The new Volkswagen Scirocco GT24 celebrated a super-successful track debut today (Sunday), taking the legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours by storm to record a class 1-2 and an 11th place overall finish in one of the world’s toughest races.

The Scirocco of Austrian track legend Hans-Joachim Stuck and his co-drivers Jimmy Johansson, Florian Gruber and Thomas Mutsch led the way on the daunting 25 km ‘Nordschleife’ to claim top honours in the class for 2-litre turbocharged machines. It finished 11th overall, four places ahead of the sister Scirocco piloted by double World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz and his Volkswagen rally team-mates Giniel de Villiers and Dieter Depping; Stuck also took his turn at the wheel of this car to achieve a unique feat in finishing in first and second place in class.

The works team’s third Scirocco, whose drivers included Volkswagen board member DR Ulrich Hackenberg, finished the event also, taking fifth in class and 32nd overall. ‘It is a great result for the new Scirocco,’ said DR Hackenberg. ‘The one-two in class and 11th overall in the 24-hour race underlines the sporting dynamic and reliability of the new Volkswagen coupe.’

Kris Nissen, Volkswagen Motorsport Director, added: ‘The racing Scirocco was developed, built and tested in only 75 days. To complete the distance on one of the world’s most demanding tracks first time out, and without serious problem, speaks volumes for the excellent performance of the entire team.’

The track version of the Scirocco, which is not due to start its production life until the autumn, is powered by a 2-litre TFSI petrol engine developing 325 PS and features a direct-shift transmission system utilising Volkswagen’s DSG technology.

A field of 219 cars took the start of the Nürburgring 24 Hours. More than 200,000 spectators watched the event trackside.