Volkswagen newsletter 2009-08-30

Dakar Rally programme
Silk Way Rally: Volkswagen armada heads to "Dakar" dress rehearsal

The first ever Silk Way Rally between 5 and 13 September forms the "Dakar" dress rehearsal for Volkswagen. It runs from Tartastan (a constituent republic of the Russian Federation) via Kazakhstan to Turkmenistan. The Wolfsburg based automobile manufacturer fields four Race Touareg in the cross country rally in the Orient. The Volkswagen armada with its service vehicles set off on Saturday 29 August to the rally, organised by "Dakar" organiser A.S.O. The support and rally vehicles are transported by ship from Travemunde to Helsinki, then in convoy through Finnland and Russia to the start venue Kasan. The rally starts there on 5 September with a ten kilometre long prologue stage.

Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup
Mark Pombo wins in Mosport

Mark Pombo won the seventh round of the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup in Mosport, Canada. It was the first victory of the season for the American and the second win of his career. The weather conditions presented the 26 drivers in the diesel one-make cup with a special challenge: The circuit was still wet after heavy rain fall during the night, as a result the stewards stipulated that the entire field start on rain tyres. Second place went to Timmy Megenbier ahead of Andrew Cordeiro. With 266 points Megenbier continues to defend his championship lead from Andy Lee (227), Joey Atterbury (223) and Mark Pombo (192).

Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup
Successful 'wild card' start for Maximilian Hacklander

The German Maximilian Hacklander successfully ended his 'wild card' start in the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup at Mosport. "Canada was a great experience for me," said Hacklander impressed of the Volkswagen exchange programme. "I got to know a new country, another race series and a new car and have gathered many interesting impressions." Hacklander finished tenth overall and very nearly set the fastest race lap. The German was only 0.004 seconds slower in the for him unfamiliar Jetta TDI than championship leader Timmy Megenbier.

Swedish Touring Car Championship
Points for Fredrik Ekblom in the Biogas Scirocco

Volkswagen driver Fredrik Ekblom in the Biogas Scirocco scored 3 points for the Swedish Touring Car Championship after finishing sixth in the second race at Norwegian Vålerbanen. In the first race the Swede was unable to compete due to a power transmission defect. With a strong performance in the second race he carved through the field from last place on the grid to sixth at the flag. Patrik Olsson in the second Volkswagen Scirocco finished tenth in race one. After the engine became too hot in the closing stages of the second race he reduced his pace in the final lap and was 13th. After seven of nine race weekends Olsson and Ekblom hold 13th and 14th respectively in the Championship.

Coming up next...

2 September
Race 5 Volkswagen Endurance Cup Netherlands at Assen (NL)

4-6 September
Race 13 and 14 Formula Volkswagen South Africa at Phakisa (ZA)

4-6 September
Race 13 and 14 Volkswagen Polo Cup South Africa at Phakisa (ZA)

5-13 September
Silk Way Rally (RUS/KZ/TM)

-credit: vw