Ski stars to do battle in Scirroco R Cup

Two Olympic gold medal-winning ski jumpers and a downhill World Champion will join the VW Scirocco R Cup grid when the eco-friendly series heads to the revamped Red Bull Ring in Austria this weekend.

German Sven Hannawald, an Olympic gold medallist in Ski Jumping at the 2002 Salt Lake City games as well as a two-time World Champion, will go head-to-head with Austrian, Morgenstern, who won individual goal in Turin in 2006 as well as two more gold medals in the team event, in the gas-powered cars.

2003 downhill skiing world champion Michael Walchhofer and 1988 Olympic super G silver medallist, Hans Knauss, will also pilot a pair the ‘superstar’ cars reserved for celebrities, athletes and former racing drivers.

While Walchhofer is a novice in terms of racing, Hannawald has competed in the ADAC GT Masters in recent years and is hoping that that experience may give him the edge this weekend.

"On the ski jump I wouldn’t stand a chance against Thomas any more but on the race track I’m eager to see how strong a rival he’ll be,” said Hannawald.

"I’m very much looking forward to the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup at the new Red Bull Ring. Although the Scirocco does not have as much power as my Corvette in the ADAC GT Masters I did have a lot of fun during the practice sessions at Oschersleben.

“The push-to-pass button in particular is a great idea that would also fit other racing series. For me running at Spielberg is a perfect opportunity to get to know the track as in mid-August we’ll be racing there in the ADAC GT Masters.”

Watch the VW Scirocco R Cup from the Red Bull Ring on Motors TV this weekend. Race 1 LIVE on Saturday at 3:55pm and Race 2 Delayed-as-Live on Sunday at 8:10pm (times BST).


Andy Wilkinson

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