After having success with the Polo Cup and Vento Cup, Volkswagen Motorsport India is now all set to introduce the compact sedan Ameo to the track. The Volkswagen Ameo Cup 2017 season will kick off in the month of June at the Kari Motor Speedway in Chettipalayam. The season will then move to Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT) in Chennai for a couple of rounds followed by one round at Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida.
The 2017 Volkswagen Ameo Cup race car is also the first fully indigenously built machine at the race workshop in Volkswagen Pune Plant. It has been heavily modified for track use and is the quickest ever car that Volkswagen Motorsport India has ever built. It was almost 4.6 seconds quicker than the Vento Cup race car in the initial tests at Madras Motor Race Track.
Dr. Andreas Lauermann, President and Managing Director Volkswagen India Private Limited said, “Volkswagen is committed to motorsport in India and with our premium one-make series we have helped develop some of the best racing talent in the country over the past seven years. With the Ameo Cup, we have embarked upon yet another year of exciting races and this season is especially noteworthy as the motorsport team has developed the race car from ground up at the Volkswagen Pune Plant. With this, we continue our commitment to the sport and make our intentions clear – to offer the best racing technology in India”.
The Volkswagen Ameo Cup race car is powered by the EA888 1.8L TSI engine, the same that does duty on the VW Polo GTI. This 1798 cc turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine has been tuned to deliver an improved torque curve and produces a power of 205 PS and 320 Nm of torque.
This time the engineers have instead of using the 6 speed DSG opted for a 6-speed sequential gearbox with steering-mounted paddle shifters from 3MO Performance. It utilises an electromagnetic actuator for quick gear changes and has a safety feature that prevents the driver from accidentally changing down extra gears. It also gets a new lightweight flywheel and clutch from Sachs Race Engineering that has been specifically developed for the VW Ameo race car.
Mr. Sirish Vissa, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport India commented on the new Ameo Cup Car saying, “The car is unlike anything Indian motorsport has seen from the Volkswagen’s stable. It has more power and amazing handling, yet it is simple enough for budding racers to learn on. The race machine is at par with international standards and the new elements in the car make it possible to take our one-make series to a new high.”
For the first time, Volkswagen Motorsport India is using the MoTeC M142 engine control unit (ECU) to manage the mapping and calibration of the engine, gearbox and the shift actuator. The ECU has been independently calibrated and mapped to suit the new engine and the gearbox control system. The ECU is paired with MoTeC C125 colour dash display and data logger which is capable of logging 120 MB of data and is also equipped with programmable shift lights.
The race car lacks a fuse box and instead is fitted with MoTeC’s 30 output Power Distribution Module (PDM30) which provides electronically switched power to the various electrical systems in the race machine and acts as a combination of the fuse box and body control module (BCM).
Karthik Tharani, Volkswagen Motorsport India development and test driver said, “The Ameo Cup race car is a very well sorted machine and this is evident with the test lap time of 01:51.780, which is 4.6 seconds quicker as compared to the Vento Cup race car.”
“The Ameo Cup race car is an ideal race machine for amateurs and racers alike – it has enough to keep all racers engaged while challenging them time and again. I have been through the programme that Volkswagen Motorsport India has put together and I can only reassure the budding drivers that this is the best stepping stone into the real world of professional racing,” added Mr. Tharani.
The 2017 Volkswagen Ameo Cup race car is dynamic and responsive as compared to the Vento Cup car, thanks to its shorter wheelbase which it shares with the VW Polo. To achieve an even distribution of the weight of the chassis, several components such as the fire extinguisher, windshield washer tank and the battery have been reorganised. The race car also gets a GT wing spoiler for added downforce at the rear.
Volkswagen Motorsport India has equipped the Ameo Cup race car with a whole new suspension setup with different springs at the front and the rear along with torsional beam axle at the rear. It now runs on the new lighter 17-inch wheels which are wrapped in MRF tyres that were specifically developed for this car. The valving of the dampers from KW Suspension has also been developed to suit these new tyres.
Stopping power comes from the 334 mm ventilated discs at the front and the 232 mm discs at the rear. It also gets new callipers with racing brake pads that provide a better and progressive bite. The Ameo Cup car is also equipped with Racing ABS.
The weld-in roll cage which extends from the front strut mounting tower to the rear damper mounts has been designed according to the latest FIA specification to enhance driver safety and also improve the torsional rigidity of the chassis.
The car is also equipped with seats and seatbelts from OMP Racing. The FIA approved fire suppression system comes from SPA Technique. The extinguisher and the main electrical cut-off are accessible from the inside as well as the outside of the car.
2017 Volkswagen Ameo Cup Race Car – Image Gallery:
2017 Volkswagen Ameo Cup Race Car – Technical Specifications:
ENGINE
Type: Turbocharged Inline 4 cylinder
Fuel Supply System: Direct Injection
Displacement: 1798 cc
Bore and Stroke: 82.5 mm x 84.1 mm
Maximum Power: 205 PS @ 6100 rpm
Maximum Torque: 320 Nm @ 3200-4600 rpm
Exhaust: Racing Exhaust
Fuel: Petrol, 97 Octane
Fuel Tank: 45 litres
TRANSMISSION
Traction: Front Wheel Drive
Gearbox: 6 Speed Sequential
Differential: Limited Slip Differential
Clutch: Sachs Racing Clutch
Gearbox Control: Paddle Shift on Steering Wheel with Electro-Magnetic Actuator
SUSPENSION AND STEERING:
Front Suspension: McPherson Strut, 2-Way Adjustable KW Dampers, Modified Kinematics
Front Stabiliser: 20 mm Diameter, 3 Position Adjustable
Rear Suspension: Torsional Beam axle, 2-Way Adjustable KW Dampers, Modified Kinematics
Steering System : Electric Power Steering with Racing Software
BRAKES
Brake: Racing ABS
Front Brakes: 334 mm Ventilated Discs with Uprated Callipers
Rear Brakes: 232 mm Discs with Uprated Callipers
Rims: 7.5J x 17-inch
Tires: MRF 200/605-R17
ELECTRONICS
ECU: Motec M142 Engine Management
Data Acquisition: Motec C125 Colour Dash Display with 120 MB Data Logging
Power Control: Motec PDM 30 with Battery Isolator
DIMENSIONS
Length: 3995 mm
Width: 1682 mm
Height: 1483 mm
Wheelbase: 2465 mm
Front Track Width: 1460 mm
Rear Track Width: 1430 mm
Weight: 1150 Kg
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Roll Cage: Comprehensive 8 Point Roll Cage – FMSCI Certified
Active Safety: On Board Fire Extinguisher – FIA Regulated
FIA Certified OMP Seats, 6 Point Racing Seatbelts and Driver Gear
