Top Dates for '06 Volkswagen Racing Cup

10 December 2005

The Volkswagen Racing Cup calendar for 2006 is the finest ever put together for Britain's best-supported saloon car championship, according to organisers.

With 12 races at six meetings - all supporting the British F3 and British GT Championships - and with a star date at Brands Hatch on the bill of the A1 Grand Prix meeting, the '06 calendar offers competitors a superb package, says Volkswagen Racing UK director Sam Roach.

'It's the very best calendar the Volkswagen Racing Cup has ever had,' adds Roach, 'and we are honoured that our championship is to be the sole saloon car supporting event on all the F3/GT headline events. It's an indication of the strength of the championship and the high regard in which it is held.

'To have also been awarded a slot at Britain's only A1 Grand Prix round is a great honour also, and an incredible opportunity for teams, drivers and their sponsors.'

Each of the six planned dates - at Oulton Park, Donington Park, Snetterton, Brands Hatch, Croft and Thruxton - will feature two Volkswagen Racing Cup events, a total of 12 championship rounds.

'Twin races and six meetings is the format which has helped the championship grow to such an amazing extent over the last six seasons, and is very popular with time-poor competitors,' Roach points out. Last year the Volkswagen Racing Cup enjoyed an average grid size of 29 cars - making it the most popular manufacturer-backed saloon series in Britain.

An added attraction of August's Brands Hatch A1GP date will be that the Grand Prix circuit will be in use; club competitors rarely have the opportunity to sample the 2.6-mile layout.

Roach reports strong interest in the 2006 championship: 'We know of three new Golf GTIs in build for next year and a large number of competitors from previous seasons have indicated their intention to return.

'There is also a high enquiry level from new drivers, which is encouraging. There are a number of quality, eligible cars currently for sale or hire and we are putting people in touch.'

Draft regulations will be released to competitors within a few days. These will follow the established principle of recent seasons in providing stability and a firm base on which competitors can develop a long-term strategy.

'We are looking to make some revisions to the detail of the regulations, including the outlawing of limited-slip differentials in four-wheel-drive cars and also some additional weight for the 4wds. There will also be new rules introduced to permit the acceptance of the new Polo GTI, the new Golf R32 and also Volkswagen's innovative Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG).'

The Volkswagen Racing Cup enjoys the support of Augustus Martin, Castrol, ECM Vehicle Delivery, Europcar, Experian, Inchcape Automotive, ISG Occupancy, Milltek Sport, Mondial Assistance, Pirelli, Proximity London, KW Automotive, Superchips, TNT Logistics, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Volkswagen Financial Services UK.

See 2006 series calendar for VW Racing Cup

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