VW CEO Competes with Golf R Lead Engineer | Carscoops

      The track competition resolves a light-hearted rivalry between coworkers driving comparable vehicles.

      15 hours ago

      By Thanos Pappas

      Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schafer went head-to-head with VW R's lead engineer, Jonas Thielebein.

      The CEO operated a Golf R Black Edition, while the engineer chose the Golf R Wagon.

      The event included a quarter-mile drag race, a track competition, and various drifting attempts.

      Even top executives need a reprieve from strategy discussions and lengthy presentations. Volkswagen decided to add some excitement for CEO Thomas Schafer by arranging a friendly contest with Jonas Thielebein, the lead engineer of the VW R division.

      Captured in a YouTube video, the challenge involved both drivers participating in a quarter-mile drag race, a hot lap on a test track, and a drifting competition, all designed to display the capabilities of VW's R models. Naturally, Schafer wasn't going to hold back. He picked the VW Golf R Black Edition, while Thielebein took the Golf R Wagon, which at least had the advantage of more cargo space.

      Both vehicles are equipped with the same turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder engine that generates 328 hp (245 kW / 333 PS). Power is delivered to all four wheels through a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission and VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.

      However, the Black Edition comes with the Performance Package as standard, allowing for a higher top speed of 270 km/h (167 mph). It's also lighter and shorter than the wagon, giving it a slight advantage in both acceleration and cornering.

      With the marginally quicker vehicle, the CEO completed the quarter mile in 13.72 seconds, while the lead engineer finished in 14.32 seconds. Nevertheless, the engineer was considerably faster on the track, despite not having the dedicated Nürburgring driving mode that the CEO selected. With a lap time of 1:07.50, he surpassed the CEO by 4.8 seconds.

      The ultimate winner was determined on a wet portion of the pavement, where the competitors had to execute as many drifts as possible within a designated timeframe. Utilizing the Golf R's specific Drift mode, the CEO accomplished five successful drifts, while the lead engineer performed 14, earning himself the informal title of Germany’s Drift King.

      It's worth noting that the longer Golf R Wagon (4,633 mm / 182.4 inches) likely had a drifting advantage, as its extended rear overhang shifts more weight to the back, facilitating easier initiation and maintenance of slides compared to the shorter 4,284 mm (168.7 inches) hatchback. Below is a summary of the results along with the complete video of the challenge.