Vladimir Melnikov (RUS) is the winner of the seventh event in the current season of the Volkswagen Polo Cup Russia, the demanding Rally Vyborg not far from the Russian city of Saint Petersburg. Together with his co-driver, fellow Russian Sergey Skripka, he succeeded in pipping Mikhail Silantyev and Arkady Bogomolov (both RUS) to the post at the end of six special stages over a total distance of 86 kilometres. This marks the duo’s first win in the newly created Volkswagen rally cup. The next stop for the Volkswagen Polo Cup Russia is Rally Pskov on 5 and 6 September.

There was no stopping Robertas Kupčikas on the fourth weekend of racing in the Volkswagen Castrol Cup Poland, held in the Czech city of Most. The Lithuanian achieved no less than two start-to-finish victories on the high-speed circuit, thereby underscoring his ambitions to win the Polish one-make racing series featuring 260 hp Volkswagen Golf models. Jeffrey Kruger (ZA), who is currently ranked second overall, came second in the first race and third in the second race. The next two races for the entrants in the Volkswagen Castrol Cup Poland are scheduled for 22 to 24 August on the Slovakiaring.