BORN IN THE USA…
Exactly
50 years ago, on 11th July
1966, a group of Munichbased traders and importers
who shared an interest in sport founded the
“Verband Formel V Europa e. V.” – this was
the birth of Volkswagen Motorsport. However, it all started in the USA back in 1963: it
was here that the car maker from Wolfsburg’s
technology was used to launch the Formula
Vee junior racing series. The small, single-seater racing cars – with components from the iconic Volkswagen Beetle – also made a name
for themselves in Germany as re-imports.
Immediately the interest in the Formula Vee
spread like wildfire around the globe… as
well as the national championships and competitions between the USA and Europe, there
was also an unofficial world championship.
By 1971 the philosophy had developed into
the Formula Super Vee series, which produced eventual world champions including
Jochen Rindt (A), Niki Lauda (A) and Keke
Rosberg (FIN).
Jochen Mass on a 1971
Formel Super V Kaimann
TRADITION: VOLKSWAGEN
PUTS GREAT EMPHASIS ON
PROMOTING YOUNGSTERS
Still very small, the association relocated in
October 1973. It moved from the Bavarian
capital Munich to Hannover, where Volkswagen Motorsport GmbH entered the Commercial Register in 2004. To this day, the company is still based in Hannover.
After the successful Formula Vee era,
Volkswagen proceeded to make a name for itself when it came to promoting talented young
drivers: record Formula One world champion
Michael Schumacher (D) and Le Mans legend
Tom Kristensen (DK) both started their career in
Formula 3, powered by Volkswagen.