Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Instructor To Make Debut In
Firestone Indy Lights Series
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
* Photos available upon request
CONTACT: Jeremy Riffle
(310) 210-1336
jeremyriffle@sbcglobal.net
Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Instructor To Make Debut
In Firestone Indy Lights Series
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Jan Heylen Signs with Neil Enerson and Team E Racing
for Event in St. Petersburg
Herndon, Va. (March 24, 2010) This Sunday, Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup chief
driving instructor, Jan Heylen, will be hitting the streets of St.
Petersburg in order to compete in the season-opening event for the Firestone
Indy Lights Series. Heylen has completed a single-race deal with Team E
Racing, 2008 Indy Lights ³New Team of the Year,² to make his Series debut as
he pilots the No. 17 machine around the
1.8-mile temporary street course in south Florida.
³Team E Racing is thrilled to have a veteran driver like Jan Heylen in the
car this weekend at the St Petersburg Grand Prix,² said Neil Enerson, Owner
of Team E Racing. ³Jan is a true professional. Should Team E acquire the
sponsorship to run the entire season, Jan is a definite contender for the
Championship title. We are very short on time but hope to find a partner to
allow us to compete the entire 2010 season.²
Heylen tested with Team E Racing this past February in an Indy Lights Open
Test at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., where he recorded the
fifth quickest lap in just his first time behind the wheel of an Indy Lights
car. Prior to that test, the 2007 season marks the last time Heylen competed
in an open-wheel car, when he fulfilled driving duties for Conquest Racing
in two events in the Champ Car World Series. That year, Heylen would earn a
second-place finish at Assen, Holland, which was Conquest Racing¹s best-ever
result. In 2006, Heylon drove for Dale Coyne Racing and earned a
season-best fifth-place finish in Cleveland.
³This is a great opportunity that Neil Enerson and Team E Racing has
extended to me and I am looking forward to getting back in the cockpit of an
open-wheel racecar,² said Heylen. ³It has been almost three years since my
last open-wheel race, so I am expecting that it will take me a few laps to
get my footing again. I certainly wouldn¹t have been able to make this
happen without people behind the scenes pushing me. I have to thank in
advance Volkswagen Motorsport USA, Oakley and PHR and I look forward to
bringing home a victory for everyone.²
When not pursuing his own racing career, which has included Championship
wins in the former Renault Eurocup and British Formula Ford Festival and a
stint in the Champ Car World Series, Heylen serves as the chief driving
instructor for the SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series. He is
also the lead testing and development driver for the Series. The Series¹
2010 season-opener will be held at VIRginia International Raceway on April
24th.
About Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup:
The SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup was launched in 2008 as way to
introduce clean diesel technology to the U.S. market and develop the best of
motorsport¹s up-and-coming talent. During the season, young, up and coming
drivers (between ages 16-26) compete on road courses around North America in
identical factory-prepared clean diesel Jetta TDI¹s. Each driver competing
in the series earns a Pro Racing license from SCCA at the conclusion of the
season. In addition to more than $50,000 in prize money at stake during the
season, the Series Champion receives Volkswagen factory career advancement
support with a value up to $100,000.
The Jetta TDI Cup car is powered by a 2.0-liter, 170 hp, four-cylinder TDI
clean diesel engine mated to a six-speed, double-clutch, automatic DSG
transmission. The car is only slightly modified from stock with Pirelli
racing tires, race suspension and brake components, drivers racing safety
seat, FIA roll cage and an on-board fire extinguisher system.
Fans can log on to watch live timing and scoring during Jetta TDI Cup events
at: http://livetiming.net/scca/VW.
About Volkswagen of America:
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon,
Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg,
Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world¹s largest producers of passenger
cars and Europe¹s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Golf, GTI, New
Beetle, New Beetle convertible, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Eos, Passat, Passat
Wagon, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan through approximately 600 independent
U.S. dealers. All 2010 Volkswagens come standard-equipped with Electronic
Stabilization Program. This is important because the National Highway and
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called ESC the most effective new
vehicle safety technology since the safety belt. Visit Volkswagen of America
online at www.vw.com or www.media.vw.com to learn more.
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