Championship
background
Launched
in 2000, the Volkswagen Racing Cup is widely regarded as the most exciting
saloon car championship in the UK and for 2008 it remains the sole saloon
support race in the prestigious British Formula 3/British GT Championship
package.
Open
to any model of racing Volkswagen, the Cup has attracted drivers of the
Beetle RSi, Corrado, Vento & Golf VR6, Golf GTI of every generation,
Polo, Lupo and Bora models. For a car to be allowed to race in the
Championship, it will need to be issued with a Volkswagen Racing logbook.
To be eligible for this, it must either be a car that has competed in the
championship in the past two years, or if it is new to the championship,
it must be less than 10 years old.
Engine
usage has been as varied as car choice, with turbocharged and even
turbodiesel power joining the established four and six cylinder engines.
This variety of machinery, representing Volkswagens of all ages, has made
for one of the most colourful and diverse grids in motorsport, and is
always a real hit with spectators.
The
innovative regulations put all cars into a single class based on power to
weight ratios. The idea of a lightweight Polo GTI challenging a powerful
V6 Beetle and a torquey TDI Golf for overall victory is a real experience
for drivers, teams and spectators alike.
2008
sees continued stability of the regulations, which is a fundamental
principle behind the championship. For unlike 'one-make' championships,
cars developed for the Volkswagen Racing Cup can be assured of many years
of racing under stable regulations. This means that teams and drivers can
invest in the cost of a new car confident in the knowledge that the car
will remain eligible and its value will be retained over years to come.
With
Volkswagen Racing UK running the series, direct manufacturer involvement
ensures the stability and profile that the championship deserves over
future years. The championship features the major benefit of Sky Sports
television coverage, plus a high quality hospitality service, and other
benefits for competitors throughout the season.
The
double header race format of the racing features seven weekends in the UK,
which keeps the time and cost commitment of teams and drivers lower than
most other series, and provides spectators with a very full day of
Volkswagen action.
High
standards of driving and presentation befitting a championship with
manufacturer backing and television coverage are expected of all
participating drivers and teams. But above all, the Volkswagen Racing Cup
remains a friendly championship where team spirit and camaraderie in the
paddock count for more than on-track heroics.
Press
quotes
evo, Simon Harrison: 'I've never seen anything quite like
the Volkswagen Cup. Boasting an example of just about every type of VW
model and powertrain, from normally aspirated and turbocharged petrol
engines to surprisingly potent turbo diesels... the regulations are a
clever piece of work.'
Autosport, Marcus Pye: 'Volkswagen Racing's championship has
blossomed into the best-looking and most competitive multi-model marque
series on the current national calendar.'
Car magazine, Jason Barlow: 'The Volkswagen Racing Cup is a
ferociously competitive championship... everyone should take to the track
at least once in their life. They might just get hooked.'
Read
the 2008 championship registration pack