Ever wondered what it would be like to fill in a race driver’s shoes? Well, volkswagen provides the opportunity for you to find out.
This is what boyhood dreams are made of. A racetrack, the smell of freshly burnt rubber, a quick car and an exhaust that pops and crackles as it spits out un-burnt fuel. There is nothing that can quite parallel this sensation. Right foot planted on the floor, yanking at the paddle shifters to egg the car on and using every inch of the racetrack possible to carry maximum speed through each corner. There is also the process of contorting through the roll cage to get into the racing seat and the immense difficulty of looking anywhere but in front with the HANS device clipped on to your helmet. Also, since I am doing this in Chennai, I can feel sweat trickle down my face as a lake collects inside the racing overalls. It may sound disgusting now, but in what is literally the ‘heat’ of the moment, it all adds to the thrill of being a racecar driver (think of the F1 drivers who lose roughly 5kg through the duration of a race), even if it is for a weekend. As you’ve possibly gathered from the images on these pages, I am talking about the Volkswagen Vento Cup run by the company’s motorsport division and ably supported by MRF for all sticky rubber needs. No, not that kind, but the racing slicks kind.
This story is from the October 2016 edition of BBC TopGear India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2016 edition of BBC TopGear India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Porsche Ice Experience
It's a game best played on ice with the Porsche 911 Dakar
Mercedes-Benz EQS 580
WHY IT'S HERE To prove that Mercedes-Benz is the luxe king, irrespective of what's plonked under the hood or below the cabin.
F.A.T. CAMP
Take one Goodwood Festival of Speed, shrink it down, add skis and thermal underwear... you've got a recipe for an unforgettable day
ALL Stree DOWNHILL FROM HERE
The Challenger is dead, for now. Will the muscle car survive? We couldn't leave California without a 1,300bhp grudge match
A HIGHER POWER
They're the gnarliest, toughest Porsche 911s of modern times - and they're called Doris and Edith. Altitude does funny things to your brain...
VILLAGE OF THE DAMO
What do you get when you cross an R5 Turbo with a Suzuki Jimny? This is the company that decided to find out
CINQ OR SWIM?
The reborn Renault 5 concept promised much - does the full production version live up to the hype? Say bonjour to the EV supermini with proper Gallic flair
THE TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE FT. CITROEN C3 AIRCROSS
The Peppy 7-seater that Helped Me Break the Ice and Make New Friends
FUEL THRIFT
Experiments On The Atal Setu
BEYOND THE "BADGE
A Symphony of Engineering