The Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup heads to Utah for Round 4 at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. This marks the series 2nd appearance at the track, with Timmy Megenbier taking the win in 2009. This year the competitors will shift over to the more technical East Course, after running the West Course last season. Veteran Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle holds the points lead after taking his first career victory during Round 3 at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Race Information

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup – Round 4
Circuit: Miller Motorsports Park – Tooele, Utah (15 turns, 2.242 miles)
Date/Time: Practice / Qualifying – Saturday, June 5 at 9:20 am / 2:20 pm (all times local)
Race – Sunday, June 6 at 11:30 am
Race Length: 30 minutes

About the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup

The SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup was launched in 2008 as way to introduce clean diesel technology to the U.S. market and develop the best of motorsport’s up-and-coming talent. During the season, young, up and coming drivers (between ages 16-26) compete on road courses around North America in identical factory-prepared clean diesel powered Jetta TDI’s. Each driver competing in the Series earns a professional racing license from SCCA Pro Racing at the conclusion of the season. In addition to more than $50,000 in prize money at stake during the season, the Series Champion receives Volkswagen factory career advancement support with a value up to $100,000.

The Jetta TDI Cup car is powered by a 2.0-liter, 170 hp, four-cylinder TDI clean diesel engine mated to a six-speed, double-clutch, automatic DSG transmission. The car is only slightly modified from stock with Pirelli racing tires, race suspension and brake components, drivers racing safety seat, FIA roll cage and an on-board fire extinguisher system.

What sets the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup apart from other racing series?

• The Series is the only clean diesel racing series in the United States, and Volkswagen is the only auto manufacturer participating in motorsports full time with diesel powered cars.
• The TDI engine technology improves fuel economy over gasoline engines and reduces sooty emissions by 95 percent, even under demanding race conditions. The Series will consume approximately two tanks of fuel during its ten races this season.
• The Jetta TDI Cup features a vehicle similar to what consumers can buy at their local Volkswagen dealerships.
• Cars are maintained by Volkswagen of America, which creates a level playing field for all drivers.

News & Notes:

Volkswagen Motorsports Manager, Campbell, on the 2010 Season to date

“I’m very pleased with the level of competition that we’ve seen in the first three races of the season,” said Clark Campbell, Motorsports Manager, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “At our last event in New Jersey, we had two rookies on the podium and we had six rookies qualify in the top-ten; which certainly indicates that the new drivers have quickly gotten up to speed and are competing on the same level as the veterans. The depth of talent is the best we’ve seen in the Series’ three-year history; which certainly showcases the objectives of the Jetta TDI Cup to not only develop up-and-coming drivers, but also to bring the benefits of clean fuel technology to the racetrack.”

Nine Veterans Return to Miller Motorsports Park

This season, there are nine drivers returning to the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup from last year, including four drivers who finished in the top-ten at Miller Motorsports Park in 2009. Jake Thompson and Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle comprised two-thirds of last season’s podium, as they finished second and third respectively, while Taylor Broekemeier finished fifth and AJ Nealey earned a ninth-place result. The other five returning drivers all finished in the top-17: JD Mobley – 11th; Ryan Ellis – 14th; Andrew Novich – 15th; Andrew Cordeiro – 16th; Juan Pablo Delgado – 17th.

In addition to a solid performance in Utah last season, Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle will arrive at Miller Motorsports Park as the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Championship points leader. Not only did Sierra Lendle grab victory at the Series’ last event in New Jersey, but he also finished second at the pair of races during opening weekend at VIRginia International Raceway.

Miller Motorsports Park – Same Venue, Different Circuit

Last year the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup made its debut at Miller Motorsports Park on the 2.183-mile, 10-turn West Course. This season, the Series will be competing on the East Course, a 2.242-mile 15-turn circuit that features as many as seven overtaking areas, 14 corners and significant elevation changes. The signature corner on the East Course is the final turn, a 50-foot wide, nine degree banked sweeper that leads onto the main straight. Designed for last-minute overtaking as the field races to the finish line, the corner is sure to provide an added challenge. Talk with the returning drivers to get their perspective on whether or not last year’s event will create an advantage over the rookies, and if they’re able to identify any similarities between the two circuits in Utah.

Local Driver JJ Tomlinson Set to Make Utah Debut

When the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup heads to Miller Motorsports Park next weekend, one driver will be less than 50 miles away from his hometown. JJ Tomlinson, a resident of Park City, Utah is making his debut in the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup this season and will no doubt be looking for a win in his own backyard come Sunday.

Tomlinson has been racing his whole life, however this is only his second season of motorsports competition. The Utah native began his career competing as a snowboarder where he’s won eight national titles since the age of six, he also finished fifth at the 2010 Winter X Games in snowboardcross. Coincidentally, it was a trip to last year’s Jetta TDI Cup event in Utah that inspired Tomlinson to hit the track for the first time and try his hand at auto racing. In his karting debut last spring, Tomlinson earned a second-place finish in the Rotax Masters Division at Miller Motorsports Park. Tomlinson is a very competitive person and will look to the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup season to fuel his need for fast, close racing. When Tomlinson is away from the track, he enjoys surfing and hitting the bowling alley with his friends. He also drives a 2008 Volkswagen R32.

Virginia Tech students earn their racing stripes with the Jetta TDI Cup

There’s no better experience than on-the-job training, which is why nearly 20 engineering students from Virginia Tech University are taking part in the 2010 Jetta TDI Cup season. The Volkswagen Motorsports Jetta TDI Cup program allows Virginia Teach students interested in pursuing a career in motorsports with an opportunity to experience it first-hand. The students provide technical support at Volkswagen’s race shop at VIR and on the road at the Series’ ten race events. During the season, up to fifteen students will travel to each race and work alongside the Series technicians getting hands-on experience with every aspect of motorsports from changing tires to downloading data.

The Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup program is an ideal way for students interested in a career in motorsports to learn about the industry and it provides them with the advantage of real-world experience before they enter the workplace.

Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Point Standings (Through Three Rounds)

Driver Points
1. Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle 108
2. Arie Ouimet (R) 70
3. AJ Nealey 69
4. Chris Wehrheim (R) 67
5. Ryan Ellis 60
6. Jarvis Gennari (R) 47
7. Juan Pablo Delgado 47
8. Jake Thompson 46
9. JD Mobley 45
10. Andrew Cordeiro 42
11. Taylor Broekemeier 41
12. Nate Norenberg (R) 34
13. Wyatt Gooden (R) 30
14. JJ Tomlinson (R) 29
15. Kevin Gleason (R) 28
16. Michael Hogg (R) 26
17. Andrew Novich 26
18. Brian Whitmire (R) 25
19. Colin Thompson (R) 17
20. Mike Mineo-Nardacci (R) 12
21. AJ Severino (R) 11
22. Taylor Tzouanakis (R) 9
23. Rafael Navarro IV (R) 9
24. Justine Jackson (R) 4
25. Jenna Wagner (R) 1

Follow the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series action on:
www.vwmotorsportusa.com
Volkswagen Online Newsroom: media.vw.com
Live Timing & Scoring: http://livetiming.net/scca/VW
Live Timing & Scoring for your Mobile Device: http://livetiming.net/SCCA/VW/html.asp
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/JettaTDICup
Twitter: http://twitter.com/VWJettaTDICup

About Volkswagen of America:

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Golf, GTI, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Eos, Passat, Passat Wagon, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. All 2010 Volkswagens come standard-equipped with Electronic Stabilization Program. This is important because the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called ESC the most effective new vehicle safety technology since the safety belt. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or www.media.vw.com to learn more.

About SCCA Pro Racing:

A wholly owned subsidiary of Sports Car Club of America, Inc., SCCA Pro Racing Inc. is a leading sanctioning body for motorsports events in the United States. A member of the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States (ACCUS), SCCA Pro Racing operates and sanctions the World Challenge Championships, the SCCA Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup, SCCA Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, SCCA Pro Trans-Am Series, Spec Racer Ford Pro Series and Formula Enterprises Pro Series. For more information, please visit www.sccapro.com.

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