CLEAN, green and very, very fast, Volkswagen's Golf turbodiesel rally car is providing a stunning success in its first season of UK competition.

Following its triumph in the Isle of Man, where it beat all its two-wheel drive rivals by a country mile in the gruelling Manx National Rally, the Golf TDi, driven by Lancashire ace Neil Simpson, looks set to become a regular National Championship front-runner.

The rally Golf is powered by a specially by a specially developed 190 bhp version of Volkswagen's 1.9-litre TDI engine which, thanks to close attention to the turbocharger and fuel injection systems from Volkswagen Motorsport's engineers, produces an amazing 350 Nm of torque, ideal for rally conditions.

"It's an amazing car to drive," says 26-year-old Simpson. "The torque has to be experienced to be believed. I'm only just coming to terms with how to get the best from the Golf, because it demands a special driving technicians."

Co-driven by 26-year-old Cumbrian Steven Martin, Simpson drove the TDI into fifth place overall on the Manx, third round of the Mintex National Rally Championship, and was beaten only by specialist four-wheel drive cars. Its nearest front-driven rival was placed 19th overall.

Another key to the TDI's success is its fuel, Greenergy's City diesel, which is virtually free from the toxic emission-producing heavy hydrocarbons, polyaromatics and sulphur present in regular pump diesel and which in tests shows an 85 per cent particulate reduction.

The turbodiesel Golf, which is supported by Sony, Pirelli and Silkolene, makes its next competition appearance on the Kerridge National Rally in mid-Wales on June 13.

For further information on Volkswagen, contact Smith Knight Fay, on 608-6466.

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