Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz at the 24hr Nurburgring

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Motorcade around the Nordschleife and taxi rides

From the toughest rally to the toughest race track: Giniel de Villiers (ZA) and Dirk von Zitzewitz (D), winners of the 2009 Dakar Rally, support Volkswagen at the Nürburgring in different ways.

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Giniel de Villiers in the Race Touareg will lead a Volkswagen motorcade around the Nordschleife shortly before the start of the 24-hour race at which the new Scirocco R celebrates its world debut and is presented to the audience at the “Ring”. Originally, the South African was scheduled to contest the 24-hour race again in the Scirocco GT24 but, due to back surgery, opted not to run in the event. His co-driver, Dirk von Zitzewitz, used the opportunity to grab the wheel of the Race Touareg. At the “Camp4Fun” off-road area, he demonstrated the qualities of the Race Touareg on rough ground to numerous guests during so-called taxi rides. “The 24-hour race is a mega event like the ‘Dakar’ and we’re proud to be part of the action,” said the winning “Dakar” duo in unison. Lucas Cruz Senra (E), Carlos Sainz’s new co-driver, is visiting the Nürburgring as well.

Many guests at the Scirocco Lounge and the Scirocco Lodge

Erol Sander and Mark Keller keep fingers crossed for Volkswagen

Actors Erol Sander and Mark Keller will keep their fingers crossed for the Volkswagen team during the 24-hour race. Both are big motorsport enthusiasts and have personally done some speedy laps in Volkswagen racing cars. “A few weeks ago, I was given the chance to drive the Scirocco GT24 around the Nordschleife – that was an incredible experience,” says Erol Sander. “Dieter Depping was in the passenger’s seat and helped me to find the racing line. I’m really awed by the performance these boys deliver here.” This weekend, Volkswagen is welcoming several hundred guests, dealers and journalists at the Scirocco Lounge in the paddock as well as at the Scirocco Lodge at the Schwalbenschwanz circuit sector.

Sunshine may be followed by rain

Volkswagen’s weather experts think there may be rain at night

The sun is still shining at the Nürburgring but the famous Eifel weather might live up to its reputation this year again. Volkswagen’s meteorologists Thomas Ranft and Bernhard Mühr predict that there is a 50-percent chance of rain during the race. During the second half of the night, which is generally a difficult phase in which many drivers are fighting with fatigue, rain showers and thunderstorms might be making the Nordschleife even trickier than usual. For the final hours, during which many of the contenders are virtually longing for the chequered flag to be waved, there is a higher risk of rain as well.

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