Pepper sets the pace
MIDRAND - Jordan Pepper was the pace-setter at the official Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup pre-season test in Germany, ahead of the opening round at Hockenheim next month.
The two-day test was designed to put drivers and mechanics through their paces. The 17-year-old from Blue Valley, Midrand won the Junior Cup crown and was third in the overall Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup championship last year when he was the youngest driver in the series. With a season’s experience behind him, he is one of the favourites for the title this year.
After spending the opening sessions of the test acclimatising to the inclement conditions, he set the fastest time of the day in the last of the sessions. The weather was better the next day and he proved beyond doubt that his time the previous day was not a ‘lucky’ lap as he again ended the day’s six sessions with the fastest time.
Pepper said, “I want to win the title this year. I have a good feeling about it and am confident ahead of the new season.”
The VW Scirocco R-Cup is the most eco-friendly racing car in the world thanks to its 2.0-litre TSI engine being fuelled by natural gas which reduces CO2 emissions by up to 80 percent in comparison to conventional fuels.
For racing use, the Volkswagen technicians have optimised the TSI engine to run on compressed natural gas. The result is a full 173kW and an impressive 275nm of torque.
It also has an innovative push-to-pass system – at the touch of a button drivers can briefly increase the charging pressure and release an extra 36kW which makes for interesting overtaking manoeuvres and uncompromising wheel-on-wheel duels.
The opening round takes place at the Hockenheim Grand Prix circuit on 2 May.
