With the 2009 SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup winding down, organizers have launched the search for next season’s best young drivers to compete in the landmark clean diesel racing series.

“I’ve been racing since I was four years old, but the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup was my first professional racing experience,” said returning driver Timmy Megenbier. “Volkswagen has worked extremely hard to make this series a great value for the participating drivers while assuring that all of the cars are equal. As a result, the on-track results really come down to driver skill, which unfortunately isn’t the case in all forms of motorsports. The series has also allowed me to make many contacts that I feel will help me reach the next level in my career.”

Megenbier has been a dominant force in the 2009 series, and is the current Championship points leader with three races left. So far, the series veteran has chalked up three wins, six podium appearances, and two poles, while leading 42 percent of all laps this season (41 laps).

Racers interested in following in Megenbier’s footsteps should begin their journey with VW’s online application. Final driver selection will be held in early February 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada and is the last step in qualifying for the factory series. During selection, candidates will undergo a comprehensive evaluation on the asphalt and in the classroom. After driving tests, media-readiness assessment and a physical fitness examination, 25 young racers will be chosen to participate in the 2010 season.

“Volkswagen takes young driver development very seriously,” said Clark Campbell, Motorsports Manager, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We obviously test the candidates on driving ability, but we also look at their skills outside of the car. In motorsports, how you handle yourself away from the track is also vitally important. It takes the total package to climb the career ladder, and we provide our drivers with all of the coaching and resources necessary for them to be successful.”

Selected drivers get factory maintained and prepared racecars, media support and promotions, a first class at-track hospitality area as well as ongoing driving instruction.

Driver Requirements
Potential driver candidates must be between the ages of 16 and 26 as of January 1, 2010 and hold a passport from the U.S., Canada or Mexico. In addition, drivers entering the series for the first time must not have competed in any professional racing series regardless of location. Applicants must be able to submit a season entry fee of $45,000 by December 11, 2009 in order to be considered for the final driver selection event. The entry fee will be fully refunded to those not chosen as a 2010 series driver. Further information on application and series rules is available at www.vwmotorsportusa.com.

Interested drivers have three ways to qualify:

• Online application – Applicants can visit www.vwmotorsportusa.com for an online application. On the site, candidates can submit their amateur racing resumes and other details about their past experience. Series officials will then select candidates from these applications to participate in the driver selection program. All applications must be submitted along with the series entry fee by December 11, 2009.

• iRacing.com Jetta TDI Cup online racing season – In conjunction with iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations, Volkswagen has created an online racing experience unlike any other. The Jetta TDI Cup series car has joined the list of racecars offered on iRacing.com, and iRacing has launched an online version of the series. The iRacing.com Jetta TDI Cup series participants will be battling to earn their way into the 2010 final driver selection event. The top iRacing.com driver to earn a position in the 2010 series will be awarded their season entry fee and will drive the iRacing.com car. More information is available at www.iracing.com.

• Karting qualifier competitions – Earlier this summer, the series began hosting standalone karting competitions at Boston’s F1 outdoor karting facility. The top finishers from each event will move on and compete in the final driver selection event. Like the iRacing.com path, the top-rated karting qualifier driver to earn a spot in the 2010 series will receive a fully funded ride. Information on the karting qualifier events is available at www.volkswagenjettacup.com.

About the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup
The 2009 season marks the second year of competition for the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, which is sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. During the season, young up-and-coming drivers (between ages 16-26) will compete in 10 events on eight road courses around North America in identical, factory-prepared clean diesel Jetta TDI’s powered by Syndiesel® B5 blended biodiesel fuel. Each driver competing in the series will earn 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 will win $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, driver’s racing safety seat, FIA roll cage and an on-board fire extinguisher system. Series sponsors include: Pirelli, Bosch, ViON, Castrol, Oakley, Red Bull, HYPERFUELS, Aggreko, defNder, Lamin-X, Meguiar’s, Sherwin-Williams, Chicagoland VW, Safety-Kleen, Ringer Gloves, Jim Russell Racing School and Trellis Earth.

Follow the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series action on:
www.vwmotorsportusa.com
SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Live Timing & Scoring
Volkswagen Online Newsroom
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