The programme launched on 17 April 1998 at Hockenheim as the "Volkswagen ADAC Touring Junior Cup" with the 112-hp Lupo has long evolved into a success story in the field of promoting young racing talent. Eleven "year groups" of youngsters have since completed the so-called touring car school. In 2010, the Polo Cup starts to its thirteenth season. The unique concept, the sound regulations, the meticulous Abt Sportsline racing team, the consistent response by new, young driver generations and the agile competition vehicles supplied by Volkswagen have been consistent elements of the cup throughout its history. The Volkswagen CUP races are successfully installed in China, South Africa & America.

Long one-make cup tradition

Volkswagen has a long tradition of promoting young talent. Following the legendary Formula V as of 1966 the brand, in 1976, sponsored a one-make touring car cup for the first time. Among others, the Scirocco Cup produced drivers like the subsequent Formula 1 racer Manfred Winkelhock. In 1977 the first-generation Golf GTI replaced the Scirocco as the cup vehicle and remained the popular competition car for a generation of young racers up to 1982. In 1983, the second-generation Polo followed as the cup vehicle - initially using the 88-hp normally aspirated engine version and, from 1986, the 112-hp compressor engine. At the relaunch in 1998, Volkswagen presented the Lupo, which offered top-class sport at fair prices, as well as the Volkswagen New Beetle Cup.

Equal opportunities thanks to unique rules

The year of 1998 stands for an all-new concept in the world of racing. To this day, this new concept featuring centrally fielded vehicles and car swapping among the drivers guarantees maximum equality of opportunity. In 2004 the 150-hp Polo replaced the small "Wolf" as the cup vehicle and the concept was subjected to further refinement. For example, a professional data logging system enhances the learning effect: after each session the juniors can analyse the laps they drove on a laptop computer. To enable direct comparisons, one of the quickest five has to reveal his or her best lap to the other contenders.

First-class environment and a superb setting

As one its partner series since the relaunch in 2000, the Polo Cup's success story is closely linked to the DTM. The premier league of touring car racing has evolved into a real crowd-puller and is envisaged as a concrete career goal by many junior racers. Supporting series like the SEAT Leon Supercopa or the Porsche Carrera Cup offer interesting career opportunities to the top "graduates" of the touring car school in the professional environment to which they have become accustomed.