Peter Lyon
January 1, 2026
In a new video released today, Volkswagen spotlights brand ambassador Torsten Gross’s journey, from a transformative track day gift from his wife to finding his ultimate goal: to give other people with mobile disabilities the courage and opportunity to pursue high-performance driving. Gross has become a respected figure in the motorsports community, changing perceptions of what’s possible behind the wheel.
At just 15 years old in 1994, Gross sustained a C-6 level spinal cord injury that resulted in quadriplegia. Although it altered his life physically, it didn’t change his innate desire for speed, precision, and extreme activities. Cut to 2025, and Gross is an accomplished Rescue Scuba Diver, marathoner, and more recently, competitive race-car driver.
Volkswagen recently provided a 2025 GTI to Gross’s non-profit, Just Hands Foundation, which provides opportunities for disabled drivers to experience high-performance vehicles and precision driving with hand controls. Volkswagen debuted the Foundation’s GTI at a special screening of the new docuseries, “Just Hands: For the Love of Racing,” which chronicles Gross’ motorsports journey as a quadriplegic race-car driver.
“On the racetrack, the car doesn’t care that I use a wheelchair,” said Gross. “That feeling of equality and freedom is what we want others to experience. Volkswagen has supported not only me, but a vision for a more inclusive future of driving. I’m honored to bring that to life both on screen and on the road.”
Gross has also been working closely with Volkswagen’s internal teams, providing expert consulting on the Driver Access Program and advising broader disability awareness and inclusion strategies for product design and customer experience.
“We believe everyone should experience the joy of driving, and Torsten embodies that spirit with every mile he covers,” said Rachael Zaluzec, SVP of Marketing & Customer Experience for Volkswagen of America. “Our collaboration is a celebration of mobility, representation and what’s possible when innovation meets purpose.”
