Volkswagen and Sports Car Club of America announced today an official partnership naming Volkswagen the Official Pace Car of SCCA and SCCA Pro Racing. As part of its official sponsorship, Volkswagen will provide pace vehicles for the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships and the SCCA National Championship Runoffs® Presented by AT&T as well as course vehicles for The Tire Rack® SCCA Solo National Championships. Volkswagen was a driving force in SCCA history for many years, said Clark Campbell, Volkswagen of America, Inc. motorsport manager. Were excited to be back on the track with our SCCA partnership, increasing interest in the SCCA competition and bringing our new and exciting products to the track. Were excited to partner with Volkswagen, both through its contingency program and now as the Official Pace Car, said Eric Prill, SCCA vice president, marketing and communications. Volkswagen has a rich history of motorsports, particularly grassroots racing and were proud to help carry on that tradition.Two Volkswagen GLI Fahrenheits will serve as the official pace cars and have received body kit upgrades, full graphics package and a full light package. The vehicles will be present at all World Challenge races remaining in 2007 and through 2009. The same vehicles will also pace all 25 races at the National Championship Runoffs at Heartland Park Topeka Oct. 12-14.In addition to the pace vehicles, Volkswagen will provide 10 course vehicles for the Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships, held at Heartland Park Topeka Sept. 25-28.Earlier in the 2007 season, Volkswagen announced a contingency award program with a payout amount of up to $300,000 available to Volkswagen participants in SCCA. The automaker has already awarded more than $48,000 in contingency prize money this season. The contingency program is designed to monetarily reward Volkswagen drivers when they compete and finish on the podium at SCCA sanctioned events. Founded in 1944, Sports Car Club of America, Inc. is a 55,000 member motorsports organization that, along with subsidiary SCCA Pro Racing, incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both club and professional levels. It annually sanctions over 2,000 events through its 112 regions and professional subsidiary. Landmark events and series for the Club include the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Championships; the Club Racing National Championship Runoffs® presented by AT&T at Heartland Park Topeka; and The Tire Rack® SCCA Solo National Championships and ProSolo Championship at Topeka, Kan. Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the worlds largest producers of passenger cars and Europes largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com.
