Click the image to view galleryThe final round of the 2008 Jetta TDI Cup took place at Road Atlanta as part of the 11th annual Petit Le Mans. The atmosphere of the event was powerful, with helicopters flying in and out of the track, cars on track from sunrise to sunset and over 113,000 fans in attendance.
Road Atlanta has a long history as one of the premier road racing facilities in North America, being as enjoyable for spectators as it is for the drivers. This track most certainly did not disappoint. Having never driven on the circuit I was extremely anxious for our first practice session Friday morning. The session went very well for me, as I posted the 3rd fastest time. The session was marred with offs and crashes, with three drivers crashing their vehicles in the free practice. While practice took place early in the morning, our qualifying would not begin until 6:30pm. This gave me plenty of time to review my strategy for qualifying as well as stop by and visit some familiar faces in the paddock. Continue reading ‘Jetta TDI Cup: Michael DeNino finishes season strong at Road Atlanta’
Big conrgats goes out to Mark Pombo! Superb driving and man was he pushing it through turns 10A/10B. We finally had the chance to meet Mark, just before qualifying. Great guy but he must have slammed a few of the gazilion Red Bulls at the Volkswagen pavilion. These guys are putting forth a ton of effort.
Michael DeNino, in the #36 Castrol / oneighturbo.com, had pole for a few laps and then was dropped to third. Oh so close! Keep an eye on him tomorrow. He is 8th in points and a strong finish could move him up.
Speaking of an eye, thats about all these guys may have open as they go green at 9am tomorrow morning. Ouch.
Mark Pombo, Duluth, Ga. will start on the pole position for the final Jetta TDI Cup race scheduled to take place at Road Atlanta on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 9:00 a.m. Pombo, is currently ranked third in the season overall, after winning the first race of the season at VIRginia International Raceway in April and having consistently placed in the top of the field. Continue reading ‘Jetta TDI Cup: Mark Pombo claims Pole position for final race’
Here is a follow up to Michael DeNino’s post earlier race report..
Clean Diesel Vehicles Race at New Jersey Motorsports Park for Sixth and Seventh Race in Series
In two races this weekend, the weather tested the driving ability of the young drivers as the Jetta TDI Cup Race series made a stop at New Jersey Motorsports Park for the sixth and seventh races of the season. All eyes were on the ADAC Polo Cup driver from Cape Town, South Africa, Shane Williams #10, who was the first ever guest driver in the Jetta TDI Cup. The 21 year old Williams secured pole position for the first qualifying race and ultimately won the first race of the weekend. Liam Kenney #35, Sterling, Va., won the second race of the weekend, his first visit to the top of the podium this season. Proving the extremely high level of competition and parity in the series, the Jetta TDI Cup has seen a different driver top the podium in each of the seven races this season. Continue reading ‘Jetta TDI Cup: New Jersey double-header races bring weather surprises and more first’
Michael wrote up a great report for us on last weekends racing at Thunderbolt! It was a crazy race and to think that Volkswagen Motorsports called the shots on the slicks… Unfortunately DeNino couldn’t capitalize on the great weekend from Iowa.
Rounds six and seven of the Jetta TDI Cup took place September 26 – 28 at New Jersey Motorsports Park, the only double header weekend on the 2008 calendar. Friday was a full day for all of the drivers, with a practice session and two qualifying sessions. All three sessions would see different conditions. Continue reading ‘Jetta TDI Cup: Michael DeNino’s race report from New Jersey Motorsports Park’
Guest Driver Claims Top Honors Driving Clean Diesel Vehicle in Race One of Double Header Weekend
Nice work by Shane Williams in his debut in the Jetta TDI Cup Series. If you do not know, Shane is a top driver in the Volkswagen Polo Cup. Our Michael DeNino did a great job working his way up to a Top 5 finish. He qualified 11th.
David Jurca, Shane Williams and Liam Kenney top the podium at the Jetta TDI Cup race at the New Jersey Motorsport Park.Shane Williams, Capetown, South Africa, stood in the top place on the podium at New Jersey Motorsport Park on Saturday, while David Jurca, Federal Way, Wash., claimed first place in championship points due to Williams’ guest driver appearance in the series. Rounding out the top three point finishers were Liam Kenney, Sterling, Va., and Gary Williams, Jr., Dana Point, Calif., who will receive point honors for second and third places respectively. Continue reading ‘Shane Williams places first in Jetta TDI Cup race at New Jersey Motorsports Park’
Check out these two shots taken during the qualifying sessions, yesterday. It was quite wet out and Q2 actually had issues to cause the last 3 laps to be tossed out…
#36 Michael DeNino leading the way
#36 Michael DeNino leading the wayFirst race of the double header is about to start! Click on a link to watch live timing!
Round 6 – New Jersey Motorsports Park
Live Timing and Scoring Session Schedule (EST):
* Friday, September 26, 2008
* Practice: 8:00am-8:30am
* Qualifying 1: 11:35am-12:05pm
* Qualifying 2: 4:35pm-5:05pm
* Saturday, September 27, 2008
* Race 1: 11:20am-12:05pm
* Sunday, September 28, 2008
* Race 2: 8:15am-9:00am
Click image to view slideshowThe competition in the Jetta TDI Cup is becoming more intense with each race. With a mere one-second spread covering first through twenty-seventh in qualifying, the series is shaping up to be one of the tightest and most competitive in all of motorsports.
Iowa Speedway hosted the fifth round of the championship and was the beginning of three back to back race weekends which will conclude the 2008 season. After leaving Lime Rock with a pole position and a fifth place finish, I had a new level of confidence but I also understood what aspects of my performance I had to work at and improve. Continue reading ‘Michael DeNino Climbs to the Podium at Iowa Speedway’
