DUTCH TREAT FOR VOLKSWAGEN RACERS

Going Dutch…the VW Cup racers are heading to Zandvoort this weekend. Photo: Jakob Ebrey

The success of last year’s first overseas foray for the Volkswagen Racing Cup with FUCHS Lubricants ensured that a repeat trip to the Dutch seaside circuit of Zandvoort would be a must for the 2011 calendar; a field of 20 Volkswagens is making the journey for Saturday’s (2 July) races.

Heading the pack to Zandvoort is the new points leader, Aaron Mason. The Doncaster driver won one of the Dutch rounds last year – his first race victory – and is hopeful of further success and the opportunity to stretch his slender 12-point title lead.

“We have come away from the Brands Hatch rounds really pleased,” said Aaron. “We seem to have nailed the set-up now for the suspension modifications we introduced to the Golf at the start of the year, and we did well at Zandvoort last year, so we are optimistic. If the weather is mixed once again we should be in good shape, but if it’s really hot I think Steve Chaplin’s Beetle will be the one to watch.”

The men right behind Mason in the championship battle – Steve Wood, Chaplin and James Walker – will be out to stop him from gaining further advantage, with reigning champion and Beetle racer Chaplin looking for a repeat of the race victory he scored at Snetterton in May. Golf GTI man Walker shared the season-opening victory honours with Bora pilot Joe Fulbrook at Oulton Park.

The other race winner on the grid in Holland will be Kieran Griffin, who broke his duck at Brands Hatch at the wheel of his Addison Lee Scirocco. Mike Kurton, the driver of the second SlideSports Scirocco, returns to the series next weekend.

It was at the Zandvoort meeting last year that Zoe Wenham made history at 16 as the youngest-ever driver in the championship’s history. She’s been a regular top-10 finisher all this season in her Golf and returns to the Netherlands with a grip on championship eighth, just behind Dutch driver Peter Lettinga, for whom Zandvoort will be a home match.

The Dutch crowds missed out on seeing the amazing Caddy Racer in action last year but Simon Elliott – who achieved a notable top-10 finish for the new machine last time out – will be making amends. Nick Beaumont will meanwhile hope to build on the encouraging Brands Hatch debut he gave the all-new Golf GTI Mk VI.

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