2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup

The Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois, will be the venue for Round 6 of the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup on Sunday August 1 at 09:50. Practice and qualifying sessions for this event will take place on Saturday July 31, where drivers will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the 21-turn, 3.56 mile racetrack. Launched in 2008 with the goal of giving beginner drivers the opportunity to develop their talent, while at the same time introducing clean diesel technology to the United States market, the SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup has earned its place on the calendar as a popular motorsport event.

During the racing season, drivers between the ages of 16 and 26 who have been recognized as having potential to take on the fast-paced world of auto racing and succeed, compete on road courses at venues around North America. Driving identical factory-prepared clean diesel powered Volkswagen Jetta TDI’s, competitors are awarded a professional racing license from SCCA Pro Racing at the successful conclusion of the season. In addition to the sheer exhilaration of competing in this series, drivers who achieve can look forward to generous prize money, with the Series Champion being the recipient of up to $100,000 worth of career advancement support from the sponsors, Volkswagen.

There are a number of factors that sets the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series in a league of its own. It is the only clean diesel racing series to be held in the United States, with Volkswagen being the only manufacturer participating on a full-time basis in motorsport with diesel-powered cars. In keeping with the growing demand for reducing our carbon footprints, the TDI diesel engine technology provides improved fuel economy when compared to gasoline engines, as well as boasting a 95 percent sooty emission reduction, even under the most demanding of racing conditions. As the cars are maintained by Volkswagen of America, competitors are assured of a level playing field, where driving skill is paramount. From a marketing viewpoint, the series appeals to spectators as the cars on the racetrack are similar to the cars available at local Volkswagen dealerships. If they make the grade under punishing racing conditions, they can be counted on to make the grade as a day-to-day means of transport.

Final Race of 2009 Jetta TDI Cup Announced

Up until now only nine of the ten events for the 2009 season of the Jetta TDI Cup had been announced. Now Volkswagen of America, Inc. has finally announced the last host in the series of races – Miller Motorsports Park. The track, which is located in Salt Lake City, is set to host Round Three of the event from May 15-17.

The 2009 Jetta TDI Cup is SCCA Pro Racing-sanctioned and fans already know that they can expect top racing from this fantastic auto racing event. Clark Campbell, the Motorsport Manager for Volkswagen of America, Inc., said: “I’m very pleased with the addition of Miller Motorsports Park to our schedule, as it is an excellent circuit to host one of our events. In addition, this race helps us broaden the geographic reach of our series in hopes of spreading the word about the many benefits of clean diesel performance and technology.”

This is only the second season of the still new and young Jetta TDI Cup and it is scheduled to begin at Virginia International Raceway on April 24. The racing action is always exciting since it sees 30 young, undiscovered and unproved drivers take to the track to compete in a series of ten different events on as many as eight different road courses around the country. There is no way of telling what will happen or who will come out on top. The prize money is good, with the series champion taking $100 000 home with him, while each and every driver also gets to earn a Pro Racing license from the SCCA by the end of the season. Drivers are aged between sixteen and twenty-six and the resulting explosion of talent and skill is nail-biting to watch. Competitors in the race are also aware that it is a great opportunity to kick-start their racing careers and they take it very seriously.

Kyle Novak, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup SCCA Program Manager, noted that the 2009 Jetta TDI Cup season would see these young drivers competing on some of the most challenging and illustrious road courses in North America. He said that these circuits would be a “test of driving ability” and that the result of this would be that “drivers will be equipped with the skills necessary to launch their careers in racing.” He added that the events provide “great exposure because they’ll often be racing alongside some of the best road course drivers and teams from Grand-Am and ALMS.” The 2009 Jetta TDI Cup is certainly not one to be missed so start making your arrangements now!

VW Uses L.A. Auto Show To Showcase Diesel Technology

German Automotive manufacturer Volkswagen recently took advantage of the 2008 L.A. Auto Show to showcase its entire range of diesel powered technology. It debuted at a news conference at the event with the all-new Touareg V6 TDI clean diesel SUV which is compliant with the regulations of 50 states. It also showed off the new purpose-built VW Red Bull Baja Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck which will be used at the 2008 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.

The impressive Touareg V6 TDI clean diesel was the talk of the show with its 3.0 L, turbocharged, six-cylinder engine. The engine is capable of producing407 lbs-ft of torque and 221 horsepower. It combines technology with more conventional systems, making use of the most advanced catalytic convert system on the planet, as well as ordinary rail injection. In designing the vehicle, developers worked hard to ensure that it met the very strict emission requirements enforced by the state of California, making it a viable option for all 50 states.

The new Touareg V6 TDI is part of Volkswagen’s commitment to developing clean diesel technology and it sets a new standard for SUVs by making them extremely economical and ensuring that they have lower emission rates than previous SUVs. It appears that there is a general feeling that diesel is one of the most sensible alternative fuels available and using clean diesel technology can greatly reduce the impact that vehicles have on the environment. The innovative developments put into practice in the new Touareg V6 TDI also help to reduce fuel costs quite drastically. In fact, the engine is seen as being one of the most advanced diesel engines of our times. The fuel tank of the Touareg V6 TDI has a 26.4 gallon capacity and drivers will find that they can get about 600 miles to a tank!

The race version of the vehicle revealed at the show, the Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck, will be taking part in the 41st Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race. It will be racing in the SCORE Trophy Truck class, where its 5.5 liter V-12 clean diesel engine and incredible fuel economy will no doubt prove to be of benefit.