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Special Feature - Volkswagen Scirocco Cup Car 2.0 (A)
13 Aug 2010|17,882 views
The Volkswagen Scirocco Cup China first debuted in 2009 at the Shanghai International Circuit. The race saw 21 drivers from all around Asia taking part in this one make racing series. After a successful first season based in China, the series is back for a second round this year. This time, the racing series based mostly in China took its first race outside at the Sepang International Circuit as a support race for Japan's Super GT racing series.
The racing series makes a good platform for rookie drivers to pit their skills against more experienced drivers as everybody races with the same setup. This equalizes any advantage that more experienced drivers might possess. Meaning the only way to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack is through pure driving excellence.
The series is similar to Porsche's Carrera Cup but with one difference. Unlike Porsche's series, you don't have to purchase the race car itself. Instead of buying a car to race, in the Scirocco Cup you pay a small fee to score a drive. So what's that small fee then? Just RMB$360,000 or S$72,000 which is significantly less than what you pay for Porsche's Carrera Cup and just a small fraction of what it would cost if you entered into a racing series on your own. For that dough, you get a car and full mechanic support at all seven races on the calendar plus driver coaching. There is really no easier way to get into racing. You literally arrive at the track in your racing suit, hop in, adjust the mirrors and go racing.
The racing series makes a good platform for rookie drivers to pit their skills against more experienced drivers as everybody races with the same setup. This equalizes any advantage that more experienced drivers might possess. Meaning the only way to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack is through pure driving excellence.
The series is similar to Porsche's Carrera Cup but with one difference. Unlike Porsche's series, you don't have to purchase the race car itself. Instead of buying a car to race, in the Scirocco Cup you pay a small fee to score a drive. So what's that small fee then? Just RMB$360,000 or S$72,000 which is significantly less than what you pay for Porsche's Carrera Cup and just a small fraction of what it would cost if you entered into a racing series on your own. For that dough, you get a car and full mechanic support at all seven races on the calendar plus driver coaching. There is really no easier way to get into racing. You literally arrive at the track in your racing suit, hop in, adjust the mirrors and go racing.
 |
Exterior
Externally, the car retains much of the same lines as the road car but with some minor differences. Every Cup car is fitted with the R-line bodykit. These kits make the race cars look nearly indistinguishable from their road-going Scirocco R brethrens. The front bumper on the race car looks especially similar to that on the R.
Besides the bodykit, the other obvious addition is the discreet but oddly shaped spoiler and winglets mounted on the roof. There are other racing necessities like nylon tow hooks on both ends.
 |
In the rear, nothing much has changed except for the dual exhausts with steel tailpipes fitted. They might not look like much but the Cup car rages like a race car should thanks to the deletion of its mufflers however the car still retains the Volkswagen catalytic converters. The car sounds adversely agitated for being a race car like its aspirations of being a beetle had been squashed by a misplaced register back at the factory.
The race car rides on 19 inch Rials in gunmetal grey that suit the race car theme to a tee. Further accentuating the car's sinister guise.
Interior
On the inside, the car has been stripped of most of the bits from the road car. Everything from sound insulation to carpets and spare wheel have been removed. The seats too have been replaced with a HANS compatible OMP bucket seat complete with a six point harness system.
Some of the road car's essentials remain on the inside. Only the steering wheel with the tiny DSG paddles, dashboard and gear console bears any resemblance to the road car. The centre console where the VW audio system used to be has been replaced with the engine start / kill switches and a panel for the electrical fire extinguisher system.
The race car rides on 19 inch Rials in gunmetal grey that suit the race car theme to a tee. Further accentuating the car's sinister guise.
Interior
On the inside, the car has been stripped of most of the bits from the road car. Everything from sound insulation to carpets and spare wheel have been removed. The seats too have been replaced with a HANS compatible OMP bucket seat complete with a six point harness system.
Some of the road car's essentials remain on the inside. Only the steering wheel with the tiny DSG paddles, dashboard and gear console bears any resemblance to the road car. The centre console where the VW audio system used to be has been replaced with the engine start / kill switches and a panel for the electrical fire extinguisher system.
Additions to the interior are a full race spec roll cage that's been welded in along with the mandatory fire extinguisher. The stock door panels have been deleted with carbon fibre panels in its place. What used to be door handles have now been replaced with nylon ones. Interestingly, the electric windows remain though you would imagine that it would be discarded for more weight savings.
Through this extensive dieting programme, the Cup car managed to shed 130 kilogrammes from stock.
The Drive
The drive started with the instructors taking us out onto different sections of the Sepang circuit to let us do some handling exercises and also to feel the difference between the race specced car and the road going version. Being just a day after the Japan Super GT race, there were plenty of splintered carbon fibre bits left on the track. Evidence of the fierce battles that took place at the turns just the day before.
The instructors were made up of drivers from the previous day's Super GT race and the Scirocco Cup race. Including the previous day's race winners, Ronnie Quintarelli (Super GT) and Wang Jian Wei (Scirocco Cup). Instructors gave participants tips and guidelines on the fastest way around the Sepang track and how to attack the apex with maximum speed.
Through this extensive dieting programme, the Cup car managed to shed 130 kilogrammes from stock.
The Drive
The drive started with the instructors taking us out onto different sections of the Sepang circuit to let us do some handling exercises and also to feel the difference between the race specced car and the road going version. Being just a day after the Japan Super GT race, there were plenty of splintered carbon fibre bits left on the track. Evidence of the fierce battles that took place at the turns just the day before.
The instructors were made up of drivers from the previous day's Super GT race and the Scirocco Cup race. Including the previous day's race winners, Ronnie Quintarelli (Super GT) and Wang Jian Wei (Scirocco Cup). Instructors gave participants tips and guidelines on the fastest way around the Sepang track and how to attack the apex with maximum speed.
 |
Power in the race car is derived from the same powerplant as in the road car. The 2.0-litre TSI charged engine does seem livelier in the race car than on the road version but that might be due to the unhindered exhaust flow. Torque remains the same at 280Nm as on the road car though the race car seems to be missing 10 ponies from the road car.
Thanks to the rigorous dieting, the car is quicker off the line and combined with the Bridgestone Potenza RE55S semi-slicks, grip is plentiful in the corners once the tires are warmed up of course. Gearchange in the race car has been slightly quickened thanks to a software tweak to the stock DSG gearbox and what used to be a 'pop' on downchanges have turned into a sharp 'crack'. Exactly like that of a whip. Further perpetuating the car's beastly qualities.
Handling in the Scirocco Cup car has been sharpened to an unrecognizable degree when compared with the road car. Combined with the roll cage, the extra stiff suspension has all but neutralized any body roll in the bends. Making the race car extremely finicky which requires smooth and gentle inputs for it to adhere to your will.
Thanks to the rigorous dieting, the car is quicker off the line and combined with the Bridgestone Potenza RE55S semi-slicks, grip is plentiful in the corners once the tires are warmed up of course. Gearchange in the race car has been slightly quickened thanks to a software tweak to the stock DSG gearbox and what used to be a 'pop' on downchanges have turned into a sharp 'crack'. Exactly like that of a whip. Further perpetuating the car's beastly qualities.
Handling in the Scirocco Cup car has been sharpened to an unrecognizable degree when compared with the road car. Combined with the roll cage, the extra stiff suspension has all but neutralized any body roll in the bends. Making the race car extremely finicky which requires smooth and gentle inputs for it to adhere to your will.
Enter a bend too fast and braking too late will see the weight from the rear shift forward in a jiffy and have you facing the direction from whence you came in a cloud of smoke and dust. This is due to the weight of the car being concentrated mostly in the front where the engine is located. Braking force is incredible as the car gets its braking prowess from the massive 356mm four piston Audi R8 derived front brakes that threaten to tear your face off if you stamp on it.
Conclusion
The Scirocco Cup car is definitely one to bring home if it were street legal and perhaps Volkswagen might consider marketing it as a track day special like Porsche's 911 GT3 RS. It has afterall been well-received by the world's best drivers in the 2009 Race of Champions where Travis Pastrana among others piloted it through the indoor course at Beijing's Bird's Nest Olympic stadium.
It would definitely be an interesting proposition for the driving enthusiast among Volkswagen's clientele.
Come on Volkswagen! Make it street legal!
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Conclusion
The Scirocco Cup car is definitely one to bring home if it were street legal and perhaps Volkswagen might consider marketing it as a track day special like Porsche's 911 GT3 RS. It has afterall been well-received by the world's best drivers in the 2009 Race of Champions where Travis Pastrana among others piloted it through the indoor course at Beijing's Bird's Nest Olympic stadium.
It would definitely be an interesting proposition for the driving enthusiast among Volkswagen's clientele.
Come on Volkswagen! Make it street legal!
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
The Volkswagen Scirocco Cup China first debuted in 2009 at the Shanghai International Circuit. The race saw 21 drivers from all around Asia taking part in this one make racing series. After a successful first season based in China, the series is back for a second round this year. This time, the racing series based mostly in China took its first race outside at the Sepang International Circuit as a support race for Japan's Super GT racing series.
The racing series makes a good platform for rookie drivers to pit their skills against more experienced drivers as everybody races with the same setup. This equalizes any advantage that more experienced drivers might possess. Meaning the only way to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack is through pure driving excellence.
The series is similar to Porsche's Carrera Cup but with one difference. Unlike Porsche's series, you don't have to purchase the race car itself. Instead of buying a car to race, in the Scirocco Cup you pay a small fee to score a drive. So what's that small fee then? Just RMB$360,000 or S$72,000 which is significantly less than what you pay for Porsche's Carrera Cup and just a small fraction of what it would cost if you entered into a racing series on your own. For that dough, you get a car and full mechanic support at all seven races on the calendar plus driver coaching. There is really no easier way to get into racing. You literally arrive at the track in your racing suit, hop in, adjust the mirrors and go racing.
The racing series makes a good platform for rookie drivers to pit their skills against more experienced drivers as everybody races with the same setup. This equalizes any advantage that more experienced drivers might possess. Meaning the only way to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack is through pure driving excellence.
The series is similar to Porsche's Carrera Cup but with one difference. Unlike Porsche's series, you don't have to purchase the race car itself. Instead of buying a car to race, in the Scirocco Cup you pay a small fee to score a drive. So what's that small fee then? Just RMB$360,000 or S$72,000 which is significantly less than what you pay for Porsche's Carrera Cup and just a small fraction of what it would cost if you entered into a racing series on your own. For that dough, you get a car and full mechanic support at all seven races on the calendar plus driver coaching. There is really no easier way to get into racing. You literally arrive at the track in your racing suit, hop in, adjust the mirrors and go racing.
|
Exterior
Externally, the car retains much of the same lines as the road car but with some minor differences. Every Cup car is fitted with the R-line bodykit. These kits make the race cars look nearly indistinguishable from their road-going Scirocco R brethrens. The front bumper on the race car looks especially similar to that on the R.
Besides the bodykit, the other obvious addition is the discreet but oddly shaped spoiler and winglets mounted on the roof. There are other racing necessities like nylon tow hooks on both ends.
|
In the rear, nothing much has changed except for the dual exhausts with steel tailpipes fitted. They might not look like much but the Cup car rages like a race car should thanks to the deletion of its mufflers however the car still retains the Volkswagen catalytic converters. The car sounds adversely agitated for being a race car like its aspirations of being a beetle had been squashed by a misplaced register back at the factory.
The race car rides on 19 inch Rials in gunmetal grey that suit the race car theme to a tee. Further accentuating the car's sinister guise.
Interior
On the inside, the car has been stripped of most of the bits from the road car. Everything from sound insulation to carpets and spare wheel have been removed. The seats too have been replaced with a HANS compatible OMP bucket seat complete with a six point harness system.
Some of the road car's essentials remain on the inside. Only the steering wheel with the tiny DSG paddles, dashboard and gear console bears any resemblance to the road car. The centre console where the VW audio system used to be has been replaced with the engine start / kill switches and a panel for the electrical fire extinguisher system.
The race car rides on 19 inch Rials in gunmetal grey that suit the race car theme to a tee. Further accentuating the car's sinister guise.
Interior
On the inside, the car has been stripped of most of the bits from the road car. Everything from sound insulation to carpets and spare wheel have been removed. The seats too have been replaced with a HANS compatible OMP bucket seat complete with a six point harness system.
Some of the road car's essentials remain on the inside. Only the steering wheel with the tiny DSG paddles, dashboard and gear console bears any resemblance to the road car. The centre console where the VW audio system used to be has been replaced with the engine start / kill switches and a panel for the electrical fire extinguisher system.
Additions to the interior are a full race spec roll cage that's been welded in along with the mandatory fire extinguisher. The stock door panels have been deleted with carbon fibre panels in its place. What used to be door handles have now been replaced with nylon ones. Interestingly, the electric windows remain though you would imagine that it would be discarded for more weight savings.
Through this extensive dieting programme, the Cup car managed to shed 130 kilogrammes from stock.
The Drive
The drive started with the instructors taking us out onto different sections of the Sepang circuit to let us do some handling exercises and also to feel the difference between the race specced car and the road going version. Being just a day after the Japan Super GT race, there were plenty of splintered carbon fibre bits left on the track. Evidence of the fierce battles that took place at the turns just the day before.
The instructors were made up of drivers from the previous day's Super GT race and the Scirocco Cup race. Including the previous day's race winners, Ronnie Quintarelli (Super GT) and Wang Jian Wei (Scirocco Cup). Instructors gave participants tips and guidelines on the fastest way around the Sepang track and how to attack the apex with maximum speed.
Through this extensive dieting programme, the Cup car managed to shed 130 kilogrammes from stock.
The Drive
The drive started with the instructors taking us out onto different sections of the Sepang circuit to let us do some handling exercises and also to feel the difference between the race specced car and the road going version. Being just a day after the Japan Super GT race, there were plenty of splintered carbon fibre bits left on the track. Evidence of the fierce battles that took place at the turns just the day before.
The instructors were made up of drivers from the previous day's Super GT race and the Scirocco Cup race. Including the previous day's race winners, Ronnie Quintarelli (Super GT) and Wang Jian Wei (Scirocco Cup). Instructors gave participants tips and guidelines on the fastest way around the Sepang track and how to attack the apex with maximum speed.
|
Power in the race car is derived from the same powerplant as in the road car. The 2.0-litre TSI charged engine does seem livelier in the race car than on the road version but that might be due to the unhindered exhaust flow. Torque remains the same at 280Nm as on the road car though the race car seems to be missing 10 ponies from the road car.
Thanks to the rigorous dieting, the car is quicker off the line and combined with the Bridgestone Potenza RE55S semi-slicks, grip is plentiful in the corners once the tires are warmed up of course. Gearchange in the race car has been slightly quickened thanks to a software tweak to the stock DSG gearbox and what used to be a 'pop' on downchanges have turned into a sharp 'crack'. Exactly like that of a whip. Further perpetuating the car's beastly qualities.
Handling in the Scirocco Cup car has been sharpened to an unrecognizable degree when compared with the road car. Combined with the roll cage, the extra stiff suspension has all but neutralized any body roll in the bends. Making the race car extremely finicky which requires smooth and gentle inputs for it to adhere to your will.
Thanks to the rigorous dieting, the car is quicker off the line and combined with the Bridgestone Potenza RE55S semi-slicks, grip is plentiful in the corners once the tires are warmed up of course. Gearchange in the race car has been slightly quickened thanks to a software tweak to the stock DSG gearbox and what used to be a 'pop' on downchanges have turned into a sharp 'crack'. Exactly like that of a whip. Further perpetuating the car's beastly qualities.
Handling in the Scirocco Cup car has been sharpened to an unrecognizable degree when compared with the road car. Combined with the roll cage, the extra stiff suspension has all but neutralized any body roll in the bends. Making the race car extremely finicky which requires smooth and gentle inputs for it to adhere to your will.
Enter a bend too fast and braking too late will see the weight from the rear shift forward in a jiffy and have you facing the direction from whence you came in a cloud of smoke and dust. This is due to the weight of the car being concentrated mostly in the front where the engine is located. Braking force is incredible as the car gets its braking prowess from the massive 356mm four piston Audi R8 derived front brakes that threaten to tear your face off if you stamp on it.
Conclusion
The Scirocco Cup car is definitely one to bring home if it were street legal and perhaps Volkswagen might consider marketing it as a track day special like Porsche's 911 GT3 RS. It has afterall been well-received by the world's best drivers in the 2009 Race of Champions where Travis Pastrana among others piloted it through the indoor course at Beijing's Bird's Nest Olympic stadium.
It would definitely be an interesting proposition for the driving enthusiast among Volkswagen's clientele.
Come on Volkswagen! Make it street legal!
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Conclusion
The Scirocco Cup car is definitely one to bring home if it were street legal and perhaps Volkswagen might consider marketing it as a track day special like Porsche's 911 GT3 RS. It has afterall been well-received by the world's best drivers in the 2009 Race of Champions where Travis Pastrana among others piloted it through the indoor course at Beijing's Bird's Nest Olympic stadium.
It would definitely be an interesting proposition for the driving enthusiast among Volkswagen's clientele.
Come on Volkswagen! Make it street legal!
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Photos by Benjamin G, Kline
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