When it comes to hatchback racing, no other national series can claim the popularity and evergreen status of the Engen Volkswagen Cup. Fast approaching 20 years of mirror-to-mirror action, the series has seen a number of its members graduate to other national series over the years.
“The Engen Volkswagen Cup championship is a school for emerging talent in South African motorsport,” says Mike Rowe, head of Volkswagen Motorsport. “The Volkswagen Polo Vivo race cars are kept uncomplicated in terms of race technology and that means driver talent is what gets you to the front. There is no relying on horsepower, better grip or superior handling.”
Some of the top names in South African motorsport, on both tar and gravel, have the Engen Volkswagen Cup listed in their motorsport CV. Their success in the series is an indication of their talent and they can now be found in faster series – and even competing overseas.
Kelvin van der Linde successfully campaigned the Scirocco R-Cup series in Germany last year, winning in his first season. Michael Stephen, who claimed his third Bridgestone Production Car title in 2013, fellow series competitor Gennaro Bonafede and even Leeroy Poulter who competed in the most recent Dakar event all have the Engen Volkswagen Cup series in their history.
On the first Saturday in March, the field will roar into action at the Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria as they tackle round one of the new season as part of the national Super Series.
“A number of competitors enter and leave the series each year, either leaving to move on in their racing career or joining us for their first foray into national competition” says Rowe. “This season is no exception and Engen Volkswagen Cup will remain one of the biggest, if not the very biggest field in the series. The recipe that has created such close competition is also quite addictive so many drivers join and then simply stay. It is easy to find a race with other competitors that are at your pace – even if that race isn’t the one for the podium.”
With the final competitor list for the 2014 championship still being finalised, preliminary entries indicate the championship will in excess of 20 competitors contesting the eight national rounds.
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