VW Jetta: Series Puebla qualifying notes

Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Season Finale Underway in Mexico
JD Mobley Earns First Career Pole -- Will Lead Field to Round 9 Tomorrow

PUEBLA, Mexico (September 24, 2010) -- The 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup season is winding down and action for the final race weekend began today at Autodromo Internacional Miguel E. Abed in Amozoc, Mexico. Amozoc is located just east of the city of Puebla, home of the Volkswagen production facility where the Jetta TDI Cup racecars were fabricated. This afternoon, series veteran JD Mobley earned his first career Jetta TDI Cup pole this afternoon after turning a lap of 1:49.338. Mobley became the eighth different driver to earn a pole in the season's nine events run to date and tomorrow, he will look to be the fourth driver to win from the pole in 2010.

"All I can say is what a day," said Mobley after qualifying. "I came to Puebla this weekend knowing that I had to give it my all. I couldn't leave anything on the table and to have qualified in P1 is awesome. This is my first career Jetta TDI Cup pole and I couldn't be more excited."

Less than half a second behind Mobley was Juan Pablo Delgado (recording a lap of 1:49.769) and rookie Wyatt Gooden rounded out the top three with a lap of 1:49.932. Ryan Ellis, who earned back-to-back wins in Rounds 1 & 2 qualified fourth after a lap of 1:49.999 and rookie Kevin Gleason rounds out the top-five with a lap of 1:50.037. Series points leader, Jarvis Gennari qualified 15th after a lap of 1:50.785.

On-track activity continues tomorrow with qualifying for Round 10 beginning at 9:00 am CT and Round 9 of the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup takes place tomorrow afternoon when the green flag drops at 1:25 pm CT.

Jetta TDI Cup News & Notes:

Local Knowledge

While the majority of the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup drivers took their first laps at Autodromo Internacional Miguel E. Abed today, there are two drivers who have competed here before. Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle is from the town of Puebla, where the track is located, and has competed here several times over the past few years. In addition, Juan Pablo Delgado grew up just an hour away from the track in Orizaba, Mexico. Delgado competed here twice in 2009 in two endurance races behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Jetta. While the car was similar to the Jetta TDI Cup car he's in command of this weekend, the one major difference was that the car featured street tires, rather than the Pirelli race tires used this weekend.

It looks like their experience paid off as Delgado qualified second for Round 9 tomorrow afternoon and Sierra Lendle recorded the seventh quickest time. Will these local drivers be able to maintain an edge over the competition this weekend? Only time will tell.

Trio of Guest Drivers Compete in Puebla

The 25-car field of drivers in the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup drivers aren't the only ones that will be taking the track in Rounds 9 & 10 this weekend. The Series regulars will be joined at Autodromo Internacional Miguel E. Abed by three guest drivers, all who come from a competitive racing background.

Mexico native, Leslie Gonzalez began her career racing go-karts and has experience racing in Formula 3 and the Clio Cup as well. In addition, Gonzalez serves as a Volkswagen Mexico factory driver having competed in two endurance races last season; one three hour event and one six hour race. The second guest driver, Fernando Acosta, is also a Volkswagen Mexico factory driver. Last year, Acosta won the 24 Hours of Mexico behind the wheel of a Volkswagen. Acosta was also the Formula A Champion in 2006 and in 2007, he drove in Formula Vee under the Volkswagen Motorsport banner. The third guest driver, Daniel Domit, is also a native of Mexico, but has spent the past year in England competing in the British Formula Ford Series, where he earned two wins and six podium results in ten appearances this season.

Domit led the trio of guest drivers this afternoon as he qualified 16th. Gonzalez will begin tomorrow's race in 18th and Acosta will start 23rd.

-source: www.vwmotorsportusa.com