Albert Prince von Thurn und Taxis and Pierre Casiraghi to line up as guest starters in Hockenheim 13.10.2014: Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup HOCKENHEIM Royals drive Volkswagen - Head of the royal house von Thurn und Taxis started

Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup  HOCKENHEIM

Royals drive Volkswagen




-    Head of the royal house von Thurn und Taxis started his racing career with Volkswagen

-   Pierre Casiraghi making his second appearance in this year’s Scirocco R-Cup

-  “Been a part of motorsport history with Volkswagen”


Two royals will add a little extra glamour to the grand finale of the Volkswagen Scirocco-R Cup in Hockenheim. Albert von Thurn und Taxis (31) and Pierre Casiraghi (27) of Monaco will line up as guest starters, as the Scirocco R-Cup forms part of the support programme for the DTM on 17 and 18 October. Both celebrities launched their motorsport careers with Volkswagen.


“The invitation is a huge pleasure for me. This means I will now have driven the Lupo, Polo and now the Scirocco. I can proudly say that I have been a part of motorsport history in one-make cups with Volkswagen,” said Albert von Thurn und Taxis.


The owner of the largest private estate in Germany has been a passionate and successful racing driver for over a decade. He launched his career in the touring car school that is the Volkswagen Lupo Cup, a predecessor of the Scirocco R-Cup.


He raced in this series in 2001 and 2002. Albert von Thurn und Taxis’ greatest successes have come in GT racing: in 2010 he won the ADAC GT Masters title with the Reiter Engineering team. He is now looking forward to returning to Volkswagen and taking on a fellow royal: “Pierre Casiraghi is a good friend and I am really pleased that he is also able to take his first steps in motorsport with Volkswagen.”


Casiraghi made his racing debut at the opening round of this year’s Scirocco R-Cup in Hockenheim. The rookie finished 20th and 22nd and impressed experts with his spectacular style of driving. The son of Princess Caroline of Hannover, heir to the throne of Monaco, had previously only driven in the iconic vintage car rally in Monte Carlo.


 Casiraghi started in Volkswagen’s environmentally-sound one-make cup on the recommendation of Volkswagen Ambassador and racing legend Jacky Ickx, whose achievements include eight Formula One wins, six victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours, and one triumph at the Paris Dakar Rally.




“I had a great weekend in the Cup-Scirocco at the season opener in Hockenheim. My first time in the cockpit of a racing car was hugely enjoyable. The entire Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup team made me feel extremely welcome as a rookie. That whet my appetite and is why I am so happy to be back in action at the finale,” said Casiraghi:


 “I know the circuit now and am looking forward to the race – particularly as my good friend Albert von Thurn und Taxis will also be racing.”


The royal duo will face a further 24 starters at the finale in Hockenheim. South African Jordan Lee Pepper has already been crowned champion of the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup.




Schedule for the sixth race weekend in Hockenheim


Friday, 17 October 2014

15:45–16:30    Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup, Free Practice (45 minutes)



Saturday, 18 October 2014

12:40–13:10    Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup, Qualifying (30 minutes)
17:10–17:40    Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup, Race (11 laps)
   


   
The races on TV

Sport1 will broadcast the race from 23:30 to 00:00 on Saturday 18 August.

   
   
The race in livestream

Fans can also watch the race in livestream at www.volkswagen-motorsport.com; commentary is available in English and German.

        
Andre Dietzel, Ingo Roersch- photos Volkswagen and ADAC