Germany will play host to the World Rally Championship this weekend, and Volkswagen is very happy about that. To celebrate their home rally, they’ve invited some previous champions and a bunch of classic Volkswagens.

A static exhibition featuring five historical VWs is the first attraction. The cars will be on the Panzerplatte and they are:  the 2011 Race Touareg, with which Volkswagen won the Rally Dakar for the third time in a row with the driving duo of Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D); the so-called “Rheila-Golf GTI” from 1981, with which Alfons Stock/Paul Schmuck (D/D) won the German Rally Championship; a “Salzburg Beetle”, as was seen in the Group 2 class between 1971 and 1973; the legendary Bi-Motor - Golf GTI, with which Jochi Kleint (D) went in pursuit of the record on Pikes Peak in 1987; and the “A59”, as it is known internally – a prototype based on the Golf, which was designed for the World Rally Championship in 1993 but never actually used.

Alfons Stock Paul Schmuck (D D) Rheila-Golf GTI (1981) Photo Wagner


In addition, there will be about 20 privately owned vintage rally Golfs around, too. Fans can also treat themselves to a ride in the rally taxi with Markku Alen, who is Finnish.

Finally, Dieter Depping, three time winner of the German rally, will lead the pack in a 1986 Golf II GTI. This was Volkswagen’s first world championship, having the Group A world championship that year.

All the excitement will take place this weekend, at the Rally Deutschland.