Racing diesel-powered Jetta sedans sounds like a business plan for Formula Snooze. Pumping out in the realm of 170 hp, the cars aren’t exactly top-fuel dragsters. That’s why diesels, in this country, are best known for eking out impressive fuel economy. But on a weekend in June, we discovered that the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup is a terrific racing series, mostly because the cars are identical and the young drivers are ambitious and competitive. This is not a series for gray-sideburned SCCA warriors—it’s set up by VW as a driver-development program for persons 16 to no more than 26 years old. (Of course, the occasional slippery and seasoned automotive writer manages to squeeze in, as you can see.)
The TDI Cup car is a Euro-spec model with 170 hp, 30 more than found in the American Jetta TDI. Torque gets pumped up to 258 lb-ft, from 236, and the final race car weighs in tidily at just under 2900 pounds. The cars burn racing diesel fuel, a blend of 95 percent synthetic diesel and 5 percent biodiesel, and have full exhaust systems with diesel particulate filters. Interestingly, an entrant can drive the entire 10-race season on just two tankfuls of the stuff. It’s about the only bargain.
The twin-clutch DSG automated manual gearbox is optimized for racing—meaning it upshifts right at redline. The Jetta’s suspension is stiffened, monster brakes are fitted—14-inch discs up front with four-piston calipers, both components taken from the Audi R8—and the car rolls on 18-inch Pirelli slick racing tires. Inside, the VW sedan is stripped out and fitted with a Recaro racing seat, a full safety harness, a fire-extinguisher system, a roll cage, a driver’s-side window net, and an AiM data-logging system with a digital readout and shift lights.
The Equipment Also Includes a Pretty Damn Good Instructor
Entrants undergo four days of evaluations by VW at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma County, Northern California. The drivers then have to come up with the $45,000 entry fee for the season. There are other costs—those talented enough to be selected must pay their way to the events and underwrite any crash damage. In return, VW provides all preparation, fuel (both tanks’ worth!), and tires, not to mention driver training, data access, fitness programs, and media and PR training. Each race has $5000 in prize money ($1000 to the winner), and the series champ gets a cool $100,000.
The driver training is headed by Jan Heylen, a Belgian who raced go-karts against such luminaries as Formula One champions Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen. Heylen is just 29, but his dues paid include winning the prestigious Formula Ford Festival in 2002 and having raced in the Champ Car World Series. For the TDI Cup, he sets a baseline time at each circuit, and advises the youngsters on driving and race etiquette, among other tasks.
The 30 drivers in this year’s series, which runs from late April into September, are 17 to 26 in age. They run the gamut from karting brats who view this as a career pit-stop to SCCA autocrossers struggling hard to break into professional racing. So it’s natural that there’s a palpable tension between the guys and girls who are competing on shoestring budgets and bank loans, and the kids who come well-heeled. That’s because the poorer crowd can’t afford to use their Jettas as battering rams, while the latter are able to launch banzai maneuvers with the knowledge that damage-repayment checks will be arriving later from the home front.
Sure, I’ll Drive Your Tricked-Out German Economy Sedan
I was invited to drive in one of the Jettas at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a top-notch road circuit near Columbus. As an SCCA pro-racing series, the Jetta TDI Cup serves in the undercard role to big-name events such as the American Le Mans Series or the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, the latter of which was the main attraction during our weekend.
I went on a tour of the track the Friday before the June 12 race with Heylen and series organizers and factory drivers Mark Miller and Ryan Arciero. It was more of a track ride in a golf cart, stopping at appropriate places.
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