Volkswagen Racing Cup: Snetteron thriller in store for rivals

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Five different race winners from the opening six rounds has given the Hankook-backed Volkswagen Racing Cup more than an air of unpredictability as the championship heads next weekend (4/5 July) for Snetterton, one of the quickest tracks on the schedule.

Joe Fulbrook was a double winner at Snetterton last year and heads for Norfolk this season with a 92-point championship lead… it would take a brave man to bet against the reigning title-holder from scoring well in either or both Snetterton races.

Joe has smoked to five-second place finishes in the Warranty Direct Bora Turbo but only one race win, so there is at least hope for his rivals that they might be able to beat him to the top step of the podium.

The awesome new Scirocco GT claimed its maiden win last time out, at Knockhill, in the hands of another debutant victor, Liam Griffin. Snetterton should suit the sleek coupe perfectly and Liam, who failed to finish any of the first four races, must surely have brought an end to his bad luck run with his Scottish win. The other Scirocco, driven by Mike Kurton, ought to be a contender also.

There hasn’t been a Beetle win at Snetterton since 2001, but that won’t stop Fulbrook’s RP Motorsport team-mate Steve Chaplin revving up ‘Herbie’ for a good shot at victory. Chaplin was a double victor at Rockingham in May.

Paul Taylor won twice at Snetterton on his debut in 2005, and won again the following season on his way to the championship title. He’s still racing the same Golf R32, and it’s still winning races – Taylor took the Oulton opener at Easter. Given a good run in qualifying and a decent grid slot, you can be assured that the four-wheel-drive Golf will be leading into Riches on the first lap, from which position it will be tough to dislodge…

The season’s other race winner is Didge Dziurzynski, who has replaced his elderly but amazingly rapid Golf GTI with a newer and faster model which led at Knockhill and which should, if teething problems permit, be a major contender.

As ever, the Volkswagen Racing Cup grid will provide an entertaining mix of model diversity – diesels, Peter Wyhinny’s mighty Caddy van – and emerging new driving talent. Championship newcomer Tim Snaylam has propelled his RacingLine-prepared Golf into the championship top 10, pursued closely by two championship newcomers: Aaron Mason and Anna Walewska.

The Walker family will be in action en masse once again, former truck racing champion Richard at the wheel of the Force 10 Golf GTI while his sons, James and Daniel, pilot similar cars – James’s self-run and Daniel’s prepared by SlideSports. Another family link at Snetterton will be provided by Paul Wyhinny, son of Peter, who will be driving RacingLine’s V6 Golf.

Others entered for the Norfolk races are Doug Ross and his ever-improving Polo GTI; Michael McInerney with the Europcar Golf; Kieran Griffin, who returns in the Addison Lee Golf after missing Knockhill; Robin Riley in the KPM-prepared TDI Golf; Beetle racer Darren Blumson; Tony Harberman and his VR6 Golf; and Barrie Culley, whose son Martyn has handed over the family Vento for the weekend. Dutch driver Peter Lettinga will be present also with his Beetle RSI.

The Volkswagen Racing Cup in association with Hankook enjoys additional support from Augustus Martin, Ceva Logistics, ECM Vehicle Delivery, Milltek Sport, Mondial Assistance, KW Automotive, Superchips, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Volkswagen Financial Services UK.

- Volkswagen Racing Cup

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