Volkswagen Motorsport India have introduced the new Ameo Cup race car for the new upcoming Ameo Cup 2017.
Following the success of the Vento Cup and Polo Cup, Volkswagen Motorsport India have introduced the new Ameo Cup which features a new race car which has been developed at the Volkswagen Pune Plant. The new race machine boasts some major upgrades compared to its predecessor, starting from the body shell all the way to the drivetrain, chassis and electronics.
The Ameo Cup race car shares its body with the road version of the Ameo while it borrows the engine from the Polo GTI. It packs a 1.8-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that produces 205 PS and 320 Nm. This engine is mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox with steering-mounted paddle shifters. The ECU (Engine Control Unit) is completely new and has been independently calibrated and mapped to suit the new engine and the gearbox control system. The Ameo Cup race car is running a new suspension setup along with MRF 200/605-R17 tyres that have been specifically developed for this car. The new Ameo Cup racer is the quickest car produced by Volkswagen Motorsport India.
Dr. Andreas Lauermann, President and Managing Director Volkswagen India Private Limited said, “Volkswagen is committed to motorsport in India and with our premium one-make series we have helped develop some of the best racing talent in the country over the past seven years. With the Ameo Cup we have embarked upon yet another year of exciting races and this season is especially noteworthy as the motorsport team has developed the race car from ground up at the Volkswagen Pune Plant. With this, we continue our commitment to the sport and make our intentions clear – to offer the best racing technology in India”.
Sirish Vissa, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport India commented on the new Ameo Cup Car saying, “The car is unlike anything Indian motorsport has seen from the Volkswagen’s stable. It has more power and amazing handling, yet it is simple enough for budding racers to learn on. The race machine is at par with international standards and the new elements in the car make it possible to take our one-make series to a new high.”
Karthik Tharani, Volkswagen Motorsport India development and test driver added on the performance of the car, “The Ameo Cup race car is a very well sorted machine and this is evident with the test lap time of 1:51.780, which is 4.6 seconds quicker as compared to the Vento Cup race car. The Ameo Cup race car is an ideal race machine for amateurs and racers alike – it has enough to keep all racers engaged while challenging them time and again. I have been through the programme that Volkswagen Motorsport India has put together and I can only reassure the budding drivers that this is the best stepping stone into the real world of professional racing.”
The Ameo Cup is scheduled to start in the month of June at the Kari Motor Speedway near Coimbatore followed by a few rounds at Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT) in Chennai and one round at Buddh International Circuit (BIC) near Greater Noida.
Story: Sahej Patheja
