Volkswagen Power for Formula ADAC youngsters

Wolfsburg (07 April 2009). Volkswagen Power for motorsport youngsters: The successful partnership between Volkswagen and the ADAC Formula Masters will start to its second season with the opening event at Oschersleben on Easter weekend (11 to 13 April).

Among the young drivers from five nations are a few new faces and a number of well-known names aspiring to inherit the title from the debut year's champion of the formula school, Armando Parente (P). The Formula ADAC powered by Volkswagen cars, which are exclusively fitted with 145-hp FSI engines with a cubic capacity of 1.6 litres from Wolfsburg, will start from the grid at eight events.

"The Formula Masters offers young talents a perfect way to enter automobile racing and is thus an important element of Volkswagen Motorsport's development programme for young drivers," says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. "The combination of the Dallara chassis and a modern 1.6-litre FSI engine from Volkswagen offers reliable, safe and professional material at low costs, particularly to drivers moving up from kart racing. Champion Armando Parente, who immediately managed ascending to higher Formula classes, showed how well suited this material is to make a strong showing."

Kevin Friesacher and Daniel Abt enter second season as title candidates

As candidates for winning the 2009 ADAC Formula Masters powered by Volkswagen, Kevin Friesacher, the 18-year-old brother of former Austrian Formula 1 driver Patrick Friesacher, as well as 16-year-old Daniel Abt, son of DTM team director Hans-Jurgen Abt, enter the new season. The two teenagers were already successful in 2008: Friesacher celebrated two victories; Abt three podium places and one pole position. In addition, Friesacher and Abt shone with impressive test times prior to the season.

Two other talents are set to attract attention as well: The Briton Adrian Campfield and Klaus Bachler from Austria, who finished the 2008 championship in third place and has as many as two race victories under his belt. Freddie Hunt is another driver bringing a fine-sounding name with motorsport tradition to the series: The son of 1976 Formula 1 World Champion James Hunt will contest his first full season in the Formula Masters.

American Liam Kenney, who raced in the American Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup in 2008 and finished the inaugural season as the runner-up, has now set out to establish himself in European formula racing. In 2008, the young US driver contested the ADAC Formula season finale at Hockenheim, with a complete season in the feeder series now following in 2009.

-credit: vw