Celebrate the Olympics - five cars to match new and old Olympic events

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The circumstances of 2020 are probably best forgotten as much as possible. It's time to look forward to something else that's big and dramatic, but in a good way this time.

The Tokyo Olympics was just one event that fell victim to last year's mass cancellations, but the event is now due to take place this summer instead. The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be celebrated from 23 July to 8 August 2021, exactly one year to the day from when the flame should have been lit.

There are a lot of new events appearing in the Olympics too. From baseball to skateboarding via a few weird and wonderful events.

This got us thinking. If you had to choose a car for an Olympic event, which one would it be? We can't sneak James Bond's Lotus into the swimming pool, but there are loads of other options out there.

Start surfing with the Transporter

A new event for this year is surfing and choosing a mode of transport for surfers is about as simple as it gets. You can specify it however you like but ultimately you need to be driving a VW Transporter 6.1 . It could be a simple panel van for transporting equipment; a kombi with an extra row of seats for the rest of the team; a 7-seater Caravelle to travel between venues in comfort; or the full camper to spend the night on the beach studying the waves.

Start sport climbing with the Discovery Sport

Sport Climbing also joins the games with speed climbing, bouldering, and lead climbing. We may not know the subtle differences but we're pretty sure the Land Rover Discovery Sport could tackle the course. It's small and agile, offers plenty of four-wheel grip, and sporty enough to tackle the terrain at speed. All whilst you're sitting in a comfy leather seat with no hint of a sweat thanks to the air conditioning.

Tee off with a Golf

Tokyo will also see a gold medallist in Golf following its successful return in 2016. Japan boasts around 50% of all Asia's golf courses so there's plenty of choice, just as there is in the most obvious model range to pop your clubs in the back of. The Volkswagen Golf has been around for almost as long as the game itself (it hasn't really) and is suitable for any kind of course. Whether you need something for a long drive, or a quick punch to clear the rough, there's a VW Golf for the job.

Sprint in Plaid

The traditional ‘Blue Riband' events also need representation, and no event is as anticipated as the 100m final. In the case of Tokyo, the winner would inevitably be American. Right now, it's unlikely anyone would else would even get close to the Tesla Model S Plaid . Don't let the slightly tweedy name put you off, this new flagship version has three independent electric motors that generate an astounding 1,020bhp. In real terms that translates to a 200mph top speed and a sprint to 60mph in a blistering 1.99 seconds, and yet it still manages a range of 390 miles on a single charge.

Take on the marathon with Audi

At the other end of the scale is the marathon and that requires a different mindset to competing in an endurance event. The marathon is all about economy and there is very little that can come close to an Audi A6 diesel. Whether you choose the saloon or estate version you can expect to cover a staggering distance, and in significantly more comfort than the athletes can cover 26 miles. An Audi diesel engine and a sensible right foot could see you covering 900 miles or more before you have to stop to refuel. No marathon runner in their right mind would try to match those figures.

And if you're not currently thinking about leasing your next car you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy one of the most spectacular sporting events on the planet.

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