In the past, Volkswagen has been an engine supplier for motorsports but it pulled out in the 1980s. But the largest European automaker is now making a comeback as it announced earlier this year that they will be supplying engines to teams competing in DTM. The announcement was welcomed by enthusiasts of the sport who remembered the championships won by teams supplied with engine by Volkswagen. Recently, the automaker announced that the engines are ready to see action and it will be used come August 31.

The new engine is a 2-liter engine with an output of 210 horsepower and it will be used on three cars. Maximilian Gotz and Jonathan Summerton, both driving for Italian Team RC Motorsport along with Marco Holzer driving for AM Holzer Rennsport, will be the first three drivers who will be using the new engine from Volkswagen.

Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen said that the engine has been tested already in the lab and it is now time to see what it can do in competition. "The new Formula 3 engine from Volkswagen has completed many hours of rig testing and reeled off plenty of test kilometers on the track. Now it’s time to test it in direct competition," said Nissen.

Nissen added that the first races that the new Volkswagen engines will be used will provide them with information on how to further improve the performance of the racing engine. "The first races are intended to help us assess where we stand and to give us new information we can use in the unit’s evolution for the coming season," said Nissen.

According to the manufacturer, the engine that they will supply to racing teams competing in Formula 3 is based on the design of an engine used for production cars. The production version of the engine is only rated to produce 150 horsepower but it has the reliability that Volkswagen is known for. The engine that will be supplied to Formula 3 teams uses lightweight materials, has a robust design, and is compact. Although the racing engine is much more powerful than its production version, it would be a perfect fit for production cars which are equipped with Volkswagen splash shields and other auto parts.

Jonathan Summerton have been testing the new engine on the tracks and the driver said that the engine is performing well and that he is now looking forward to competing with the new Volkswagen engine to see how they match up against other teams. "Power and performance of the Volkswagen engine are already at a high level. I’m eager to see where we stand compared with the competition," said the Florida native.

Aside from Summerton, the other two drivers will also be testing the new engine for three hours on Thursday. Gotz said: "The possibility to test suits us well because it allows us to work out the optimal set-up for our car without being pressured by time." Marco Holzer, on the other hand, said that the partnership with Volkswagen is a step forward for his team. "The collaboration with Volkswagen is a major step forwards for us,” said Marco Holzer.