Auto

Racers wanted: Under the patronage of Dr Horst Neumann, Member of the Board for Human Resources of Volkswagen AG, and Bernd Osterloh, Chairman of the Joint and Corporate Works Council of Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen Coaching and Volkswagen Motorsport are launching a competition targeting young people employed as apprentices with Volkswagen.

The winner of “ProTalent” will receive a slot as a contender in the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup
2007, which features ten races.

Commenting on the idea behind “ProTalent”, the Managing Director of Volkswagen Coaching, Jürgen Haase, said: “Motorsport is an exciting subject for young people. That is why our competition aims to bring together our apprentices who have a keen interest in technology with Volkswagen’s racing activities.” Volkswagen Motorsport supports the selection of the winner and will accompany them through their first racing season. “We’re convinced that our pool of apprentices includes talent just waiting to be discovered. Our joint activity provides them with a unique opportunity,” emphasised Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. Wolfgang Dressler, Managing Director at Volkswagen Motorsport, added: “The collaboration between Volkswagen Motorsport and Volkswagen Coaching goes beyong the ProTalent campaign. We have agreed to employ apprentices in various areas of motorsport in the future.”

The competition is open to all apprentices at the Wolfsburg, Braunschweig, Salzgitter, Hannover, Kassel and Emden plants aged 16 to 24. The selection process will take place in several stages. Until 24 March, driving simulators, on which every competitor will complete two rounds, will be set up at each plant. The quickest 100 will then participate in a competition on a kart track. The top 20 will then change from the kart to the cockpit of a racing car, under the guidance of instructors from Volkswagen Motorsport. On 22 April, the winner will contest their first race in the Polo Cup at Hockenheim. This successful racing series for young talent organised by ADAC and Volkswagen is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2007.