VW Lines Up Motorsport Legends At Hockenheim

Old hands go head to head in new one-make Scirocco R-Cup

By Riggers / Thursday, 22 April 2010 / Loading comments

Five motorsport legends will go head to head this weekend when the Scirocco R-Cup makes its debut at Hockenheim.

Carlos Sainz, Frank Biela, Jacques Laffite, Derek Bell and Martin Brundle will take on each other - and 20 other competitors - in the new one-make series, which will this year support the DTM.

It's always good to see experienced racers battle it out in identical cars, and this lot should be no different. Between them they have two WRC titles, a Dakar victory, a DTM title, a BTCC title (from the super-touring glory days, no less), an FIA Sports Car World Championship and no fewer than 11 Le Mans Victories. Oh, and the small matter of 343 F1 starts. Should be a good race, then.

Aside from the star drivers, VW is also keen to emphasise the green nature of the Scirocco R-Cup. The cars all run on bio compressed natural gas, which helps to cut tailpipe CO2 emissions by 80 per cent, while the production process is virtually carbon-neutral.

Of more interest to petrolheads (should we say gasheads?) is the 225hp turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, which has a 'push-to-pass' button that temporarily increases boost pressure, allowing up to 275hp for a limited number of short bursts.

"With the Scirocco R-Cup Volkswagen rings in a new one-make cup era," says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. "We are realising innovative ideas of an eco-conscious powertrain, other innovative technologies and new sporting concepts in the Cup. At Hockenheim, young talents will meet with seasoned pros and true motorsport legends."

The Scirocco R-Cup is also heading to the UK with a round at Brands Hatch over the weekend of 4-5 September.