VOLKSWAGEN ANDRETTI RALLYCROSS READY TO CELEBRATE FIRST GRC CHAMPIONSHIP IN LAS VEGAS
Herndon, VA — No matter the result on track, Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross (VARX) will be celebrating at the Red Bull Global Rallycross season finale in Las Vegas. After four consecutive wins and double podium finishes, VARX teammates Scott Speed and Tanner Foust are the only drivers left in the running for the 2015 driver’s championship. Even with a championship already secured, the team does not plan to rest on its laurels; a shot at the manufacturer’s title and team pride means that everyone will be pushing for another strong result to round out the year.
Scott Speed finally gained the championship lead after collecting a second-place finish in the first of two rounds in Barbados last month. The driver of the No. 41 ORAFOL Volkswagen Beetle GRC added to his lead in the second leg of the doubleheader, claiming another runner-up finishing position. He now sits 36 points ahead of teammate Foust, within sight of the championship crown heading into Las Vegas.
“I’m super excited for the Vegas finale,” said Speed. “Halfway through the season, I would have never imagined that we would be in contention for the championship—let alone with such a big lead going into the final race. The team has worked so hard to put us in a position to win and I can’t wait for all of us to celebrate the effort and the hours we’ve put in this year.”
Tanner Foust remains the only driver capable of upsetting Speed, having made a meteoric rise up the standings since September’s doubleheader in LA. The driver of the No. 34 Rockstar Energy Drink Volkswagen Beetle GRC earned his second and third wins of the season in Barbados and enters the final race on a high from his recent steak of podium finishes.
“It’s a bit surreal heading into the last race, knowing that with such a tough start to the season we have already wrapped up the championship for the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team,” said Foust. “Obviously, I’ll be fighting to put the Rockstar Energy Drink Volkswagen Beetle GRC on top, just like every weekend, but this trip to Vegas will be a great party no matter what happens!”
Despite fielding only two cars compared with eight for its main rival, Volkswagen can still collect the manufacturer’s title with a win and some help from its closest competitors. The team’s series-leading five wins this season highlights the speed and strength of the Beetle GRC, the ingenuity and perseverance of the team’s engineers and mechanics, and the consistency and skill of its two drivers.
Available now, the VARX Supercars app is free to download for iOS and Android users, providing race fans with the perfect mobile companion to every race weekend. Users can stay up to date on schedules, session results, and live timing and scoring all in the palm of his or her hand. Search “VARX Supercars” in the App Store or on Google Play to download.
Red Bull Global Rallycross Las Vegas will take place at the Village Lot on the Las Vegas Strip, Nov 3-4. For the second consecutive year, the crowning of the Red Bull Global Rallycross champion will be streamed live and worldwide online via Red Bull TV, starting at 7:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov 4. NBCSN will air the race tape delayed on Sunday, Nov 8, at 6:30 p.m. ET. Follow @VW and @FollowAndretti on Twitter for live updates throughout the event. For tickets and further event information, visit: http://www.redbullglobalrallycross.com/events.
About ORAFOL Americas Inc.
ORAFOL Americas Inc., a subsidiary of ORAFOL Europe GmbH, is a leading global manufacturer of premium vinyl graphic products, reflective solutions and adhesive tape systems used in the signage, graphics, industrial and traffic and safety applications. The company’s distribution network spans the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.
About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc., an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWoA) is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. VWoA’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state -of-the- art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. VWoA sells the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, CC, Eos, e-Golf, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan and Touareg vehicles through approximately 652 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.
About Andretti Autosport
Based in Indianapolis and led by racing legend Michael Andretti, Andretti Autosport boasts a wide racing portfolio rooted in tradition and designed for success. Together with Andretti Formula E and Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross, Andretti Autosport fields multiple entries in the IndyCar Series, Indy Lights and the Pro Mazda Championship, along with entries in the FIA Formula E Championship and Global Rallycross. The company boasts four IndyCar Series championships (2004, 2005, 2007, 2012), two Indy Lights titles (2008, 2009), one Pro Mazda championship (2013) and one USF2000 championship (2010) and has captured victory at the famed Indianapolis 500 three times (2005, 2007, 2014). To share in the Andretti story, please visit online at AndrettiAutosport.com or AndrettiTV.com and follow along on Twitter via @FollowAndretti and @AndrettiFE.
