The historic Worthersee GTI Festival has been an unmissable extravaganza for fans of the iconic Volkswagen brand. However, the Austrian municipality of Maria Worth announced two weeks ago that the annual Volkswagen GTI-Treffen would no longer take place alongside Lake Worthersee, leaving Volkswagen fans disappointed.
To ensure that the event lives on, Volkswagen has stepped in to host a new event near its production plant in Wolfsburg, Germany. The "GTI Coming Home" event will take place from 2024, and will feature a new format that caters to all types of Volkswagen enthusiasts, whether they prefer untouched classics or heavily modified hot hatches.
"Our GTI fans are of great importance to Volkswagen, and that's why the exchange with them is very dear to us," said Imelda Labbe, member of the board of Management for Sales, Marketing, and After Sales at Volkswagen Passenger Cars. "For this reason, after the GTI Meeting at Lake Worthersee was unfortunately canceled, we decided pretty quickly to offer the GTI fan community in Wolfsburg a new home for the event. When planning the event, we also want to take into account the ideas of the fans because it should, above all, be a meeting for them. Accordingly, we will certainly be able to offer some highlights and surprises in the coming year."
Organizers of the Worthersee event initially planned to host the tuning meet in Klagenfurt, not far from the lake, but it was not confirmed if the event would take place on May 20, 2023, if the minimum number of participants is not reached by March 10. It's unclear if Volkswagen's announcement will mean the Klagenfurt event will be written off.
With a new venue, a new format, and loads of anticipation, the GTI-Treffen should get more impressive and exciting than ever. Volkswagen's "GTI Coming Home" event in Wolfsburg will offer a new home for Volkswagen fans, and the brand's continued commitment to the GTI community is sure to delight enthusiasts worldwide.
Source: Volkswagen