Volkswagen newsletter 2009-04-05

24-Hour Race Nurburgring 2009
First test race of the Scirocco GT24 on the Nordschleife

On its way towards the 2009 edition of the 24-Hour Race at the Nurburgring (23/24 May), the Volkswagen Scirocco GT24 completed its first test in racing conditions. At the BFGoodrich Endurance Championship opener on the Nordschleife, Carlo van Dam (NL), Congfu Cheng (CN) and Altfrid Heger (D) were forced to retire after two incidents of tyre damage. Volkswagen gathered valuable experiences with the 330-hp Scirocco that had clinched a one-two class victory at its 24-Hour Race debut last year. A week before, van Dam and Cheng had familiarised themselves with the world's most demanding race track during set-up runs.

Volkswagen Endurance Cup the Netherlands
32 teams in season opener at Zandvoort

The first race of the season in the Dutch Volkswagen Endurance Cup was won by Team YellowWood Racing 1 with drivers Piet van't Wout and Jeroen den Boer. The duo had started from the pole position in its Volkswagen Golf V and crossed the finish line at Circuit Park Zandvoort after five hours as the race leaders as well. With a 25-second gap, DPA-DB Motorsport with Erik van Loon, Max Boodie and Rob Bergmans at the wheel finished as the runners-up. The third-quickest out of 32 contenders was Team RSR around Nick Etman, Sander Etman and Leonard Batenburg.

Volkswagen Polo Cup South Africa
Hodges and Robertson clearly leading the cup

The drivers of the Volkswagen Polo Cup South Africa have already completed two race weekends, each comprising two runs, in the 2009 season. The season opener was held on 7 March at Aldo Scribante Raceway near Port Elizabeth. Both of the two ten-lap races were dominated by Devin Robertson, who is just 16 years old and finished one race as the runner-up and the other as the winner. On the second race weekend at Kyalami (28 March) Mathew Hodges triumphed with two race wins. Prior to the third round at Killarney on 9 May, Hodges leads with 50 points ahead of Robertson (46).

Formula Volkswagen South Africa
Jayde Kruger dominates season opener

With four podium positions, Jayde Kruger was the dominant driver on the first two race weekends of the Formula Volkswagen Championship in South Africa, which stages its ten events of the season in conjunction with the Polo Cup. At the season-opening weekend at Scribante, local hero Kruger converted two pole positions into two victories; three weeks later, at Kyalami, places three and two sufficed to defend his commanding lead of the standings with 36 points. Gordon Connely (23), Christiano Morgado (22) and Simon Moss (22) follow in the subsequent positions.

Dakar Rally
"Dakar" drivers in Saint-Tropez - Race Touareg 2 en route to China

An exciting, horse power-loaded diversion for Volkswagen's victorious "Dakar" squad: Mark Miller (USA), Dieter Depping (D) and Carlos Sainz (E) were guests of honour at the presentation of the new Volkswagen Golf GTI in Saint-Tropez and popular interview partners of international media representatives. Their sporting equipment, the successful Volkswagen Race Touareg 2, continues enjoying extreme popularity as well: One of the TDI racers that had conquered the "Dakar" debut in South America with a one-two victory in January is currently en route to China where it will embark on a PR tour.

Coming up next...

11--13 April
1st and 2nd round, ATS Formula 3 Cup at Oschersleben (D)

11--13 April
1st and 2nd round, ADAC Formula Masters at Oschersleben (D)

11--13 April
1st and 2nd round, British Formula 3 Championship at Oulton Park (GB)

11--13 April
1st and 2nd round, Volkswagen Racing Cup at Oulton Park (GB)

-credit: vw