Currently reading: Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S smashes own Nurburgring record
VW’s 306bhp track-focused Golf shaves almost 2.0sec from its fastest time in the GTI’s 40th year; new pictures of anniversary model also released

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S has smashed its own lap record at the Nürburgring, shaving close to 2.0sec from the benchmark-setting time it recorded back in May in the 40th year of GTI.

On its second timed visit to the Green Hell, the 306bhp hot hatch recorded a Bridge to Gantry time of 7min 47.19sec, which comfortably beats its 7min 49.21sec lap time from the summer and eclipses the times of its front-wheel-drive rivals.

Aside from the fitment of a roll-cage, the Clubsport S that took to the 'Ring was completely standard. It was driven by VW test driver Benny Leuchter, who Autocar spoke to earlier this year after the initial record lap.

The second fastest car and previous record holder, the Honda Civic Type R, is close to 3.4sec slower around the 12.9-mile long ribbon of Tarmac located on the hills that surround Nürburg.

Vw 8182

To celebrate this achievement and also mark 40 years since the birth of GTI, Volkswagen has released these new images of its anniversary model, the GTI Clubsport Edition 40. They can be seen in the gallery above.

Click here to read our review of the Edition 40. You can read about the time we rode shotgun in the record-breaking Clubsport S here.

History of the Golf GTI - picture special

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winniethewoo 28 December 2016

LOL, you got to laugh. They

LOL, you got to laugh. They fitted a full roll cage (with accompanying increase in torsional rigidity) to shave that 2 sec off. Seeing that isnt really a practical modification for a road car, might as well go the whole hog and fit racing slicks, "specially" tuned engine and race fuel, strip out the interior and sound deadening and shave another 10 seconds off.
vrskeith 28 December 2016

Ripoff merchants selling on at stupid money- not genuine owners

Evo eCoty No2 car .

A few for you if you have the readies.

16
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 5dr
£42,911
Clubsport S 306bhp
Trade seller, distance: 117 miles
NEW CAR
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 9 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Physical Car, Available Today. Still with all the delivery Tags etc in tact. Guaranteed instant classic/collectors item. The Rarest production Golf Tornado Red, More details to …

See all 69 cars from Sarah Cox

14
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£43,995
Very rare Limited Clubsport S
Trade seller, distance: 145 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 88 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Now available at 911 Sport Full service history, New bodywork, Black interior - New Condition, Tyre condition New, Solid Tornado Red, The Clubsport S will be limited to 400 units, …

12
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£39,995
Clubsport S number 215 of 400
Private seller, distance: 243 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 330 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
306bhp, 0-62 in 5.8 seconds, top speed 164mph. Clubsport S number 215 of 400. This in the rarest version of the Clubsport S in the UK, only 30 of the 150 are Tornado Red and only 5 of …

15
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£39,995
Private seller, distance: 243 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 75 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Volkswagen Clubsport S . No 212 of 400 and one of only 150 brought into the uk. Air con model . WHITE, £39,995

All on Autotrader today.

Note! 2 Trade sellers and " 2 Private sellers making a few quid no doubt. Private seller has two WTF VW!!

This one has been up for sale at this price for some weeks now - Greedy B

2
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr

Marc 28 December 2016

vrskeith wrote:

vrskeith wrote:

Evo eCoty No2 car .

A few for you if you have the readies.

16
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 5dr
£42,911
Clubsport S 306bhp
Trade seller, distance: 117 miles
NEW CAR
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 9 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Physical Car, Available Today. Still with all the delivery Tags etc in tact. Guaranteed instant classic/collectors item. The Rarest production Golf Tornado Red, More details to …

See all 69 cars from Sarah Cox

14
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£43,995
Very rare Limited Clubsport S
Trade seller, distance: 145 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 88 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Now available at 911 Sport Full service history, New bodywork, Black interior - New Condition, Tyre condition New, Solid Tornado Red, The Clubsport S will be limited to 400 units, …

12
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£39,995
Clubsport S number 215 of 400
Private seller, distance: 243 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 330 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
306bhp, 0-62 in 5.8 seconds, top speed 164mph. Clubsport S number 215 of 400. This in the rarest version of the Clubsport S in the UK, only 30 of the 150 are Tornado Red and only 5 of …

15
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£39,995
Private seller, distance: 243 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 75 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Volkswagen Clubsport S . No 212 of 400 and one of only 150 brought into the uk. Air con model . WHITE, £39,995

All on Autotrader today.

Note! 2 Trade sellers and " 2 Private sellers making a few quid no doubt. Private seller has two WTF VW!!

This one has been up for sale at this price for some weeks now - Greedy B

2
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr

They are their cars, they are entitled to try and sell them for what they want. No one has to buy them.

vrskeith 28 December 2016

Marc wrote:

Marc wrote:
vrskeith wrote:

Evo eCoty No2 car .

A few for you if you have the readies.

16
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 5dr
£42,911
Clubsport S 306bhp
Trade seller, distance: 117 miles
NEW CAR
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 9 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Physical Car, Available Today. Still with all the delivery Tags etc in tact. Guaranteed instant classic/collectors item. The Rarest production Golf Tornado Red, More details to …

See all 69 cars from Sarah Cox

14
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£43,995
Very rare Limited Clubsport S
Trade seller, distance: 145 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 88 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Now available at 911 Sport Full service history, New bodywork, Black interior - New Condition, Tyre condition New, Solid Tornado Red, The Clubsport S will be limited to 400 units, …

12
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£39,995
Clubsport S number 215 of 400
Private seller, distance: 243 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 330 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
306bhp, 0-62 in 5.8 seconds, top speed 164mph. Clubsport S number 215 of 400. This in the rarest version of the Clubsport S in the UK, only 30 of the 150 are Tornado Red and only 5 of …

15
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£39,995
Private seller, distance: 243 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 75 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Volkswagen Clubsport S . No 212 of 400 and one of only 150 brought into the uk. Air con model . WHITE, £39,995

All on Autotrader today.

Note! 2 Trade sellers and " 2 Private sellers making a few quid no doubt. Private seller has two WTF VW!!

This one has been up for sale at this price for some weeks now - Greedy B

2
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr

They are their cars, they are entitled to try and sell them for what they want. No one has to buy them.

Manufactures feeding the Tout market place!!

vrskeith 28 December 2016

Marc wrote:

Marc wrote:
vrskeith wrote:

Evo eCoty No2 car .

A few for you if you have the readies.

16
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 5dr
£42,911
Clubsport S 306bhp
Trade seller, distance: 117 miles
NEW CAR
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 9 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Physical Car, Available Today. Still with all the delivery Tags etc in tact. Guaranteed instant classic/collectors item. The Rarest production Golf Tornado Red, More details to …

See all 69 cars from Sarah Cox

14
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£43,995
Very rare Limited Clubsport S
Trade seller, distance: 145 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 88 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Now available at 911 Sport Full service history, New bodywork, Black interior - New Condition, Tyre condition New, Solid Tornado Red, The Clubsport S will be limited to 400 units, …

12
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£39,995
Clubsport S number 215 of 400
Private seller, distance: 243 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 330 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
306bhp, 0-62 in 5.8 seconds, top speed 164mph. Clubsport S number 215 of 400. This in the rarest version of the Clubsport S in the UK, only 30 of the 150 are Tornado Red and only 5 of …

15
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£39,995
Private seller, distance: 243 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 75 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Volkswagen Clubsport S . No 212 of 400 and one of only 150 brought into the uk. Air con model . WHITE, £39,995

All on Autotrader today.

Note! 2 Trade sellers and " 2 Private sellers making a few quid no doubt. Private seller has two WTF VW!!

This one has been up for sale at this price for some weeks now - Greedy B

2
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr

They are their cars, they are entitled to try and sell them for what they want. No one has to buy them.

Manufactures feeding the Tout market place!!

Marc 28 December 2016

vrskeith wrote:

vrskeith wrote:
Marc wrote:
vrskeith wrote:

Evo eCoty No2 car .

A few for you if you have the readies.

16
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 5dr
£42,911
Clubsport S 306bhp
Trade seller, distance: 117 miles
NEW CAR
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 9 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Physical Car, Available Today. Still with all the delivery Tags etc in tact. Guaranteed instant classic/collectors item. The Rarest production Golf Tornado Red, More details to …

See all 69 cars from Sarah Cox

14
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£43,995
Very rare Limited Clubsport S
Trade seller, distance: 145 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 88 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Now available at 911 Sport Full service history, New bodywork, Black interior - New Condition, Tyre condition New, Solid Tornado Red, The Clubsport S will be limited to 400 units, …

12
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£39,995
Clubsport S number 215 of 400
Private seller, distance: 243 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 330 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
306bhp, 0-62 in 5.8 seconds, top speed 164mph. Clubsport S number 215 of 400. This in the rarest version of the Clubsport S in the UK, only 30 of the 150 are Tornado Red and only 5 of …

15
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr
£39,995
Private seller, distance: 243 miles
NEARLY NEW
2016 (66 reg) Hatchback 75 miles Manual 2.0L 261 bhp Petrol
Volkswagen Clubsport S . No 212 of 400 and one of only 150 brought into the uk. Air con model . WHITE, £39,995

All on Autotrader today.

Note! 2 Trade sellers and " 2 Private sellers making a few quid no doubt. Private seller has two WTF VW!!

This one has been up for sale at this price for some weeks now - Greedy B

2
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI Clubsport Edition 40 3dr

They are their cars, they are entitled to try and sell them for what they want. No one has to buy them.

Manufactures feeding the Tout market place!!

No one is being forced to buy them. If they do sell them, then the product has found its value, if they don't, then it hasn't. It's not VW's problem.