 |
 |
» 17,50 € |
  |
|
» 109,90 € |
| |
|
» 109,90 € |
| |
|
» 54,90 € |
| |
|
» 718,- € |
| |
|
|
|
Start to tenth season- Polo Cup celebrates Hockenheim season opener
17.04.2007 |
|
With two dozen talented youngsters into the tenth year: The ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup will start to the new season at Hockenheim this weekend (21/22 April) together with the DTM.
For the 24 junior racers from Germany, Norway, Austria, Sweden and South Africa this marks the beginning of the close competition for points, trophies and career opportunities. The "touring car school” that looks back on ten years of success has long proved its promise of providing a favourably priced stepping stone for young female and male drivers to the world of professional racing and the chance to quickly ascend to higher categories. The Polo Cup's unique concept – central fielding and swapping of the Racing Polo cars among the drivers – guarantees a maximum of equal opportunities at reasonable costs. Marleen Seilheimer from Mettenheim – the only lady in the field – and Nico Bastian from Hemsbach are two talented touring car youngsters contesting the race before a home audience this weekend.
"With a fitness training course in a sport promotion group of the German Army alongside the ‘Königssee' lake in Bavaria and the introductory training course at the Oschersleben circuit the new Polo Cup year group professionally prepared itself for the new season. Now it'll be important to apply the lessons learned in the first race,” said Kris Nissen, Volkswagen Motorsport Director. "As the results of all drivers were very close during the tests I'm eager to see who will be celebrating their first victory in the Racing Polo.”
Marleen Seilheimer and Nico Bastian can hardly wait for their start to what marks the second season for both of them. "After the long winter break I'm very much looking forward to sitting in the racing car again,” said the 19-year-old student of mechanical engineering. "But it won't be a walk in the park: The performance level in the Polo Cup is extremely high. Only those giving 100 percent have a chance to achieve good results.” That is why thorough preparation is of particular importance in this junior racing series: In addition to analysing the data recorded last year or memorising the circuit by means of computer simulations, fitness training is part of the mandatory programme. "In my physical preparation I focused heavily on speed and endurance,” revealed 17-year-old Nico Bastian. For his second year in the Polo Cup, the student has set firm goals: "I want to finish on the podium, this much is clear. Best of all, on the top step at the centre!"
Eight contenders already have a year of experience in the Polo Cup, 16 drivers are newcomers, including the two Swedes Niclas Olsson and Andreas Simonsen, as well as Laurent Calkoen and Shane Williams from South Africa. The regulations facilitate their entry into the DTM partner series: At Hockenheim and in the second race of the season at Oschersleben only half the number of points (30 instead of 60 points for victory, for example) are awarded in order to reduce the advantage in experience of the more seasoned drivers to some extent.
ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup: the touring car school
The ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup ranks among the most popular one-make cup series and, what is more, as a "touring car school” enjoys the reputation of providing an ideal stepping stone for professional racing. The racing series, which made its debut in 1998 – then using the VW Lupo – is based on a unique set of regulations offering maximum equality of opportunity at reasonable costs for all participants. Participants are aged 16 to 24 and have to qualify for the Polo Cup via an evaluation and qualification training seminar. Talent instead of money determines participation and success. The youngsters' championship is contested with Polo cars featuring identical technology. They are powered by a 150-hp FSI four-cylinder engine – derived from the production version – with 2.0 litres of displacement. The cars are swapped among the drivers. In the 2007 season the Polo Cup encompasses ten races at eight DTM weekends.
|
 |
|
| |
Hyperlinks
»» www.volkswagen.de
|
|
|
|
