Bumper grid for VW racing cup

Resident Columnists

Saturday, 13 March 2010 07:15

The Volkswagen Racing Cup is expected to boast a capacity grid at the opening rounds of the season. With four weeks to go before the Fuchs Lubricants-backed championship gets underway at Oulton Park, series promoter RacingLine has 31 firm registrations, several more in the pipeline, and looks likely to require a reserve list for the Easter Monday (5 Apr) openers.

"We can start a maximum of 34 cars at Oulton Park," says championship manager Melissa Wright, "and we have already reached the magic 30. We couldn't be more delighted by this affirmation of the strength and popularity of the Volkswagen Racing Cup at a time when other series are struggling to maintain numbers.

"It's pleasing also that although many old friends are returning to the championship there are quite a number of newcomers also, some of them completely new to motorsport."

Among the returnees are last year's championship runner-up, Beetle racer Steve Chaplin, and Golf-driving third-place finisher Aaron Mason. The 2006 Champion, Paul Taylor, is back with his Golf R32, as is the driver who won more races last year than any other: Didge Dziurzynski. He will race his Mk IV Golf GTI, with elder brother Alex returning to the championship with his Corrado.

James Walker, Mike Kurton and Darren Blumson, race winners in 2008 and '09, are returning, as are Golf GTI-driving frontrunners Tim Snaylam, Anna Walewska and Peter Felix. The championship's diversity will be underlined once again by the crowd-pleasing Caddy TDI van, which will be handled in 2010 by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Director Simon Elliott.

There will be two father-and-son squads, with Tony Taylor set to join son Paul on track from mid-season, and Vento driver Barrie Culley supporting son Martyn's efforts once again. There will be new mounts for Tony Harberman - a Beetle RSI - and for Kieran Griffin, who steps into the race-winning Scirocco vacated by his brother Liam.
"It's a superb field," adds Wright, "with Golfs of all shapes and ages, a Jetta, two Sciroccos, several Beetles, a couple of Polos, the Caddy and even a venerable Vento. In fact, the championship's 10th anniversary season is set to be its best yet."

The Volkswagen Racing Cup with Fuchs Lubricants, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this season, is additionally supported by Augustus Martin, Ceva Logistics, ECM Vehicle Delivery, Hankook, Milltek Sport, KW Automotive, Superchips and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. http://ww.girlracer.co.uk

Volkswagen Racing Cup with Fuchs Lubricants
Provisional championship entry list
2 Darren Blumson Adrenalin Motorsport Polo GTI
3 Paul Taylor Adrenalin Motorsport Golf R32
4 Tony Taylor Adrenalin Motorsport Golf VR6
5 Doug Ross Milestones Motorsport Polo GTI
7 Tim Snaylam Comline/AWM Golf GTI
8 Aaron Mason Comline/AWM Golf GTI
9 Peter Wyhinny Volkswagen Racing
10 Martyn Culley Adrenalin Motorsport Beetle RSI
11 Barrie Culley Adrenalin Motorsport Vento VR6
12 Tony Harberman TGR Racing Beetle RSI
14 Peter Felix 20Ten Racing Golf GTI
17 Michael McInerney RacingLine Jetta Sport
20 Michael Kurton SlideSports Scirocco R
21 Daniel Walker KPM Golf GTI
24 Phil Morris RacingLine/Team Fuchs Titan Race Golf GTI
27 Andrew Smith Smithsport Beetle TDI
32 Kieran Griffin SlideSports Scirocco R
33 Simon Elliott Volkswagen Racing Caddy TDI
41 Didge Dziurzynski West End Precision Golf GTI
42 Alex Dziurzynski West End Precision Corrado
44 Robin Riley KPM Beetle RSI
49 Richard Styrin RacingLine Golf GTI
51 Simon Andrews RacingLine Golf GTI
53 Steve Chaplin Complete Utilities Beetle RSI
66 Richard Kingsnorth Adrenalin Motorsport Golf R32
69 James Walker KPM Golf GTI
77 Steve Walker RacingLine Golf GTI
99 Mark Clynes SlideSports Golf GTI
     Anna Walewska Alan Blencowe Racing Golf GTI
     James Cortes Alan Blencowe Racing Golf GTI
     Cameron Thompson Beetle RSI