Volkswagen Motorsport Division have upped the ante in their Indian Motorsports operations and announced the Vento cup for the 2015 season. The Vento Cup will be held as a part of the 18th JK Tyre Racing Championship and will replace the Polo R cup which was held annually since 2010. The Vento Cup competition cars will be based on the series production Vento chassis and will be powered by the 1.4 TSI Engine. The 1.4 TSI engine will put out 180 PS of power and 250 Nm of torque and will be mated to the 6-speed DSG transmission with paddle shifts. Obvious changes will include a race spec roll cage aimed at enhancing body stiffness and improved feedback for the competitors. Changes to the weight distribution have also called for a revised suspension system on the car. The race trim cars will be compliant with the most stringent international safety norms.
In terms of the championship, the selection criterion will be based on driver performance in a go-kart selection drive that will be held across two sessions in Pune. Beyond the initial screening, 24 drivers will be selected for an intensive yearlong fitness and driver training program with inputs from industry experts like Rayomand Banajee. Commenting on the move from the Polo to Vento, Sirish Vissa, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport India said, “The Polo R Cup was an extremely successful series for us. Through the series, we have nurtured over 65 drivers till now and given sponsored opportunities to 11 drivers to far.” He further added, “With the Vento Cup, we are moving to a car which will have improved dynamics allowing the drivers to have a wider learning scope. The different body style will also add to different setup of the car and will vary its speeds as compared to its predecessor.”
Participation fees for the drivers will be Rs 8 lakh(Junior and Pro) and Rs 12 lakh (Masters). The number of International drivers will be limited and will cost Rs 14 lakh. Interested drivers may register themselves at the company’s official website.
Story: Aniruddha Mulgund
