Endurance Test - The Volkswagen Scirocco in the Green Hell

Scirocco GT24 #117 - "Dakar" aces meet sportscar pros: Rally ace Carlos Sainz (E), all-round driver Dieter Depping (D) and sportscar pro Wolfgang Kaufmann (D) share the cockpit of one of the three blue Scirocco GT24 cars. "With a turnout of 200,000 spectators, the atmosphere at the 24-hour race is highly special and, like at the `Dakar', gives us racers an extra dose of motivation," says the two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz. "Camp fires and barbecues are set up along the entire Nordschleife, and that's something very special, particularly at night." "Dakar" winner Giniel de Villiers, unfortunately, had to refrain from competing in the 24-hour race. The South African is recovering from recent surgery but will soon take the wheel again for Volkswagen.

Scirocco GT24 #118 - touring car stars of tomorrow: Volkswagen Junior Jimmy Johansson (S) and Florian Gruber (D) - two of last year's winners in the SP3T class, will compete together with two other touring car youngsters: Nicki Thiim (DK), 2008 Champion of the SEAT Leon Supercopa, and Martin Karlhofer (A) complete the foursome running in a petrol-powered Scirocco GT24. "Of course, like in 2007 and 2008, we're shooting for a class win again and perhaps for setting a small highlight in the overall classification as well," says Jimmy Johansson. "But this will be anything but easy, because the number of more powerful cars in the field has increased immensely."

Timetable, 24-hour race, Nrburgring
Thursday, 21 May 2009 08:30 09:15 ADAC Formula Masters, 1st free practice, Grand Prix circuit 09:25 10:15 ATS Formula 3 Cup, Free practice, Grand Prix circuit 10:30 11:00 ATS Formula 3 Cup, 1st qualifying, Grand Prix circuit 11:30 13:00 ADAC 24-hour classic, Free practice, Total circuit 13:30 15:00 24-hour race, Free practice, Total circuit 17:15 18:45 ADAC 24-hour classic, 1st qualifying, Total circuit 19:30 23:30 24-hour race, 1st qualifying, Total circuit

Friday, 22 May 2009 08:30 08:50 ADAC Formula Masters, 1st qualifying, Grand Prix circuit 09:00 09:30 ATS Formula 3 Cup, 2nd qualifying, Grand Prix circuit 11:30 13:30 ADAC 24-hour classic, 2nd qualifying, Total circuit 14:00 16:00 24-hour race, 2nd qualifying, Total circuit 17:45 18:05 ADAC Formula Masters, 2nd qualifying, Grand Prix circuit 18:15 18:45 ATS Formula-3-Cup, 1st race (30 min), Grand Prix circuit

Saturday, 23 May 2009 08:00 08:30 ADAC Formula Masters, 1st race (50 km), Grand Prix circuit 09:50 12:50 ADAC 24-hour classic, Race (180 min), Total circuit 13:20 13:50 ATS Formula 3 Cup, 2nd race (30 min), Grand Prix circuit 14:00 14:30 ADAC Formula Masters, 2nd race (50 min), Grand Prix circuit 16:00 24-hour race, Start, Total circuit

Sunday, 24 May 2009 16:00 24-hour race, Finish, total circuit