VW Announces 2009 Jetta TDI Cup TV Broadcast Schedule

HERNDON, Va. (Nov. 24, 2009) €“ The 2009 SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series produced many exciting moments, culminating with Timmy Megenbier€™s Championship win. Beginning December 6, race broadcasts of the country€™s only professional clean diesel racing series will begin airing on Speed-TV.During the season, the series contested 10 races on eight circuits across North America. The 2009 campaign began with a double-race weekend at VIRginia International Raceway where two series rookies took home wins and concluded with a thrilling rain-drenched finish at Road Atlanta where local driver Mark Pombo won his final race in the series. The broadcast schedule for the first seven races of the season has been announced, and the final dates will be released at a later date. Each of the races will air in an edited 30-minute broadcast. Check local cable listings for channel information and www.speedtv.com for broadcast schedule updates.Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup TV Broadcast Schedule* (all times Eastern):December 6, 5 pm - VIRginia International Raceway - Race #1December 6, 5:30 pm - VIRginia International Raceway - Race #2December 6, 6 pm - Miller Motorsports Park - Race #3December 6, 6:30 pm - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course - Race #4December 13, 5 pm - Autobahn Country Club - Race #5December 13, 5:30 pm - Road America - Race #6December 20, 5:30 pm - Mosport International Raceway - Race #7* Additional broadcasts dates will be announced at a later date.In addition to the race broadcasts, the series also expects to announce the broadcast schedule for its season documentary, €œRacing Under Green,€ in the coming weeks. The 60-minute documentary will air on an array of Discovery Channel outlets and takes an inside look at the series to capture the personalities behind the wheel of the equally-prepared Jetta TDI Cup racecars. Exact broadcast dates and times will be announced at a later date.Volkswagen is currently accepting driver applications for the 2010 season at www.vwmotorsportusa.com. Potential driver candidates must be between the ages of 16 and 26 as of January 1, 2010 and hold a passport from the U.S., Canada or Mexico. In addition, drivers entering the series for the first time must not have competed in any professional racing series regardless of location. Applicants must submit their application along with a season entry fee of $45,000 by Dec. 11 in order to be considered as a candidate. The entry fee will be fully refunded to those not chosen as a 2010 series driver.From the driver applications, up to 125 candidates will be selected to attend the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup final driver selection event that will be held Feb. 7-9, in Las Vegas. This event will determine the 25-driver lineup for the 2010 season. The final driver selection event includes three days of professional driving instruction, autocross competition, track time in a Jetta TDI Cup car, physical fitness training, a sponsorship development workshop, marketing and media training, and Volkswagen brand familiarization. -30-About Volkswagen Jetta TDI CupThe SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup was launched in 2008 as way to introduce clean diesel technology to the U.S. market and develop the best of motorsport€™s up-and-coming talent. During the season, young, up and coming drivers (between ages 16-26) compete on road courses around North America in identical factory-prepared clean diesel Jetta TDI€™s. Each driver competing in the series earns a Pro Racing license from SCCA at the conclusion of the season. In addition to more than $50,000 in prize money at stake during the season, the series champion receives Volkswagen factory career advancement support with a value up to $100,000. The Jetta TDI Cup car is powered by a 2.0-liter, 170 hp, four-cylinder TDI clean diesel engine mated to a six-speed, double-clutch, automatic DSG transmission. Thttp://media.vw.com he car is only slightly modified from stock with Pirelli racing tires, race suspension and brake components, drivers racing safety seat, FIA roll cage and an on-board fire extinguisher system. Series sponsors include: Pirelli, Bosch, ViON, Castrol, Oakley, Red Bull, HYPERFUELS, Aggreko, defNder, Lamin-X, Meguiar€™s, Sherwin-Williams, Chicagoland VW, Safety-Kleen, Ringer Gloves, Jim Russell Racing School and Trellis Earth.Follow the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series action on:www.vwmotorsportusa.comwww.tditruthanddare.com Volkswagen Online Newsroom: media.vw.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VWJettaTDICupTwitter: http://twitter.com/VWJettaTDICup