Volkswagen TDI Power in new racing series in the USA

Wolfsburg (31 October 2007). With the launch of an innovative racing series in 2008,
Volkswagen will start writing a new chapter in American motorsport: The Jetta TDI Cup will
be the first one-make cup in the USA to feature diesel technology. In the planned eight
races of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Pro Racing Inc. the Jetta TDI Cup will
demonstrate the typical qualities of the TDI engine from Wolfsburg, namely progressive
technology, power and performance as well as pure driving pleasure.
“The Jetta TDI Cup will continue the tradition of Volkswagen’s diesel technology and the
brand’s motorsport heritage in an exciting and clean racing format,“ said Stefan Jacoby,
President and CEO of Volkswagen of America Inc. “The young drivers will not only be able
to gain exciting track experience with the factory-prepared cars. The programme will also
allow them to gather their own personal impressions of today’s clean diesel technology
and to understand the benefits offered by this technology in an era of environmental
sensitivity.“
The Jetta TDI Cup will be supported directly by Volkswagen Motorsport. “It is fantastic that
Volkswagen will be represented in such an important market as the United States with a
racing series of its own and leading-edge clean diesel technology,“ stated Volkswagen
Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “Volkswagen is a brand which evokes a wealth of
emotions and which now builds upon the exceptional one-make cup tradition of Formula V
in the United States. At the same time, Volkswagen fills the idea of racing identical cars
with the new ideas and experiences that have been gained in one-make cups like the Polo
Cup and other series and that are now being introduced in this series.”
The cup version of the Jetta will be powered by a 170-hp two-litre TDI engine and fitted
with a DSG six-speed gearbox, an ABS racing brake system as well as all the modern
safety features for racing. Similar to the concept that has been successfully used for the
past decade in the Polo Cup and its predecessor series, the Lupo Cup, in Germany, all the
racing cars entered in the USA will be owned by Volkswagen and centrally fielded. The
racing car was developed by Volkswagen Motorsport, initial track tests in Germany
delivered positive and promising results.
Further information: Uwe Baldes, mobile +49 160 90883158, uwe.baldes@volkswagen-motorsport.com
Text and photographs to download: www.volkswagen-motorsport.info