A race circuit for young drivers to get their professional careers going… while running on a clean, renewable fuel, gets started this weekend. The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series kicks off at VIRginia International Raceway on April 25 & 26… the second year that VW has offered a new way of thinking about auto racing.

The series, sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, sets up the young drivers in identical factory-prepared clean diesel Jetta TDIs running on a 5 percent blend of biodiesel. That way you know it’s their driving skills and not some mechanical advantage one engine has over the other. This press release from the National Biodiesel Board points out it is the only clean diesel racing series in the United States, and Volkswagen is the only auto manufacturer participating in motorsports full time with diesel powered cars:

Houston-based HYPERFUELS is also the official fuel sponsor of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI race season, powering the series with its high performance Syndiesel® B5. That’s a blend of 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent synthetic diesel fuel. This biodiesel blend provides a winning combination of benefits, offering the highest cetane rating of any diesel fuel on the market today and 20 percent more BTUs than conventional diesel. It has the added benefits of increased lubricity and reduced emissions from the domestically produced, renewable biodiesel component.

Clark Campbell, Motorsport Manager for Volkswagen of America, Inc. said, “The addition of Syndiesel® B5 in the Jetta TDI Cup race cars further demonstrates the feasibility of biodiesel as an alternative fuel source for American consumers, and supports the clean and green racing of the Jetta TDI Cup series. Volkswagen also supports the use of up to B5 biodiesel blends in all of its TDI clean diesel powered vehicles available at local Volkswagen dealerships today.”

By the way, Jess Hewitt, President of HYPERFUELS, is also the Chairman of the National Biodiesel Board’s marketing committee.