Norisring: Volkswagen preview

Volkswagen talent eager for "Franconian Monaco"

Wolfsburg (19 June 2009). Close slip streaming battles and hard braking manoeuvres, packed grandstands and the unique flair on the Dutzendteich -- the Norisring is famous for this and adored by racing drivers. After a win and third place in the first races of the season and second position at the Formula 3 Masters at Zandvoort the seven Volkswagen drivers contesting the Formula 3 Euro Series also aim to fight for victory around the Nuremberg street circuit. The "stars of tomorrow" do battle in races five and six of the championship staged during the next DTM weekend (26--27 June) around the famous street circuit in the Franconian metropolis. The 26 motorsport youngsters contesting the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup appear on Germany's only street circuit for the year's fourth battle.

Formula 3 Euro Series: Volkswagen drivers aim to battle for victory

Jean Karl Vernay comes to Nuremberg as best placed "powered by Volkswagen" driver in the Formula 3 Euro Series. The Frenchman from team Signature is fourth overall in the standings after four of the 20 races this season. The 21-year-old, who is only three points behind championship leader Jules Bianchi (France/ART-Mercedes), aims to fight for a leading position at the Norisring. "This week we prepared for the special characteristics of the Norisring, namely its long straights and tight corners, during a two day test for the Formula 3 Euro Series at Magny-Cours. The car's balance was of particular importance. We found a lot of improvements and should be at the front. I was fourth and fifth in Nuremberg in 2008. Things should go even better this year," says Vernay. Starting alongside the Frenchman for team Signature are Mika Maki (Finland) and Tiago Geronimi (Brazil). Maki finished second at the Formula 3 Masters at Zandvoort, in which Europe's best drivers compete.

Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen knows the difficulties of the Norisring: "In Nuremberg every mistake is punished harder: You can quickly damage a car on the barriers and walls lining the track, in addition every tenth-of-a-second lost is even more apparent due to the short 2.3 kilometre long track. The Norisring is the season highlight for everybody. The unique atmosphere and the backdrop with over 140,000 spectators attending throughout the weekend are impressive year after year. I'm confident that we'll do a good job there."

Also among the Volkswagen squad at the Norisring are Red Bull Formula 1 test and reserve driver Brendon Hartley (New Zealand), who recorded a pair of fourth place finishes at the EuroSpeedway recently, and Jake Rosenzweig (USA) from Carlin Motorsport. Carlo van Dam (Netherlands) and Johan Jokinen (Denmark) compete for the German team Kolles & Heinz Union.

ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup: Elia Erhart chases Maciek Steinhof

The Norisring race weekend (27/28 June) is also a highlight for the 24 men and 2 women contesting the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup. Highly motivated before the one make cup's fourth race of the season are Elia Erhart, currently second in the championship, and Rookie Ferenc Nagy. The 21-year-old Erhart lives in Rottenbach only 30-minutes drive from Nuremberg and has repeatedly helped to build the 2.3 kilometre street circuit in the previous years. Erhart targets his first win of the year at his home race after claiming two third positions and a second place finish in the previous races of the season at Hockenheim and the EuroSpeedway Lausitz. While Erhart competes for the third time at the Norisring, the track is absolutely new for Ferenc Nagy. The 21-year-old German Hungarian, who lives in Nuremberg, has never driven a single lap at the Norisring. "The race is held practically on my doorstep. I definitely want to put in my strongest performance of the season. A top-15 finish would be a great result," says the Polo Cup newcomer.

The Pole Maciek Steinhof comes to the Norisring after as three-time race winner this season and championship leader. The 23-year-old set a new record following his two wins at the end of May in the Lausitz: Never before in the touring car school's eleven-year history has a driver won the first three races of a season. If the driver from Krakow also triumphs at the Franconian race track, he will, with four consecutive wins, equal the record set by the two Volkswagen juniors Rene Rast and Jimmy Johansson. Rast, who now races in the Porsche Supercup, achieved this in his title winning year 2005. The Swede Johansson managed the winning streak in 2006. At that time today's Porsche Carrera Cup driver clinched the Polo Cup title.

-credit: vw