a row. Painful news for Volkswagen and all its loyal GTI fans.
“I would really have liked to present it to our fans in person,” says Leuchter. “There is so much to explain: we have fitted a twin-pipe Akrapovič exhaust system and raised the top speed to 280 km/h. However, I also particularly like the “Scottsdale” rim with the red pinstripe. It just looks class, as if cast from one mould. Then the Cup 2 tyres, the semi-slicks, are also a good fit. With its 18-inch brake system, 300 PS and driving profile selection, it is simply perfect. I now set my fastest lap times with ESP Sport, not with the ESP deactivated completely. That is incredible! The Golf GTI Clubsport 45 is quite simply an incredibly good car.”
Leuchter and the GTI – a perfect match!
On a tour of the parking level, Leuchter, who has been around for much of the 45-year history of the GTI, expresses his long association with the brand: “My whole family is GTI mad: my mum, my uncle, my cousin, and me. My first car was a Golf 6 GTI, which I transformed into a Benny Leuchter Edition with BBS rims, a thread chassis and more power. It is still driving around now, just as I had it back then. The new owner really treasures it.” Speaking of tuning: “I have always identified closely with the GTI brand. The GTI community is so cool and diverse. From those who uphold the OEM style, to the hardcore tuners, you have everything. You immediately get chatting.”
A special record
Leuchter’s eyes light up when he sees the Golf 7 GTI Clubsport S: “This is the first time I’ve seen this car for a year and a half. Five years ago, we broke the record on the Nürburgring with that car!” Back in April 2016, Leuchter set the record for front-wheel drive production vehicles, with a time of 7:49.21 minutes – and then lowered that time by another two seconds to 7:47.19 minutes shortly thereafter. By the way, he owns number 1 of 400: “My Clubsport S is now five years old. It was only licensed for one day: 22nd November 2016, my birthday. I have just driven it again, because it has moved into my garage. I haven’t done that often though – everything is still new, it still has all its stickers. I have only driven it once at the Nürburgring, which I find fitting. It only has 400 kilometres on the clock!”
Benny Leuchter on the new Golf GTI Clubsport 45
Special mode for the Golf GTI Clubsport 45
Even after the development of the Golf GTI Clubsport S, Leuchter frequently returned to the Nürburgring for development drives. He has completed roughly 250 to 300 test laps – about 6500 kilometres – at the wheel of the Golf GTI Clubsport, Golf GTI Clubsport 45, and the Golf R. Like its high-performance siblings, the Golf GTI Clubsport 45 is equipped with the Special driving mode, which was developed at the Nürburgring: “I was heavily involved in its development: the dampers and gearbox were modified. The chassis is softer, giving you more grip on the bumps. The throttle response is sportier, the feedback from the engine more direct. You are a little closer to the mechanical limits. That is perfect for the Nordschleife, the bumpiest motorway in the world,” says Leuchter. “In my car, I do a lot of driving in Nürburgring mode, even on roads. The Special driving mode is superbly suited to everyday use.”
An unexpected reunion
Leuchter cannot help but smile when his eyes meet the Golf 2 GTI G60: “I already mentioned that my mother is GTI mad. Back in 1996, she had a Golf 2 GTI Fire & Ice with BBS rims, which was stolen from her doorstep. We found the bonnet again later. To this day, I still have it at home in memory of that car.” Perhaps he could take his mum and the bonnet to the Wörthersee GTI fan convention in 2022?
“45 Years of GTI” film for GTI friends
Each year, Volkswagen brings stand-out cars to the Wörthersee lake. This year, the newest member of the GTI family would have been presented on the stand in Reifnitz: the new Golf GTI Clubsport 45. Instead of on the stage, the exclusive GTI can now ben seen on camera. The film, featuring every generatin of GTI, will be released on Volkswagen channels on Saturday 15 May, 2021.
