SA youngster's Czech racing battle

MOST, Czech Republic - South African youngster Jeffrey Kruger will face his toughest overseas challenge yet, when he contests round four of the 2014 European Volkswagen Castrol Cup championship in the Czech Republic from August 8 - 9. 

The event will take place on the Autodrom Most, near the city of Most.

"BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE TRACK"

The venue - never used for Volkswagen Castrol Cup races before - will present drivers with 21 corners in a distance of 4,2 km.

The 21-year-old driver said: "It will be tricky to learn, but since none of the competitors have raced there before, we will all start on an equal footing. I have found some useful in-car foootage on YouTube, so I have a basic understanding of the lay-out."

THIRD IN CHAMPIONSHIP

The South African is third in the international championship, which is contested by 25 young drivers from countries like Sweden, Russia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Lithuania.

He'll drive Volkswagen's 6 GTI models and the competition is fierce, with the top ten qualifiers generally covered by less than a second.

Kruger scored a race win in the wet at the previous round in Poland, to place him third overall in the year's title chase.

CONFIDENT OF PODIUM FINISH

He has earned 194 points, versus the 196 of second placed Fluch from Sweden, and the 240 of Kupcikas from Lithuania.

He believes he could improve his position this weekend: "I love the boost button on the Golf 6 GTI racer, which allows one to pass easier if you use it right. On such a tricky, tight circuit, and with nobody equipped with local knowledge, I believe my chances of podium places to be good."

The Castrol Cup contenders will tackle one race on Saturday, and another on Sunday 10 August 2014 .