VW Jetta TDI Cup racers averaging 25 mpg in racing conditions
The activity going here at VIRginia International Raceway this weekend definitely does not qualify as hyper-miling. In fact it is anything but. The thirty young racers competing in the Volkswagen Jetta TDI cup are hustling their cars around this beautiful 3.27 mile long circuit as fast as they can. But they are still doing it in a relatively thrifty manner. The racing Jettas are putting out 170hp which is enough to average over 87mph here. While most race cars get mileage in the single digits and the national fleet average is 20.2mpg the racers are averaging 25mpg running on regular pump ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. That's good enough to go the entire race weekend without filling up. Starting with the next race at Mosport on May 17-18 the cars will start using B5 biodiesel which is what the production Volkswagen's are certified for. The cars are also running with the same exhaust after-treatment system as the production fifty state legal models. That means every car has a lean NOx trap and diesel particulate filter installed.
Gallery: VIR Jetta TDI Cup qualifying
Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Our travel and lodging for this media event was provided by the manufacturer.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2LS7? 4:05PM (4/27/2008)
If they are averaging 25mpg, it's because they've been neutered so badly that they can't accelerate hard.
In a real race, you are at WOT over 50% of the time. So the only way to get decent mpg is to cut the power.
The reason race cars don't get good mpg isn't a matter of efficiency. Race cars are actually very efficient. It's because they're expending so much energy accelerating and energy comes from the fuel tank.
Note that since most of the time during racing you are at WOT and gas cars have no worse pumping losses than a Diesel at WOT, Diesels lose their efficiency advantage over gas engines on the track.
Reply
Kevin Nugent 8:14PM (4/27/2008)
Thats a pretty good average for a racing car
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 8:04PM (4/27/2008)
So I don't want to post in the other thread (the one with the results) becase I don't want to see the results because I want to watch the race without knowing.
But I can't find the Jetta TDI Cup listed on Speed next weekend. I looked manual and did a search on their listings for "Jetta". No dice.
Any tips?
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 8:06PM (4/27/2008)
Whoops. I went to speed's site to search their listings (I had previously searched the listings on DirectTV.com) and they have the winner listed.
Tip to the wise: don't go to that site if you don't want to know.
Reply
rob 10:57PM (4/27/2008)
That's an amazing average for a turbocharged race car. The rally car I crew for gets single-digit fuel mileage on stage -- and that's with the itty-bitty turbocharger inlet restrictor the rules require it to have. Without that restrictor, it would suck down twice the fuel.
Reply
MarcT 12:22PM (4/28/2008)
Honestly, is this racing or PR? 170hp, 87mph. Wow, that compelling racing. Unless I am reading this wrong, I am not at all impressed. 25mpg while averaging 87mph. I thought the new cleaner diesel Jetta was supposed to be getting 60mpg. And doesnt every Euro car mag say they drive their diesels at 80 on highway speeds while getting those high numbers? So where's the 60mpg, do they lose 35mpg in the corners?
I wont watch this PR stunt, I'm only going by what is posted in the article, so if anyone can enlighten me, please do.
Reply
Sam Abuelsamid 12:32PM (4/28/2008)
MarcT, of course it's actually both racing and PR. VW is trying to promote their diesel engines. But it was also damn good racing. That 87mph is average speed around the whole course. Top speeds were much higher and minimum speeds through the tight corners were much lower. For reference the average speed for the winning Daytona Prototype in the Grand-Am race that ran immediately before the Jetta race was 96.7mph.
As for mileage, remember these cars are racing and running flat out down the straights, braking into corners and accelerating hard out. The 60mpg numbers are based on highway cruising at relatively constant speed. You always get much higher mileage in steady state conditions than you do stop and go, especially when it's this extreme.
Reply
vw junky 2:17PM (4/28/2008)
Back in 2000 I took my then 2001 new jetta GLS TDI 5 speed around the short courst at VIR at a company sponsored event. I had 5000 miles on the od so the car was very new. Mine was all stock and did well considering it being only 90 hp. We had instructors with us at all times but i can tell you that there are lots of tight turns and I had to get on the brakes a bunch, almost over heating them at one point. I got to 90 mph on the strait aways full throttle. I only had to use 3rd and 4th gear on the short track. Averging 87 mph on this course in a Jetta is very fast. I would love to race in this event but I just have too many hobbies. The track is fun and if you get to drive something around the track do it!! here i a quote from VIR history,
Shelby, who would later go on to worldwide fame by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959 and creating the iconic Cobra sports cars in the early 1960s, won that first feature race in a Maserati 450S. The laconic Texan uttered a quote about the track that is remembered to this day: “One lap at VIR is like a hundred at Watkins Glen.”
I held off a 325 BMW for a lap. I out drove the driver in the corners but he eventually got me. Still not bad for my little jetta. About the track check out virclub.com. W
later
Reply
Karkus 3:32PM (4/28/2008)
25 mpg sounds pretty good to me, and whether the avg speed is 87 or 120 doesn't really tell you whether it's good racing or not. NASCAR might be faster, but except for the wrecks, it's doesn't seem to offer much excitement. And it lacks in terms of driver skill compared to other types of racing where you have to actually use your brakes and steer in both directions.
It's still a waste of fuel though, but whatever, people have their hobbies.
But my main point is that I'd be happier if VW put more effort into actually making TDIs for sale here sooner, rather than this promotional stuff that detracts from their production. I bet there will be a shortage of TDIs this fall (and next year).
Reply