Kenney Targeting Top Step at Lime Rock

Sterling, Virginia (August 12, 2008) – Liam Kenney has his sights set firmly on the top step of the podium this weekend as the Virginia-based racer heads to Lime Rock Park in Connecticut for Round 4 of the 2008 VW Jetta TDI Cup Series, Friday 15th – Saturday 16th August.

The 16-year-old came agonizingly close to scoring his first win of the season at the Portland International Raceway last month but was eventually forced to settle for a well-deserved second place behind the wheel of the #35 ViON/Trax International 2009-spec., clean-diesel Jetta TDI. Kenney once again led laps in the 30-minute race, as he had done at the season opener at Virginia International Raceway in April, but ultimately he was to be denied his first closed-wheel racing victory by Florida’s Josh Hurley.

Liam, already an accomplished open-wheel racer – with four victories and 24 podiums to his credit from two seasons racing in the Formula TR Pro Series, rocketed up the Jetta TDI Driver Standings courtesy of his Portland performance. Sitting eleventh in the points following a tenth place finish at a rain-soaked second round meeting at Mosport in Canada, Kenney’s runner-up finish in Oregon at the end of July promoted him to third in the title fight with plenty to play for as the series arrives at Lime Rock Park for this weekend’s fourth round, the halfway marker in the inaugural VW Jetta TDI Cup.

“I’m really excited to be back racing this weekend at Lime Rock Park, especially if I can carry my Portland momentum into the event,” said Kenney. “I’m hoping my second placed finish in Oregon is the start of a freight train of results as we’re now getting into the body of the championship. We’re always looking at ways of pulling out an advantage in this series but it’s not always clear cut as things are just so close, I think the Portland race proved that. I really feel like we’re getting into the swing of things now with the series after a fairly slow start to the schedule.

“I love racing the Jetta TDI, it’s a great car and I’m excited to see how the season unfolds as Lime Rock marks the half way stage in the title fight. I haven’t raced at Lime Rock Park before but I’ve been trying to do my homework. I know they’ve repaved it recently and changed the layout a bit but I think it’s best known for being a fairly short, twisty circuit. I’ll have to maximize the TDI’s torque and make sure I get a good run out of the corners to keep the speed up. Due to the nature of the track overtaking might be a little trickier but we’ve failed to have a dull race yet so I’m sure we’ll put on a good show.”

Friday 15th August hosts practice and qualifying for the VW Jetta TDI Cup Series with Round 4 taking place at Lime Rock Park on Saturday 16th August starting at 10:30am EST – www.limerock.com