JK Tyre Prodigy Aditya Patel joins Ashwin Sundar to race for VW India – MaCon Motorsport Team in ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup 2009

New Delhi, May 15, 2009: Chennai lads, India’s teen sensations and champions in JK Tyre National Racing Championship, Ashwin Sundar and Aditya Patel have secured the India representation in the upcoming ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup 2009. The championship in its 12th season will offer 30 young touring car drivers from 8 nations which include Germany, India, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Czech Republic, to race for the title. The first race is on this Sunday (May 17) at Hockenheim (Germany).

ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup is a series ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club) organizes to facilitate access for young motorist to the world of touring car racing while keeping cost within affordable limits and ensuring equal opportunities as far as possible. For this event, all vehicles in the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup 2009 are provided by VW and are transported, prepared and maintained during events.

JK Tyre, who has spearheaded the motorsport development in India, has provided a plethora of new talents who are representing the country at global motor sporting events. Ashwin is a National Racing Champion in Formula LGB Swift Class and Formula LGB Hyundai Class for 2008. He also has raced for international races like Asia Road Racing Championship – 1st Runner up – under 21 class – 115cc 4 stroke category. At such a tender age, he was choosen by MaCon motorsports last year for a three year contract. Aditya began his racing career in the year 2000, taking part in a JK Tyre Karting event and winning his first ever race. In the year 2001 he was crowned the JK Tyre junior national karting champion. He took single seater racing in 2005 winning one race and on the podium on three other occasions. In 2007 winning races in both Formula Rolon as well as the Rotax max challenge, Aditya moved to the Formula BMW Asia Pacific championship and was on the podium in his first race.

Excited about his second season in the Polo Cup, Ashwin Sundar, said, “Firstly, I am thankful to JK Tyre, MaCon motorsports and all my sponsors who have been working hard to improve the standards and encourage me with an incredible backing throughout. Polo Cup is one of the most popular and highly respected professional racing. This is my second season in Europe. Last year I did formula cars so I am familiar with track and the place. Apart from earning points, my aim would be to be in top 5 after the first round. I am very excited and look forward for the season.”

For the first time Aditya Patel would be racing on touring cars. He said, “This new series gives me a real opportunity to showcase my talents in front of some very influential motorsport people and I hope that it will bring me to the attention of the F1 paddock and perhaps open some doors for my future. For Macon to have chosen me is a huge confidence boost. This is the first time that I will be racing on saloon cars and would expect a decent performance from myself. The championship is fully sponsored and I look forward to gain experience.”

As a career path in motorsports, Touring cars is a best option for the young drivers. Volkswagen Polo Cup is a successful touring car school and has long enabled drivers and riders from 16 to 24 years, the effective entry into professional motorsports and the rapid rise in higher categories. The unique concept – a central deployment and exchange of racing polo among drivers that guarantees equal opportunities, and at the same time manageable costs. Working together closely with VW, ADAC has strived to ensure to equal technical level for all vehicles throughout the season in order to highlight the drivers’ potential regardless of their financial background.

Last year, Ashwin and Aditya have already joined the league of JK Tyre prodigies which include Narain Kartikeyan, Karun Chandhok, Armaan Ebrahim, Parthiv Sureshwaran, Akhil Khushlani, who have been showcasing their talent in the international arena. JK Tyre, with its investment and commitment to the development of motorsport in India, has been able to take motorsport to a level in the country where young motorsport enthusiasts are not only able to participate in this sport but also have produced champions internationally.

2009 Calendar of Events (schedule subject to change)

Date Racing course

15.-17.05.2009 DTM Hockenheim

29.-31.05.2009 Euro DTM Lausitz (2 races)

26.-28.06.2009 DTM Norisring

31.07.-02.08.2009 DTM Oschersleben (2 races)

14.-16.08.2009 DTM Nürburgring

18.-20.09.2009 DTM Barcelona

23.-25.10.2009 DTM Hockenheim

For further information, please contact

Bhavya Suri

Vaishnavi Corporate Communications

9871772454

bhavyas {at} vccpl(.)com