Two drivers "powered by Volkswagen" were victorious at the season opener of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in Silverstone (GB). Charles Leclerc (Van Amersfoort Racing) from Monaco won the third race on Sunday, while Britain's George Russell (Carlin) won the second race the day before. It was the first win in the Formula 3 careers of both newcomers. A total of six podium positions went to the 16 Volkswagen junior drivers at the three races on the renowned, classic British track. Antonio Giovinazzi picked up the most points. The Italian got two second places and one third place, and leads the overall standings with 51 points. Leclerc has 43 points, which sees him in second, while Russell is in third with 39 points. The next race weekend of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship will be held from 01 to 03 May in Hockenheim (D).
Formula Drift"Back on track" – Foust with 900 hp Volkswagen Passat among elite drifters
Tanner Foust (USA) contested the first round of the Formula Drift Championship in Long Beach at the weekend. The 41-year-old American didn't make it past the first round, but really got the spectators going in his 900 hp Volkswagen Passat. Ahead of the weekend he advertised his visit to the drifting elite with the slogan "Back on Track". Foust, who usually contests Global Rallycross (GRC) for the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team was Formula Drift Champion in 2007 and 2008. He finished second in his last full season in 2010. As well as the event in Long Beach, Foust will compete in two further rounds: in Braselton (USA) from 08 to 09 May and at the season finale (09 to 10 October) in Irwindale, California.
Engen Volkswagen Cup South AfricaVan der Linde one, Hodges one in Killarney
Sheldon van der Linde (ZA) and Matthew Hodges (ZA) each stood at the top of the winners' podium once at the second race weekend of the Engen Volkswagen Cup South Africa in Killarney (ZA). 15-year-old van der Linde won the first race on the 3.267-kilometre track in the South African province of Western Cape, with an advantage of 3.064 seconds over Matt Shorter (ZA). Hodges finished third. Unlike the first race, the second didn't go so well for van der Linde: Last season's champion suffered transmission problems and collided with Shaun Holtzhausen (ZA), and finished the race in only 15th place. Hodges on the other hand was the first to cross the finish line, Daniel Rowe (ZA) finished second (+ 1.385 seconds) and Trevor Bland (ZA, +1.488) was third. The next two races will be held at the Aldo Scribante Race Circuit (ZA) on 13 June.
Volkswagen Fun Cup FranceTeam "Défi 6" unbeatable in both races
Team "Défi 6" featuring Julien Menard/Julien Suzanna/Pascal Amand (F/F/F) won both races at the second race weekend of the Volkswagen Fun-Cup France at the Circuit de Dijon-Prenois (F). They won the first race in glorious sunshine, beating the team "SPEB 1" featuring Jean-Pierre Ruffino/Vincent Roches/Pascal Roger (F/F/F) and the "Groupe Lemoine" team featuring the Frenchmen Alain Ferté/Benoît Dupassage/Pierre de Thoisy. In race two, "Défi 6" pushed the team "tfe" (Laurent Dub/Clément Dub/Paul Corbuan) into second place. The next race weekend will be held at the Circuit du Val de Vienne (F) from 30 to 31 May.
Next up:
17/04–19/04/2015Volkswagen Polo Cup Russia, Moscow (RUS)
17/04–19/04/2015South African Rally Championship, Nelspruit (ZA)
