Competition Winner Needham Gets Back on Track with VW Cup

04 March 2007

A racing rookie who rocked the Volkswagen Racing Cup on his debut in 2005 is to make a dramatic return to the championship.

Graham Needham won his maiden drive through a competition in Car magazine and amazed championship regulars by racing to a convincing third place at Brands Hatch in a Golf GTI.

Now the 41-year-old from Lincoln has found the budget for a full season of competition, and will return at the wheel of an exciting new machine - a Golf R32 complete with 4MOTION four-wheel-drive system and advanced DSG gearbox.

'I believe it will be the first Volkswagen with a DSG 'box to be raced anywhere in the world,' said Graham, 'and that's a very exciting prospect. I have tested the Golf already and found it a very benign car, which will be important for a clumsy novice like me.'

Needham so enjoyed his maiden race experience that he has been trying to get back on track ever since. 'I came close to doing a deal last year but it all fell apart at the last minute,' he adds. 'This season the funding is in place and everything is looking good. I'm keen to prove that Brands Hatch wasn't a flash in the pan but I am under no illusions that it's going to be easy.'

Ranged against Needham will be an ever-expanding grid of very experienced rivals, not the least of whom will be reigning champion Paul Taylor in the championship's other four-wheel drive contender.

The British GT/F3-supporting Volkswagen Racing Cup in association with Hankook enjoys the additional support of Augustus Martin, Castrol, ECM Vehicle Delivery, Europcar, Milltek Sport, Mondial Assistance, KW Automotive, Superchips, TNT Logistics, Turbo Dynamics, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Volkswagen Financial Services UK.

The opening rounds of the championship will be held at the Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire on Easter Monday (9 April).

See 2007 series calendar for VW Racing Cup

Related Story 09.02.2007 - Runner-Up Culley Returns to VW Cup for Title Challenge