Volkswagen Vento Cup to make 2015 debut

Having been the pioneer of one-make racing championships in the country and completing five season of Volkswagen Polo Cup India, the German manufacturer will now switch to Volkswagen Vento as its platform for the one-make touring car championship.

The last major overhaul for the series had come back in 2012, when it switched to 1.4-TSI engines and DSG gearboxes, replacing 1.6-litre diesel engines which were used since the series’ debut in 2010.

The championship will continue to run on similar lines, with a grid of over 20 drivers expected to be in contention for the 2015 season, as a part of the 18th JK Tyre Racing Championship.

According to a press release, drivers for the Vento Cup 2015 will be selected through an intensive selection programme, the registrations for which are open from today. Once the drivers are selected, they will be trained further and would be prepared to compete in races that will be conducted as a part of the 18th JK Tyre Racing Championship.

The drivetrain, including the 1.4-litre, 180bhp TSI engine mated with a six-speed DSG gearbox will be retained, with all other expected FIA-prescribed safety features including roll-cage, racing seat, six-point harness, fire extinguisher etc.

Sirish Vissa, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport India, commented “With the Vento Cup, we are moving to a car which will have improved dynamics allowing the drivers to have a wider learning scope. The different body style will also add to different setup of the car and will vary its speeds as compared to its predecessor.”

Sanjay Sharma, Head of JK Motorsport, said “I am happy to see Volkswagen taking the next step forward. It is a privilege for us at JK Motorsport to once again have Volkswagen Motorsport as a part of our series in 2015. Together, we want to step up the game and provide even more exciting races.”

Registrations for Vento Cup 2015 open today, with initial stage of selection process taking place through two programmes of karting in Pune. The drivers will be selected across three classes – Junior, Pro and Masters. The selected drivers will have to pay participation fees of Rs 8 lakh (Junior & Pro) and Rs 12 lakh (Masters). There will also be a limited number of seats for international competitors (Rs 14 lakh for the entire season) in order to mix the competition levels and bring in expertise from other countries.