Volkswagen newsletter 2009-05-24

24-hour race Nurburgring
Scirocco clinches class wins with natural gas and petrol power

With two class victories, the Volkswagen Scirocco cars powered by natural gas and petrol engines successfully finished the 24-hour race on the Nurburgring. The Scirocco GT24-CNG with innovative EcoFuel technology of Vanina Ickx (B), Peter Terting (D), Klaus Niedzwiedz (D) and Thomas Klenke (D) won the category for vehicles with alternative powertrains (AT) in front of 235,000 spectators and finished 17th overall, outperforming numerous more powerful vehicles. The petrol-powered Scirocco GT24 driven by youngsters Jimmy Johansson (S), Florian Gruber (D), Nicki Thiim (DK) and Martin Karlhofer (A) clinched Volkswagen's third victory in a row in the class of cars with two-litre turbo engines (SP3T) and finished 15th overall.

Porsche Supercup
Volkswagen Junior Rene Rast on podium in Monaco

A fierce fight went unrewarded - Volkswagen Junior Rene Rast barely missed victory at the prestigious Porsche Supercup race in Monaco. After losing the starting phase duel with pole sitter Richard Westbrook, Rast did not manage to get past the Briton on the narrow city street circuit at the Côte d'Azur despite putting permanent pressure on the front runner on the following 16 laps. After finishing the season opener of the international Porsche Supercup in Bahrain as the runner-up, this was Rast's second podium position of the season.

ATS Formula 3 Cup
Volkswagen driver Laurens Vanthoor wins race and moves to top of the standings

The Belgian Laurens Vanthoor took the lead of the standings on the second race weekend of the ATS Formula 3 Cup at the Nurburgring. The driver from the Van Amersfoort Volkswagen customer team clinched victory in the race on Friday that was staged as part of the 24-hour race supporting programme and second place on Saturday. His team colleague Stef Dusseldorp (NL) finished the first race out of the points, but in the second race made a strong recovery from last place to fifth and now ranks third overall.

ADAC Formula Masters powered by Volkswagen
Double victory for Daniel Abt

Daniel Abt (D) managed the leap to second place of the ADAC Formula Masters standings with two commanding start-finish victories. In the first race, he won ahead of Kevin Friesacher (A) and local hero Christian Wangard (D). In the second race, the leader of the standings, Adrian Campfield (GB), and Friesacher (A) - again - had to admit defeat. Freddie Hunt (GB), the son of former Formula 1 World Champion James Hunt, scored his first points by clinching ninth- and eighth-place finishes.

Swedish Touring Car Championship
Volkswagen Scirocco biogas among top 10

At the second fielding of the new Volkswagen Scirocco powered by biogas in the Swedish Touring Car Championship (STCC) the Swede Frederik Ekblom finished in tenth and ninth place, thus barely missing points. Patrik Olsson (S), who drives a 280-hp Scirocco powered by eco-friendly biogas as well, achieved solid mid-field positions in both races at Karlskoga.

Swedish Junior Touring Car Championship
Christoffer Graff wins at Karlskoga

Volkswagen Golf driver Christoffer Graff (Sweden) defended his lead in the Swedish Touring Car Championship (JTCC) with a six-point advantage after two races. At Karlskoga, the title defender clinched victory and a sixth-place finish. Niclas Olsson, who contested the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup in Germany last year, finished third in the Golf and ranks fourth in the championship.

Coming up next...

29--31 May
3rd and 4th round, Formula 3 Euro Series, EuroSpeedway (D)

29--31 May
2nd and 3rd round, ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup, EuroSpeedway (D)

29--31 May
5th and 6th round, British Formula 3 Championship, Rockingham (GB)

30--31 May
3rd and 4th round, Volkswagen Racing Cup, Rockingham (GB)

-credit: vw