HERNDON, Va., May 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today that it has been named Grand Marshall for the 40th Annual Tecate SCORE International Baja 500 Thursday, May 29 - Sunday, June 1 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. Volkswagen, which has powered hundreds of class wins in off-road racing over the past 40 years in Baja, including thirteen overall wins, is also the official vehicle of SCORE International.
"Volkswagen is honored to be the first auto manufacturer to serve as Grand Marshall for SCORE Baja 500 since the event's inception," said Clark Campbell, motorsport manager, Volkswagen of America. "Volkswagen was SCORE's official vehicle back in 1973, and is now once again the official vehicle, plus we have the honor of marshalling the event this year, an honor that Volkswagen accepts with tremendous pride."
In 1973, the Volkswagen model Thing was SCORE's Official Vehicle; today SCORE officials get to enjoy the luxurious, sophisticated, and highly competent off-road Sport Utility Vehicle Touareg as the official vehicle of SCORE International.
The Tecate SCORE International Baja 500 starts and finishes in downtown Ensenada on Boulevard Costero in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural, marking the first time the race has ever finished on Boulevard Costero. This year's tight and technical course will run in a clockwise direction for the third straight year. It includes a wide variety of terrain, and over 100 miles that hasn't been raced for over a decade, along with over 30 miles that has never been raced on.
"The customized Volkswagen Touareg that SCORE has for course identification and marking has worked flawlessly. As a matter of fact, it is easy to forget you're riding around the tortuous desert the ride is so smooth and comfortable. SCORE has never had a better course-marking vehicle in its long history than the SCORE Touareg," said Sal Fish, CEO and president, SCORE International.
About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Volkswagen of America, Inc. recently announced Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) as standard equipment on all its 2009 model year vehicles. As a result, Volkswagen is one of the only original equipment manufacturers to offer an electronic stabilization control system on its entire product line - ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) deadline requiring stabilization systems in the 2012 model year vehicles. Volkswagen's ESP technology works in conjunction with anti-lock brakes and helps reduce loss of control, rollovers and other types of crashes. NHTSA predicts nearly 10,000 lives could be saved each year if all vehicles had stabilization systems as standard equipment.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com.