WDCR member Ryan Ellis won the opening race of the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup today at Virginia International Raceway.
The Ashburn, Va., native held off Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle of Puebla, Mexico, for the first win of the Jetta TDI Cup season. Ellis and Lendle battled throughout the race.
“This is the best day of my racing career. The weather was ideal for racing and my car ran perfectly today,” Ryan said. “Juan and I were jockeying for position throughout the race. He ran an amazing race and his driving was very clean and error free. This was a great way to start the 2010 season. However, I know there is still a lot of racing to go this season, so I need to stay focused.”
AJ Nealey of Edgewater, Md., also a WDCR member, finished third for the final podium spot.
This the second season racing in the VW Cup for both Ryan and AJ.
The Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series returns to action tomorrow for Round 2 at VIR. The race is scheduled to begin Sunday at 12:45 p.m. Live timing and scoring is available at http://livetiming.net/scca/VW.
Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup – Round 1
VIRginia International Raceway – April 24, 2010
Fin. Position/St. Position/Car Number/Driver/Hometown/Sponsor
1. 1 6 Ryan Ellis/Ashburn/VA/Washington Capitals
2. 2 23 Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle/Puebla/MX/Pirelli
3. 7 2 AJ Nealey/Edgewater/MD/Staubli
4. 6 7 JD Mobley/Castle Rock/CO/Castrol
5. 8 15 Michael Hogg (R)/Vancouver/BC/Castrol
6. 10 12 Jarvis Gennari (R)/Boca Raton/FL/DefNder
7. 12 16 Chris Wehrheim (R)/Norcross/GA/Lamin-X
8. 11 3 Taylor Broekemeier/Ft. Collins/CO/Bosch
9. 4 33 Juan Pablo Delgado/Orizaba/MX/Aggreko
10. 14 20 Arie Ouimet (R)/Calgary/MA/VW Parts & Accessories
11. 20 29 Andrew Novich/Novato/CA/Hyperfuels
12. 17 25 Brian Whitmire (R)/Baton Rouge/LA/Staubli
13. 16 32 Kevin Gleason (R)/Johnstown/PA/VION
14. 23 28 JJ Tomlinson(R)/Park City/UT/Oakley
15. 13 26 Andrew Cordeiro/Woodbridge/ON/VION
16. 21 9 Rafael Navarro IV (R)/Temecula/CA/Pirelli
17. 22 11 AJ Severino(R)/Hamilton/NJ/Aggreko
18. 19 39 Mike Mineo Nardacci (R)/East Hills/NY/Oakley
19. 25 21 Tony Swan (G)/Ypsilanti/MI/SCCA
20. 24 8 Taylor Tzouanakis (R)/Wauconda/IL/Virginia Tech
21. 26 40 Justine Jackson (R)/JA/SCCA
22. 27 4 Jenna Wagner (R)/Bristol/VA/VW Pre-Loved
23. 18 14 Colin Thompson (R)/Perkasie/PA/Bosch
24. 3 19 Jake Thompson/Calgary/AB/Red Bull
25. 15 30 Nate Norenberg (R)/Plymouth/MN/Driver Gear
26. 9 18 Wyatt Gooden (R)/Gates Mills/OH
27. 5 5 J.K. Vernay (G)/France/Athletes Performance
(R) – Jetta TDI Cup Rookie Driver
(G) – Guest Driver
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.
