Reigning South African Volkswagen Cup champion Kelvin van der Linde has got his international motorsport career off to a fast start by emerging as the quickest driver after a two-day test at the Oschersleben circuit in Germany in preparation for the 2013 Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup Championship.
The 16-year-old from Joburg, who made South African motor racing history last year by becoming the youngest-ever winner of a senior circuit racing national championship, impressed the series organisers and the other competitors with his pace and maturity.
The rising star, who is the second youngest among the 18 young drivers from around the world who will be contesting the six-round nine-race series in Europe, was immediately on the pace despite the fact that it was his first visit to the 3.6km circuit and his first experience of the left-hand drive 212kW sports coupe.
FLYING THE FLAG
He earned his place in the series by winning the South African VW Cup championship and will drive a black Scirocco carrying the South African flag and the number 20.
This is the third VW Scirocco R-Cup, which is a curtain-raiser to the DTM, the German Touring Car championship, and is the successor to the VW Cup series that first ran in 1976 with the original VW Scirocco.
The one-make series features up to 24 identical cars with four or five different guest drivers in each round.
The VW Scirocco R's 2-litre TSI engine is turbocharged and fuelled by natural gas. It features a DSG gearbox and a push-to-pass facility that adds 37kW to the engine's basic 175kW. There are limited set-up options with changes only allowed to things like tyre pressures, anti-roll bars and seat and steering wheel position.
BIG NAMES
The series is very popular and draws large crowds who appreciate the very close racing and the inclusion of drivers like ex-F1 champion Damon Hill, ex-world rally champion Carlos Sainz and even the father of reigning F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel in the field.
“I was quite surprised at how quickly I got to grips with the Scirocco R,” said the grade 11 pupil from Dainfern College. “After the first few laps I felt completely at home in it. It's similar in performance to the Class T VW Golf GTi I drove for Ferodo in the opening round of this year's South African production car championship. That experience has proved to be very useful.
“I'm very excited about the season that lies ahead. Our first race is at Hockenheim in Germany on May 4 and I can't wait to get started.”