Ever since the 8th iteration of VW’s iconic hot hatch recently touched down in SA, enthusiasts have been clamouring for anything and everything Golf 8 GTI. If you’d like to win a Volkswagen Driving Academy experience at the wheel of the new GTI (or one of the other cool prizes up for grabs), enter below…

South Africa is one of the biggest markets for the Volkswagen Golf GTI in the entire world – and for good reason. Since 1982, every generation of the Wolfsburg-based marque’s legendary hot hatch has been offered in the local market and, more recently, in various guises, including Clubsport, Clubsport S and TCR.

It goes without saying that the Golf GTI has a cult following, so much so that its fanspopularised auniquely South African onomatopoeic neologism vrrr-pah!that mimics the characteristic pop that a DSG-equipped Golf GTI emits when its pilot actuates an up-change while their foot is firmly planted on the accelerator…

ICYMI: Ciro De Siena and Ashley Oldfield get to grips with the new Golf 8 GTI at the Aldo Scribante race track

Producing peak outputs of180 kW and 370 Nm of torque from its 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine, which is mated with a quick-shiftingand beautifully refined 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DSG) and an XDS electronically-controlled limited-slip differential, the Golf 8 GTI is said to catapult from0 to 100 kph in6.4 sec.

Cars.co.za’s track test ace Ashley Oldfield recently reported that the new Golf 8 GTI’s performance “is surging – and refreshingly linear; the engine produces acceleration right the way to the rev limit and then smoothly transitions to the next gear without any fuss or so much as a hint of hesitation.”

Win a track experience with a Golf 8 GTI

Wouldn’t you love to have a go in the new Golf 8 GTI – and even better – on a race track? Yeah, we thought so! We’ve partnered with Volkswagen South Africa to launch a competition in which you can win a driving experience in the new Golf 8 GTI as part of a Volkswagen Driving Academy dynamic driving course at Zwartkops Raceway on September 22 2021. Our very own Ciro De Siena will fly up to Gauteng to attend the event with the winner.

The Volkswagen Advanced Driving Course Academy allows drivers to experience the latest Volkswagen products, with a professional driving instructor in each vehicle at all times and a medic on-site, so that you can improve your driving while having fun AND receive a certificate on successful completion of your advanced driving course.

How to enter

It’s simple… All you have to do is take a short video of yourself doing your best version of the famous Vrrr-pah! sound.Whatsapp your videos to 065 719 8063 to enter and, if you’re selected as a winner, we’ll be in touch. The day of driving experience will be filmed by Cars.co.za and the winner must agree to have the video released on our Cars.co.za’s YouTube channel. Please also remember to read the COMPETITION RULES below.

Meanwhile, the winner and the 2nd and 3rd runners up (plus a partner of their choice) will get VIP access to the upcoming Golf 8 GTI Customer Launch – how cool is that? The launch events will be held on 2 October 2021 (Cape Town), 9 October 2021 (Durban) and 16 October 2021 (Johannesburg). The 2nd and 3d runners up will also receive GTI-branded merchandise, including either a men’s or women’s polo shirt, a hat and socks.

The competition closes on 8 September 2021. If the winner we select doesn’t live in Gauteng, we’ll provide flights from (and to) your closest city, a shuttle to and from the track, as well as 1 night’s accommodation.

And to finish with a flourish, herewith Ashley Oldfield’s initial verdict on the new Golf 8 GTI: “(The newcomer) represents a marked evolutionary improvement over its predecessor… The new model’s improved power delivery, better handling and more luxurious interior will only add to the mass appeal of the package.”

Don’t delay, enter the competition now!

COMPETITION RULES

1. Winner and runner up prizes are not transferable.

2. We may require the winner and runners up to provide us with additional information (clothing size/delivery address) as we may reasonably require in order to process and facilitate the prize and your acceptance and/or use of a prize.

3. We reserve the right to cancel this competition, or to change the rules at our discretion or to change the prize at any time without notice to you.

4. Proof of identity will be required to collect the prize and we reserve the right to refuse handing over of a prize to any potential winner who refuses to, or cannot, provide sufficient documentation to verify his/her identity.

5. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

6. You may not be awarded a prize if it is unlawful for us to supply such a prize to you.

7. No “automated” entries will be allowed and all entries must be made by a natural person manually on our Platforms where the competition is displayed.

8. If any entry has been made in any manner which in Cars.co.za’s discretion may provide an entrant with an unfair advantage over other entrants, unless these rules specifically allow such conduct, such entrant will be automatically disqualified from this and all future competitions run by Cars.co.za.

WINNER SELECTION

9. The winner’s name may be published on the following sites and/or platforms:https://www.cars.co.za and its social media pages, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok

10. The prize winner will be selected randomly from valid participants and announced on the 9th September before 20.00. The top 10 entries will be published on the 9th September 2021 on our platforms.

11. The winner and two runner-ups will also be notified by means of the contact details provided to us on or before 10September 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter.

12. You are hereby informed of your right to decline:

12.1 the use of your image in marketing material;

12.2 an invitation to participate in any marketing activity;

ENTRY RULES

13. The promoter of this competition is Cars on the internet T/A Cars.co.za (“we” or “us”).

14. The competition starts on 24 August 2021 and closes at 23h59 on 8 September 2021, unless otherwise informed by Cars.co.za.

15. The competition is open to South African residents only.

16. Entrants must be over the age of 18 and in possession of a valid driver’s licence.

17. The following persons are excluded from this competition:

17.1 a director, member, partner, employee or agent of, or consultant to Cars.co.za or any other person who directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by Cars.co.za; and

17.2 a supplier of goods or services in connection with this competition; and

17.3 the spouses, life partners, business partners or immediate family members of the parties referred to in 17.1 and 17.2.

18. All entries must be made via our WhatsApp Platform.

19. If any of the information submitted is incomplete, incorrect or otherwise invalid, your entry will not be considered.

20. Your personal information will be used in accordance with the terms of our privacy policy https://www.cars.co.za/content/privacy-policy/

21. Maximum of 3 entries per individual allowed.All entries, duly completed, must be received by Cars.co.za before the competition closing date and time. If not, such entry will not be eligible, regardless of the reason for the late receipt of the entry, including due to lost, late or misdirected WhatsApp; printing errors; server unavailability; or computer or any other electronic or telecommunications malfunction. All entries received that are mutilated, tampered with, or illegible will be void.