Volkswagen: R duel at the Circuit Anneau du Rhin 🎥

Jasmin Preisig accompanies Flavio in the Golf R, Benjamin Leuchter supports Oliver in the T-Roc R.

Volkswagens with the letter R on the rear are wolves in sheep's clothing. A concept that also excites Oliver Malicdem and Flavio Zwahlen. As a VW Ambassador, Oliver drives a T-Roc R with 300 hp, Flavio a 320-hp Golf R - the latter being an anniversary model, namely the 250,000th R produced.

Driving Experience from Volkswagen Switzerland
The two want to experience the limits of their compact Wolfsburgers under the guidance of experts. No sooner said than done. They take part in a Driving Experience by Volkswagen Switzerland, where all variants of the R series are available - in addition to the two models mentioned, the performance versions of the Golf Variant, Tiguan, Touareg and Arteon.

The venue is the Alsatian race and test track Anneau du Rhin between Mulhouse and Colmar, where Swiss pilots of various categories often start or train on the winding track.

Safety comes before speed
Before the driving fun, however, there's a round of theory. Instructors give tips and reveal tricks for safe and fast driving. Equipped with balaclava and helmet, the circuit is explored on the first slow laps. Also on site are factory driver Benjamin Leuchter from Germany and Swiss driver Jasmin Preisig, because the day has a special highlight in store for the two of them.

Oliver and Flavio want to compete in a duel with their own cars. As coaches, Jasmin Preisig takes a seat in Flavio's Golf R, Benjamin Leuchter sits next to Oliver in the T-Roc R (center gallery).

Clear advantage through torque vectoring
Without any further introduction, both drive as fast a lap as possible. Flavio is three seconds ahead with a time of 1:41 minutes. Oliver is at the start with a handicap: The competitor's car not only has 20 hp more power, but also better aerodynamics than his sporty SUV.

And above all, the Golf R has torque vectoring, which distributes torque not only between the front and rear axles, but also between the two rear wheels. The T-Roc R can't quite keep up with that.

Potential for improvement in braking
The supposed disadvantage only spurs Oliver on even more. He listens attentively to the professional racer's driving tips. And he learns that he has room for improvement, especially when it comes to braking, i.e. he can put the pedal to the metal later before corners. Benjamin Leuchter, who performs the set-up tests for the R models on behalf of VW, knows exactly what the 17-inch braking system has to offer.

Getting through the curves as round as possible
With Flavio and Jasmin Preisig, the curves are the big issue. The VW ambassador, who drives a Golf GTI TCR in endurance races, tells her protégé to concentrate even more on the apexes.

Jasmin Preisig: "When you drive more roundly, it requires less steering intervention. That not only makes you faster, but the car also comes through the curve more safely."

The coaching works: On the next timed lap, both are significantly faster. In the end, victory goes to Flavio and his Golf R by the narrowest of margins: he crosses the finish line in 1:36 minutes, just one second faster than Oliver in his T-Roc R.

Source: Reto Neyerlin (text), Content Creators, Timo Orubolo (photo)
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