Round 1 of Vento Cup is just around the corner and Volkswagen Motorsport India recently conducted a pre-season fitness camp and a pre-season test for the drivers of 2016 Vento Cup. A total of 18 drivers will be participating in 2016 season of the Vento Cup. The fitness camp was conducted in Bangalore in partnership with British Nutrition and had fitness checks such as BMI count and so on. The drivers were given tips on fitness regimes and nutrition. VW Motorsport had also invited U Vimal Kumar, who used to be the Chief National Badminton coach and is now coaching Saina Nehwal. The camp also ensured that the drivers' physical and psychological fitness was evaluated and they were given the go-ahead for the upcoming season. Hatim Shabbir from Chennai was declared to be the fittest driver in the current line-up.
(VW Vento Cup Drivers at the Fitness camp in Bangalore)Once the fitness camp concluded, the drivers went to the Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore in order to test the new Vento Race Car. On the first day, they were made to drive the race-spec Polo with roll cages. Leading them was Rayomand Banajee, Driver Coach, VW Vento Cup and Karthik Tharani, who was the 2014 VW Polo R Cup Champion and the VW Motorsport development driver as well. The second day saw the drivers get a few laps on the Vento Race Car. The new drivers also got three simulation experiences on the new Vento Cup car. Apart from driving the cars on the racetrack, the new drivers were also given theory lessons on racing lines, braking points, flag signals, overtaking manouevres and so on. The drivers also did a couple of laps with the safety car on the track so that they get an idea of driving in a situation where the safety car is deployed.
The 2016 season of the Volkswagen Vento Cup will have 4 rounds in total. The rounds will be held at Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore; Madras Motor Race Track, Chennai and Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida. Also, this season, VW Motorsport has partnered with MMSC and MRF. This means that the Vento one-make race series will now be a part of MMSC FMSCI Indian National Racing Championship.
