Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Road America Preview
MEDIA CONTACT: Jeremy Riffle
(310) 210-1336
jeremyriffle@sbcglobal.net
Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Prepares for Rounds 7 & 8
At Historic Road America
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Rookie Wyatt Gooden Heads to Wisconsin as Championship Points Leader
Race Information
2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Rounds 7 & 8
Circuit: Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (14
Turns, 4.048 miles)
Date/Time: Practice Friday, August 20th at 7:20 am CT
Qualifying Session 1 - Friday, August 20th at 11:20 am CT / Session 2
5:30 pm CT
Races Round 7 - Saturday, August 21st at 6:15 pm CT
Round 8 Sunday, August 22nd at 10:10 am CT
Race Length: 30 minutes
About the 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
motorsportıs 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 powered Jetta TDIıs. Each driver
competing in the Series earns a professional racing license from SCCA Pro
Racing 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, an on-board Race Data system, race suspension and brake
components, drivers racing safety seat, FIA roll cage and an on-board fire
extinguisher system. Series sponsors include: Pirelli, Bosch, ViON,
Castrol, Oakley, Red Bull, Staubli, Aggreko, defNder, Lamin-X, Volkswagen
Driver Gear, Volkswagen Parts & Service, iRacing, Safety-Kleen and Ringer
Gloves.
What sets the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup apart from other racing series?
· The Series is the only clean diesel racing series in the United
States, and Volkswagen is the only auto manufacturer participating in
motorsports full time with diesel powered cars.
· The TDI engine technology improves fuel economy over gasoline engines
and reduces sooty emissions by 95 percent, even under demanding race
conditions. The Series will consume approximately two tanks of fuel during
its ten races this season.
· The Jetta TDI Cup features a vehicle similar to what consumers can buy
at their local Volkswagen dealerships.
· Cars are maintained by Volkswagen of America, which creates a level
playing field for all drivers.
News & Notes:
Volkswagen Motorsports Manager, Campbell, on the 2010 Season To Date
³The level of talent weıve had in this yearıs Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup has
been very impressive,² said Clark Campbell, Motorsports Manager, Volkswagen
of America, Inc. ³This season, weıve seen all of the rookies progress at a
rapid rate. Furthermore, we have a rookie leading the points Championship
with just two event weekends left on the schedule. With results like this,
our goal of developing young, up-and-coming talent really becomes apparent.
I think weıll see more of the same next weekend at Road America. Itıs great
that we can compete at this historic road course as itıs the perfect venue
to highlight the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, as well as the benefits of clean
diesel technology.²
Too Close to Call
Series rookie, Wyatt Gooden, took the points lead at the last Volkswagen
Jetta TDI Cup event two weeks ago at Autobahn Country Club and is now atop
the standings with 190 points. This marks the first time a rookie has led
the Championship since the Seriesı inaugural season in 2008, when all
drivers were rookies. Right behind Gooden is another Series rookie, Arie
Ouimet, who sits in second place with 182 points. Series veteran, Juan
Pablo Sierra Lendle completes the top-three. After leading the Championship
after Rounds Three through Five, Sierra Lendle has dropped back to 14 points
behind Gooden. Jake Thompson and JD Mobley sit in fourth place (170 points)
and fifth (161 points) respectively, and with 60 points available for a win;
they could be right back in it by the end of next weekend.
Right now all 25 drivers still have a mathematical chance to win the
Championship, so itıs anyoneıs guess how things could look after the
dual-race weekend in Elkhart Lake. There are 120 points at stake next week
and that could create a large gap should one driver capture them all.
Strategy, Strategy, StrategyŠ
There are four races left in the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, however,
they will be concluded in two two-day events. A situation like this leaves
a lot of room for strategy. As it stands at the moment, there are seven
drivers within 54 points of first place. Each victory pays 60 points and
only the top 20 race finishers receive points, therefore itıs definitely
possible for one driver to make up some serious ground next weekend in
Elkhart Lake.
Furthermore, with two races in the same weekend, each driver must carefully
weigh his or her strategy in the first race because if their car is damaged
too severely, it might not be repaired in time to compete in the second
event. Talk with drivers to see if they will be playing it safe and looking
for safe points next weekend, or if they will be shooting for Victory Circle
right out of the blocks. A smart, patient driver could end up being the
beneficiary of other over-ambitious ones.
Nine Veterans Return to Road America
This season, there are nine drivers returning to the Volkswagen Jetta TDI
Cup from last year, including five drivers who finished in the top-ten at
Road America in 2009. Last year, AJ Nealey finished second after starting
fifth; Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle finished fifth, Taylor Broekemeier finished
seventh, Andrew Novich finished eighth and Ryan Ellis brought his Jetta TDI
Cup car home in tenth.
In addition, Andrew Cordeiro, Jake Thompson and JD Mobley finished 11th
13th respectively and Juan Pablo Delgado finished 21st. Talk with the
drivers to determine how their approach will differ this year after having
one race at this challenging road course under their belts.
Virginia Tech students earn their racing stripes with the Jetta TDI Cup
Thereıs no better experience than on-the-job training, which is why nearly
20 engineering students from Virginia Tech University are taking part in the
2010 Jetta TDI Cup season. The Volkswagen Motorsports Jetta TDI Cup program
allows Virginia Tech students interested in pursuing a career in motorsports
an opportunity to experience it first-hand. The students provide technical
support at Volkswagenıs race shop at VIR and on the road at the Seriesı ten
race events. During the season, up to fifteen students will travel to each
race and work alongside the Series technicians getting hands-on experience
with every aspect of motorsports from changing tires to downloading data.
The Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup program is an ideal way for students interested
in a career in motorsports to learn about the industry and it provides them
with the advantage of real-world experience before they enter the workplace.
Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Point Standings (Through Six Rounds)
Driver Points
1. Wyatt Gooden (R) 190
2. Arie Ouimet (R) 182
3. Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle 176
4. Jake Thompson 170
5. JD Mobley 161
6. Jarvis Gennari (R) 147
7. Ryan Ellis 136
8. AJ Nealey 125
9. Kevin Gleason (R) 118
10. Taylor Broekemeier 105
11. Nate Norenberg (R) 99
12. Michael Hogg (R) 88
13. Juan Pablo Delgado 81
14. Andrew Cordeiro 78
15. JJ Tomlinson (R) 59
16. Andrew Novich 54
17. Brian Whitmire (R) 51
18. Mike Mineo-Nardacci (R) 44
19. Taylor Tzouanakis (R) 42
20. Rafael Navarro IV (R) 33
21. Chris Wehrheim 27
22. AJ Severino (R) 21
23. Colin Thompson (R) 19
24. Jenna Wagner (R) 8
25. Justine Jackson (R) 6
Follow the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series action on:
www.vwmotorsportusa.com
Volkswagen Online Newsroom: media.vw.com
Live Timing & Scoring: http://livetiming.net/scca/VW
Live Timing & Scoring for your Mobile Device:
http://livetiming.net/SCCA/VW/html.asp
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/JettaTDICup
Twitter: http://twitter.com/VWJettaTDICup
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 worldıs largest producers of passenger
cars and Europeıs 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.
About SCCA Pro Racing:
A wholly owned subsidiary of Sports Car Club of America, Inc., SCCA Pro
Racing Inc. is a leading sanctioning body for motorsports events in the
United States. A member of the Automobile Competition Committee of the
United States (ACCUS), SCCA Pro Racing operates and sanctions the World
Challenge Championships, the SCCA Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup, SCCA Volkswagen
Jetta TDI Cup, SCCA Pro Trans-Am Series, Spec Racer Ford Pro Series and
Formula Enterprises Pro Series. For more information, please visit
www.sccapro.com.
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