2008 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup
Volkswagen Academy Become Part of Racing Circuit
UTI’s Volkswagen Academy Technician Recruitment Program (VATRP) students are about to become members of one of the most exciting teams in town. Throughout 2008, select Academy students will be working as “pit crew” members for the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup racing series.
The Jetta TDI Cup allows Volkswagen to showcase the power and performance of its new clean diesel technology with 30 factory prepared and managed clean-diesel Jetta TDIs, piloted by amateur drivers aged 16 to 26, who are relative unknowns in the industry. With eight races beginning on North American race tracks this spring, Volkswagen’s goal is to find the driver with the most talent and help them break into the world of professional motorsports.
The concept is as revolutionary as the car. At the heart of the Jetta TDI Cup racing vehicle will be the all-new, high-tech 2.0-liter four cylinder TDI clean diesel engine rated at 170 horsepower and nearly 300 ft.-lbs. of torque in racing trim. Additionally, to highlight its environmental dedication Volkswagen has partnered with Carbonfund.org to certify the entire race series as carbon free.
Paul Kern, Volkswagen Education Supervisor at UTI’s Rancho Cucamonga, California, campus believes it’s an exciting time to be an Academy student. Twelve students and two instructors will be selected to attend every race to perform a variety of “pit crew” duties before, during and after each race. Some of the likely duties include driving the cars from the staging area to the pit area, replacing tires, prepping the cars, reconditioning the cars and servicing the cars after each race.
“Using Academy students as technicians for the Jetta TDI Cup series is a great opportunity and gift from Volkswagen. Our students are excited because it takes them outside of the classroom and into a real world experience. Since only qualifying students are able to attend a race, there is a lot of healthy competition at the campuses now. Students are motivated and morale has increased,” said Paul.
Throughout racing season, students with the highest grades and hands-on ability will be selected from both the Rancho Cucamonga, California and Exton, Pennsylvania, Academy programs. They will spend three days soaking in the spirit of the racing circuit and using their technical knowledge to assist with the maintenance of the racecars. The twelve technicians invited to attend the first Jetta TDI Cup race in Virginia are:
From the Rancho Cucamonga campus:
Gabriel Castillo, Thomas Richardson, Alan Perreault, Nicholas Roen, Eric Norwood, Ramiro Sanchez-Mendoza
From the Exton campus:
James Auge, MichaelBoos, William Fravel, Gregg White, Joshua Somers, Nathan Raines
“The opportunity to take our technicians to these races is just a huge win for our program,” said Paul. “I know they are all going to go out and represent the UTI Volkswagen Academy very well. I am looking forward to seeing their training and talent put to work.”
See you at the races!
Universal Technical Institute Instructors and Students will be on hand at many of these events. Keep checking our website for race recaps and standings.
2008 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Upcoming Events:
April 25-27 Virginia International Raceway Grand-Am/ SPEED Touring Car
May 17-18 Mosport International Raceway Canadian Touring Car/ MX-5 Cup
July 4 - 6 Grand Prix of Toronto Champ Car
Aug 14-17 Lime Rock Park NASCAR Camping World Series
Sept. 19-20 Iowa Speedway USAR Hooters Pro Cup
Sept. 27-28 New Jersey Motorsports Park* SPEED World Challenge/ARCA
Oct. 1-3 Road Atlanta ALMS / SPEED World Challenge
VW Jetta TDI Cup - Race One
May 5, 2008 - Ted Groff, Volkswagen Academy Exton, PA - The Volkswagen Academy has been selected to staff the pit crews for the Volkswagen TDI Cup series taking place in seven states over the 2008 race year. The top six students from each program will be selected by GPA to work hand in hand with the Miller Race team preparing the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Blueteck Diesels for the race series. This series was designed by Volkswagen to showcase their new clean diesel technology as well as providing an opportunity for thirty novice drivers to hone their skills on the rally circuit. The winners of this circuit are sure to become the Rally car drivers of the future.
Excitement was high as twelve Volkswagen Academy students and two instructors from both ends of the country descended on the Virginia International Racetrack in southern Virginia for the first race of the season. As the sun came up it was quite evident of the time and resources Volkswagen devoted to this event showcasing not only thirty race prepped diesel Jettas but a number of new products as well. The Routan (VW’s New Minivan) and Tiguan (VW’s new sport utility) were in good company with MK5 R32’s, Thunder Bunnies and even a TV host (the Beetle from the Commercial).
As day one of the 4 day event started the students posed with the Dakar Touareg that has done so well in the Dakar series. Like most race series time was short and the work was abundant and the time for sight seeing was short so we jumped right in prepping the cars for two thirty minute time trials set to take place that day. Students were brought up to speed quickly thanks to the crew members of the Miller racing team teaching them the proper way to check the cars for the track.
After preparing the cars for the race it was time to move to the pits. Film crews and reporters descended as the crews moved into position on the pit wall.
Surrounded by some of the most popular race teams this was truly a once in a life time experience.
With the close of time trials came another round of hard work but again the students were in their element. As problems were found the Academy student’s understanding of the vehicles made it easy to get them fixed and ready to race.
Day two was qualifying and with it came more checks and tire work. The drivers are given 6 tires for the whole weekend so tire life and position was critical. Some drivers elected to use new tires for qualifying so they had a good start position while others waited for race day for new rubber. All and all it made for a long day but spirits were high as we prepared the day to come.
The tension was high on race day not only for the drivers but for the entire Volkswagen racing team. Fortunately the cars were ready to go, what had everyone on pins and needles was the arrival of the president of Volkswagen as well as the Governor of the state of Virginia. As expected the tour went well as all two hundred and fifty Virginia State and Volkswagen VIP’s settled in to watch the first race of the season.
During the race the Academy students were in the action providing pit crew service to vehicles that had tire and body damage. Fast reactions and quick hands made short work of the needed repairs sending vehicles back out to compete for the number one spot.
Although some driver’s ended their day with body damage out of thirty cars none suffered mechanical failures that kept them out of the race. The factory drivelines were pushed to the limit but the driver’s limits broke first causing five cars to be towed and numerous more finishing to finish with body damage.
Race day was long and consisted of a lot of hard work but the drivers and pit crew members had nothing but good things to say about all the VW academy students that worked so hard to make things happen. UTI was well represented not only by the Academy staff and students that helped with the race but by the two Miller racing pit crew staff that graduated from the UTI Sacramento campus. Even after the long days and nights every student said they would not miss it for the world. The next classes are already gearing up for race two held in Canada which will no doubt be an event to see.