Final Events with the Jetta
As we closed out the 2023 season, we found ourselves looking back. The Jetta had been an incredible car to start off with, but after years of abuse and a few hard offs, it was time to retire the shell. While it has served us well, the signs of age were becoming impossible to ignore, and we just didn’t want to take any chances.
We didn’t just retire the car, we instead tried to go out on a high note. Our final two events were a great example of how far we have come with both the car and ourselves.
The Final Results
We took the Jetta to two late-season events and the results exceeded our expectations:
Founders Day Gravel Toss: 1st in Open 2 Wheel Drive (O2WD) and 4th Overall. View Full Results
Gravel Gobbler Gravel Trial: 1st in Open 2 Wheel Drive (O2WD) and 4th Overall. View Full Results
By taking the top spot in O2WD and securing two top-five overall finishes, the Jetta officially bowed out as the fastest 2-wheel drive car at both events.
The End of an Era
These events were a great way for us to finally shake the car down with new tune. The verdict? The power is there, but this setup wasn’t going to work. Our biggest takeaway was that the suspension has become the ultimate limiting factor. The car was moving around too much and jumping off-line over bumps which was making it too unpredictable at times. The suspension setup had worked ok up until this point but now clearly lacked the refinement needed. The other concern was engine cooling. The way we packaged the 1.8T into the Jetta was not ideal, as it was the 3rd engine setup in the car by this time, and in order to keep as much stock as possible we knew engine cooling would be the key to success.
The Next Chapter: The GTI Build
Everything we’ve learned building, breaking, and refining the Jetta is being poured into its successor: a 1998 Volkswagen GTI.
To keep as much consistency as possible, and to keep costs down, the GTI will share the same engine, drivetrain, and braking system as the Jetta. However, we are making three major shifts for better performance:
Weight Reduction: The GTI’s shorter, more nimble wheelbase and lighter hatch design will give us the agility we lacked in the Jetta. We plan to strip as much from the shell as possible, use Lexan windows, and utilize other weight saving solutions.
Engine Cooling: We’re redesigning the cooling system and airflow to ensure the turbocharged engine can handle high-intensity stages without heat soaking or overheating.
Weight Distribution and Stability: We are taking advantage of the new build to ensure we more evenly distribute weight around the car, including the driver and co-driver. Lastly, although not the most important aspect, we are taking care to ensure we have sufficient aero on the car to ensure we maintain a good degree of stability at higher speeds since so many North American rallies include high speed stages.
