Volkswagen Motorsport India’s latest race car is based on the Virtus sedan. Built specifically for the Indian Touring Cars (ITC) class of the MRF Indian National Car Racing Championship, the new Virtus ITC racer replaces the Vento ITC.
Volkswagen’s 1.5 TSI engine has made its motorsport debut on the Virtus ITC racer. It gets a significant power boost, putting out 215hp and 300Nm. The stock Virtus GT 1.5 TSI, meanwhile, makes 150hp and 250Nm.
While the Virtus GT 1.5 TSI is available with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the race-prepped version uses a 6-speed sequential racing gearbox that sends power to the front wheels. A number of changes have been made on the safety front as well, to ensure the car adheres to ITC regulations. This includes the addition of FIA-certified racing seats, six-point racing harness, roll cage and an on-board fire extinguisher. The stripped-down interior reduces the race car’s weight to 1,080kg (compared to the stock manual’s 1,275kg).
