VOLKSWAGEN CONTINUES TO SUPPORT WOMEN IN MOTOR SPORT

Following the successful inaugural year of partnership between Volkswagen Motorsport and the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission, the search for a new female talent to compete in the 2012 Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup has begun.

In keeping with its philosophy of supporting aspiring young drivers, Volkswagen Motorsport will assess the ability of a group of talented female racers - nominated by their ASNs and the Women in Motorsport Commission - on 10 November at the Oschersleben circuit in Germany. The assessment will include theoretical lessons, a media course, guided driving with instructors and timed laps.

Kris Nissen, Volkswagen Motorsport Director, said: “The promotion of young talent in motor sport has a high priority at Volkswagen and female racers should not continue to be exceptions from our point of view. Going into the third year now, the Scirocco R-Cup is considered the epitome of touring car schools and offers participants to prepare themselves for professional motor sport on higher levels. With our last season’s candidate Maiken Rasmussen we made very good experiences, she did some very good races and she is a very intelligent young woman – on and off track. So we are delighted to be able to support the FIA in its talent initiative also for 2012.”

The drivers nominated to compete in the evaluation process are:

Mikaela Ahlin Kottulinsky          Age 18                       Sweden

Andrea Bate                             Age 22                       South Africa

Sarah Bovy                              Age 22                       Belgium

Andrina Gugger                        Age 20                       Switzerland

Vittoria Piria                             Age 17                       Italy

Louise Richardson                    Age 18                       United Kingdom

Priscilla Speelman                    Age 22                       Netherlands

Kristina Vorndran                      Age 17                       USA

Christina Nielsen                      Age 19                       Denmark

Michelle Gatting                       Age 17                       Denmark

Sarah Moore                            Age 17                       United Kingdom

At the end of the process, one talented young woman may be selected to contest the Scirocco R-Cup, in either the Junior Cup or Pro Cup. The youngster will be pitted against a mixed grid of racers not only from the Junior and Pro Cups, but also the Legend category, which includes stars from the worlds of Formula One, Indy Car, rallying and DTM.

Throughout the season, the driver will receive guidance and advice from members of the Women in Motorsport Commission – most notably from karting and Formula 3 champion Cathy Muller – as well as the team at Volkswagen Motorsport.

The Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup is the first single-make cup with natural gas technology, producing 80 per cent less CO2 emissions. The 2012 series takes in 10 European rounds.