Porsche returns to Le Mans: 2014

Well this is exciting news - I wonder if they'll battle with Audi or if this is part of a master plan to let Audi bow-out and Porsche step back up?

_WRS

From Cult Classic 6

Red Mk1 Lysholm, a photo by DUKEDLF on Flickr.

My old Mk1 is looking good this year, and it looks like the current owner has been busy over the winter. Black accents replace the chrome, and the white-walls are gone. Looking very nice indeed.

_WRS

Via Flickr:
Red Mk1 Lysholm

Found on Flickr: Group 44 Audi Quattro - Hurley Haywood

Group 44 Audi Quattro Hurley Haywood, a photo by Cobby17 on Flickr.

The VW Motorsports Handbook

The 'VW Motorsports Handbook' in its entirety. I honestly had no idea anything like this ever existed, but it makes a lot of sense given the direction of the company in the USA at the time. The VW of America president, Fuller, wanted to promote Volkswagens as the car that was affordable and could deliver the goods both on and off the track. This piece of promotional history shows that VW was actively promoting the use of their cars in motorsport, and going so far as to spell out all the ways that you yourself could get involved. From auto cross to SCCA and IMSA pro racing, and everything in between.

It just so happens that our IMSA GTI / VW Sport Caravan GTI was an integral part of that message, appearing on both the front and back covers. It's a real shame Fuller wasn't able to see his vision to fruition, we might have a very different VW here today.

Full handbook posted after the jump.

_WRS

Pic Post: From the Handbook

So I received that 'VW Motorsports Handbook' that I found on eBay, and have put together this little combination of scans from the 8-page booklet. I'll do a full post on what it covers inside, but I thought it was very cool to not only find this oddball piece of VW Sport history in the USA, but to find it in such good condition. The thing is mint!

Although there is now not a shred of doubt about the Caravan GTI being an official Volkswagen car, and the car we have in our possession being the same car pictured here, it is curious that it does appear slightly different in these pictures. Sure, the wheels, fenders, graphics, instrument cluster and everything are the same. But there is no giant 'Portland Racing' painted down the side and it has some additional stickers not seen in any other images, that we have seen thus-far. Those include additional Valvoline stickers on the front fenders and rear valance and Schrick stickers, also up on the fenders. Stickers are no big deal as they are easily added or removed, but it's odd that there is not a trace of these on the car as it sits now. Curiously, there are two race seats in one shot, only one race seat in other shots. Why go through the trouble of putting seats in and out for different pictures? Makes no sense.

Full scans of the VW Motorsports Handbook tomorrow!

_WRS

CTSCC - APR pulls amazing 1-2 finish at Watkins Glen

Against all odds APR Motorsport pulled out a fantastic 1-2 finish at Watkins Glen this past weekend. Considering how things were at the start, this seems almost impossible to believe. APR has always seemed to do well at Watkins, with their first Continental Tire victory coming at the track in 2009. All three APR VW GTIs started from the back of the pack. The #171 championship car of Ian Baas and Ryan Ellis had an engine let go in qualifying which meant they started at the back of the pack.



The 181 and new 161 Mk5 GTI (replacing the now-retired / written-off GS class S4) were moved to the back of the pack for a technical infraction of some sort, which was doubly disappointing as the Gleason brothers in the 181 and Nate Norenberg in the 161 (along with Josh Hurley) were set to start 3rd in ST.

Despite all that, the team regrouped and passed the entire ST field and ended up at the front of the pack. That's 55 cars! The equivalent of starting from the back and passing the entire field for victory at Le Mans from a number of cars passed standpoint.



The final finish was the 181 in first, 161 in second, and 171 in 31st. Ian lost the driver's championship points lead after suspension problems set them back in the field.



Although it's unfortunate for Ian to get bumped from the lead of the driver's championship, APR and VW remain in very strong positions, with VW retaining the manufacturer lead by one point over Mazda, and APR sitting fourth in team points. Ryan Ellis remains in the top five in the driver's championship.

With four events remaining it's crucial for APR to keep it together and finish strong in every event.

For more: www.grand-am.com / www.aprmotorsport.com

_WRS

VW Sport Caravan GTI (Part 5.5, jackpot)

Jack. Pot. Found on eBay and currently en route, what we have here is definitive proof of a connection between our Mk2 and VW Sport. I'll detail the rest as soon as we get it, but it's finally proof of this car's existence beyond the hearsay and VW Sport Caravan poster.



Speaking of which, I also scored this VW Sport Caravan '85 poster. A little rough around the edges to be sure, but at 30x40" it's a glorious find. Once again the VW Sport Caravan IMSA GTI is on the poster at the far right. Supposedly they gave out different posters and 'hero cards' for each car at each race. The hunt is currently on for the IMSA GTI's hero card, as that should provide the true reason for this car's existence.




 

So just when things were looking down, they're looking up. Way up. More soon.

_WRS