About the car

Volkswagen Golf mk3 3 door hatchback year model 1993
Originally 1.8 90hp 145Nm
Goal: 1.8T20V street tune 200hp and track tune +400hp

Quick history

The car started its life as 1.8 90hp (5500rpm) 145Nm (2500rpm) with CL trim level and Windsor Blue color.  So very basic mk3 individual. 

It was first registered in Finland February 19th 1993. I bought the car March 27th 2021. Car was in very rough shape as you can see. 

FUN FACT: Original idea was to use Audi TT mk1 but keeping that street legal in Finland and competitive on track is nearly impossible. Second option was to use mk2 Golf, but that went sour after the chassis I had was sent to scrapyard by the garage owner. 

Initial CFD render for center line of the car.

Vision

Vision is to build street legal track car competitive with those that are brought to paddocks with trailer.

Keeping the car street legal is requirement number one. And with finnish regulations, not the easiest task. But more on that as we build the car. 

So competitive in what? Fastest track racing category in Finland driven with modified road cars, TimeAttack.

Plan and reasons

Keeping the car street legal per finnish regulations mandate that safety devices meets or exceeds most powerful version of the car. 

So with Golf mk3 that means VR6 (128kW).
VR6 had ABS brakes as standard with 280mm vented rotors in front and 226mm solid rotors at rear. From original 239mm solid front rotors and drums at rear that would be significant upgrade. However to help the car survive from hot laps at track we are opting to Audi TT mk1 312mm vented front rotors. 

Power wise there’s no reason to re-invent the wheel. The 1.8T in it’s various versions has proven to deliver heaps of power with relatively light modifications. And due to Volkswagen Group history reusing block design over the generations, it’s more or less drop in solution for mk3.