Volkswagen’s Beetle has a long history of racing, though most people don’t seem to remember it. That’s about to change, as VW announced plans to campaign a Beetle in the Red Bull Global Rallycross series for 2014.
This won’t be any ordinary Beetle, of course. VW’s partnering with Andretti Autosport to field a pair of a 560-horsepower, all-wheel drive GRC Beetles with a turbocharged direct-injection engines. 2011 and 2012 Global Rallycross champion Tanner Foust and ex-F1 driver Scott Speed will be at the wheel of these hot Bugs, and the cars will make their debut at the Summer X Games in Austin, TX. Volkswagen will participate in the full season, using a pair of Polo rally cars when the Red Bull Global Rallycross season starts in May.
Rallycross is one of the fastest-growing motorsports in the world. Essentially combining motocross and rally, the races pit multiple cars against each other in short heats. The tracks are a mixture of dirt, pavement, and suspension-crushing jumps of up to 70 feet, requiring drivers to be versatile as well as quick.
“I’m thrilled to be entering the series, and especially happy about teaming with Volkswagen. We are excited about our driver lineup of Tanner [Foust] and Scott [Speed]; I believe we have the best drivers in the series and will be a top contender,” said Michael Andretti, CEO of Andretti Autosport.
