Turbo Dynamics Sponsored Volkswagen Racing Cup Is Another Cracker
The widely acclaimed Volkswagen Racing Cup is regarded by many as the UK’s most exciting saloon car championship and it is not hard to see why.
With virtually no restrictions on entrants, the race is open to all Volkswagen models, of all ages and since it’s introduction at the start of this Millennium it has certainly seen a variety of competitors.
With models ranging from Beetles to Golfs, Sciroccos to Polos, Corrados to Boras and more, it is easy to understand why this race attracts such profound interest. The rules mean that all of the cars are put into a single class, which is purely based on power to weight ratios.
The race has been witness to cars competing against one another with four and six cylinder engines, turbocharged engines and even turbodiesel.
In partnership with turbocharging specialists Turbo Dynamics, the Volkswagen Racing Cup comprises of 12 rounds at six different locations.
“Turbo Dynamics has been working alongside Volkswagen Racing for many years now in developing some of the UK’s most exciting motorsport projects.” said Volkswagen Racing Managing Director, Sam Roach of the companies’ partnership.
27 year old Tony Gilham secured the fought-over Volkswagen Racing Cup title this year after successfully finishing and scoring points in all of the races, a feat un-achieved by any other drivers. A delighted Gilham said, “We have scored in every race and that’s what wins championships!”
The races took place at Oulton Park, Donington Park, Snetterton, Brands Hatch, Silverstone and Rockingham with Gilham coming first place in both rounds at Silverstone. Of the winning car prepared by Turbo Dynamics customer, Regal Autosport, Gilham said “The Golf has been consistently quick and reliable.”
Spectators and those watching the race on Sky Sports were not to be disappointed by the 2007 Volkswagen Racing Cup. Along with Gilham’s impressive wins, 2007 saw the return of racing rookie, 41 year old Graham Needham who debuted two year’s ago coming third place at Brands Hatch in a Golf GTI. Needham returned this year with a budget for a full season’s competition and a new Golf R32.
Actually debuting this year, driven by 32 year old Nick Trott, was the Golf GT, which is equipped with a pioneering TSI supercharged and turbocharged engine. Under the Golf’s bonnet is a beast of a turbo developed by one of the world’s leading turbocharging specialists, Dorset based Turbo Dynamics. Of the vehicle Trott commented, “The power to weight ratio is excellent.”
The race at Oulton Park, which took place on Easter Monday saw Trott qualify 15th on the grid and then go on to improve by more than a second a lap in the race, putting him in 13th position. However, unfortunately for Trott he came off the wet racetrack during the sixth lap going into a gravel trap at Druids.
Turbo Dynamics have announced that they will be working closely with Volkswagen Racing again, prior to the next season, to increase the power-output of the TSI even further. Turbo Dynamics Managing Director, Peter Marsh commented, “The possibilities are sky-high! It’s a very exciting project.”
Possibly the most eyebrow-raising entrant was, Peter Wyhinny who drove the Turbo Dynamics turbocharged Caddy TDI rapid delivery van.
Roach commented, “From the first ever diesel racing car in the UK which went on to record the world’s first outright race win for a diesel-powered car in 2002, right up to the infamous Caddy Van racer which develops a record 280PS from the 2.0 diesel engine, Turbo Dynamics has been instrumental in achieving such world firsts.”
Also entering the races and with possibly the biggest fan basis was Herbie! The Oulton Park spectators saw 42 year old Steve Chaplin driving an off-white livery Beetle, dawned with those famous ‘53’ number panels and stripes. Prior to the race Chaplin said with a wink, “I have the perfect excuse if I get into trouble with the clerk of the course, I can just tell him that Herbie was doing it himself!” Thankfully though, both Chaplin and Herbie did behave themselves. In fact Chaplin managed to be in the Top Ten in an impressive eight of the 12 rounds, including coming second place in Round 11 at Rockingham.
In fact the only thing missing at the Volkswagen Racing Cup this year was Top Gear’s Stig!
