Volkswagen newsletter 2009-10-18

ATS Formula 3 Cup
Rookie title for Volkswagen driver Step Dusseldorp

Volkswagen driver Laurens Vanthoor crowned his championship winning year with a victory at the season finale. At Oschersleben, the Belgian who had already secured the Cup spoils, won the first of the two races for the Van Amersfoort Racing team in his Dallara-Volkswagen. In the second race he was second and best Volkswagen driver. Team mate Step Dusseldorp finished third in both races. Furthermore, the 20-year old Dutchman, second in the overall standings, claimed the Rookie title at the season finale. Daniel Abt took a seventh place from a field of 27 in his first ever Formula 3 start.

ADAC Formula Masters
Klaus Bachler claims second place behind Daniel Abt

While Daniel Abt was crowned champion before the finale, Klaus Bachler prevailed in the thrilling and extremely close battle for second position. The Austrian was displaced from the much coveted position by Briton Adrian Campfield in the fifteenth race. It was only on Sunday that Bachler took the runner-up spot back by a single point. Campfield, overall victor on Saturday, retired after being the innocent victim of an accident. Victory on Sunday went to Burkhard Maring.

Volkswagen Motorsport
Indian guest starters post impressive results at Oschersleben

Van Amersfoort Racing gave two Indian drivers the opportunity to experience European single-seater racing at Oschersleben: The 19-year old Saran Vikram finished twelfth in the first ADAC Formula Masters race before finishing eleventh in the second race. Armaan Ebrahim also started in the Magdeburger Borde "powered by Volkswagen" in the ATS Formula 3 Cup. In the 27 strong field the 20-year old Indian immediately took tenth position in the first race and twelfth place in the second.

Formula Volkswagen South Africa
Wesleigh Orr is runner-up behind Jayde Kruger

Wesleigh Orr and Simon Moss both celebrated wins at the Formula Volkswagen South Africa finale at Kyalami. This was sufficient for Orr to clinch the championship runner-up spot behind the previously crowned champion Jayde Kruger. With a third and second place in the two races Tschops Sipuka took the aggregate win on the day. Second overall was Tasmin Pepper who was credited with a second and fifth place.

Volkswagen Polo Cup South Africa
Mathew Hodges wins the title at Kyalami

Mathew Hodges not only took cumulative victory on the day with a win and third place but also the Volkswagen Polo Cup South Africa championship title. Gennaro Bonafede had to settle for the runner-up spot after a second and fourth place in the two races. Victory in the second race at Kyalami went to Miguel Pasqualli.

ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup
Friendly atmosphere impresses Maciek Steinhof in South Africa

One week before Maciek Steinhof fights for the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup championship title at the Hockenheim finale, the championship leader was able to travel to South Africa after heading the standings at the half-way point. Volkswagen Motorsport has organised a "student exchange" with other countries for years for its "touring car pupils". At the wheel of a right-hand drive Polo in the Volkswagen Cup the Polish racing driver took sixth and eighth positions. The aggregate result of both races was fifth place. Steinhof was impressed by his first trip to South Africa and the friendly atmosphere in the paddock. The five-day trip was concluded by a visit to Johannesburg and a National Park.

Volkswagen Endurance Cup
Team RSR wins seventh race at Zandvoort

Team RSR won the seventh round of the Dutch Volkswagen Endurance Cup with the driver squad Sander Etman/Nick Etman/Leonard Batenburg. Second place went to Kingcap Racing with Robin Vogel/Henk Maassen vd Brink. The third place trophy went to Robbert Vlaanderen/Michael Koel from team Accord Uitzendbureau. This outfit had already been crowned as Cup winner before the six-hour finale at Zandvoort.

Coming up next...

23--25 October
Race 19 and 20 Formula 3 Euro Series at Hockenheim (D)

23--25 October
Race 9 ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup at Hockenheim (D)

-credit: vw