OREANDA-NEWS. Volkswagen Motorsport and GAZPROM are to cooperate on the Volkswagen Scirocco RCup. From May 2014, the Russian energy company will again be exclusive motor-fuel supplier to the world's only single-make race powered by natural gas. GAZPROM will be represented by its logo at the opening races at Hockenheim (2-4 May).

“Eco-friendly mobility has a long tradition at Volkswagen, and that's why we're committed to natural gas in motorsports, too. We look forward to collaborating with GAZPROM. It represents two global players joining forces”, says Dr Heinz-Jakob Neuer, Board Member for the development of the Volkswagen brand.

Volkswagen's strategic goal is to be the world's most ecologically-friendly auto manufacturer by 2018. The Volkswagen Group plans to expand its range of natural-gas vehicles to almost 20 different models by mid-2014. GAZPROM, too, has long been committed to developing the natural-gas-for-transport segment, and its German subsidiary GAZPROM Germania plans to be operating 35 natural gas filling stations by late 2015.

“Natural gas has enormous potential as a means of using motor vehicles in an energy-efficient, cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly manner. The Scirocco R-Cup shows that high performance, eco-friendliness, and high emotions are not mutually exclusive. We look forward to an exciting racing series with Volkswagen”, says Vyacheslav Krupenkov, Senior Managing Director of GAZPROM Germania GmbH.

The Scirocco R-Cup is the world's only single-make race featuring vehicles powered exclusively by natural gas, offering all the excitement of motor racing while being kind to the environment. The Scirocco R-Cup is held over six weekends as part of the Deutschen Tourenwagen-Meisterschaft (DTM).

The 25-strong starter grid features a mixture of up-and-coming talent and motorsports legends, and in the past has included extreme sportsman Felix Baumgartner, racing legend Hans-Joachim “Strietzel” Stuck, and Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill. Last year, the series attracted around 200,000 spectators.