Even managers need a break from the office routine. At VW, this was immediately turned into a challenge: CEO Thomas Schäfer competed in a direct duel against Jonas Thielebein, the chief engineer of the VW R department.
The two went head-to-head in a variety of disciplines, from a quarter-mile sprint to a hot lap on the test track to a drift competition.
VW CEO versus Golf R chief engineer
Schäfer decided on the VW Golf R Black Edition, while Thielebein the Golf R Variant chose. Both are equipped with a 2,0-liter TSI turbo engine that produces 333 hp (245 kW). Power is transmitted via a 7-speed DSG gearbox and VW's 4Motion all-wheel drive.
Sprint, circuit and drifts: who wins the race?
The key difference between the two lies in the performance package of the Black Edition, the one higher top speed of 270 km/h In addition, the hatchback variant shorter and lighter than the Variant, which gives it advantages both on straights and in curves.
Im Quarter Mile Race The CEO narrowly prevailed: 13,72 seconds for the Black Edition versus 14,32 seconds for the Variant. On the race track, however, the tide turned. Despite the lack of Nürburgring mode, the engineer drove a lap in 1: 07,50 minutes and let his boss pay a whopping 4,8 seconds behind them. The last discipline, the drift competition, was held on wet asphalt.
Thanks to the Golf R's special drift mode, Schäfer managed five successful drifts - while Thielebein managed an impressive 14. The longer body of the Golf R Variant (4.633 mm) should benefit it here, as the extended rear overhang makes it easier to initiate and maintain drifts. The shorter hatchback (4.284 mm) is at a disadvantage in this discipline.
Conclusion: Engineer beats CEO
Despite the victory on the quarter mile, the VW boss had to admit defeat in the end. With superior performance on the race track and in drifting, Thielebein secured the unofficial title of “Drift King of Germany”.
An entertaining duel that shows that the enthusiasm for performance vehicles is also alive at VW's executive level. Image and video credits/source: Volkswagen | This content was created using AI and reviewed by an editor.
