Washington, D.C. gets Global Rallycross round

Volkswagen of America, Inc., Andretti Sports Marketing, and Events DC announced Wednesday that they have joined forces in bringing professional motorsports back to Washington, D.C. in "extreme" fashion with Volkswagen Rallycross DC, the third round of the 2014 Red Bull Global Rallycross Series to be held June 21-22 and televised live on NBC June 22. The two-day event will take place on the RFK Festival Grounds.

In addition to the Red Bull Global Rallycross action, the festival-styled Volkswagen Rallycross DC, will feature live music, food, entertainment, a VIP club, and extreme sports stars such as Tanner Foust, Scott Speed, Ken Block, and Bucky Lasek.

"Volkswagen is excited to bring professional motorsports back to the Washington, D.C. metro area, and to be involved in such a fast-growing, action-oriented sport," said Clark Campbell, General Manager of Experiential Marketing, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "Volkswagen Rallycross DC is the perfect event to showcase the innovative performance of the Volkswagen brand and connect with our core enthusiasts."

"We're thrilled to hold a race with such an historic backdrop and to bring this innovative form of extreme motorsports to the forward-thinking environment of D.C.," declared Tim Mayer, General Manager, Volkswagen Rallycross DC. "In addition to putting on a spectacular show, we are committed to being good neighbors, and we look forward to some great initiatives we'll have in support of the race with a focus toward giving back to the community."

Volkswagen Rallycross DC will be partnering with So Others Might Eat, a local charity, to hold a food drive at the event. Fans will have the opportunity to donate non-perishable food items at the gate in return for a special selection of Volkswagen Rallycross DC memorabilia.

"The RFK Stadium Festival Grounds is the perfect setting for Volkswagen Rallycross DC, and we're excited to host this action-packed professional motorsports competition in Washington, D.C. this June," said Erik A. Moses, Managing Director, Events DC Sports and Entertainment Division. "This event has great appeal for the whole family, with a festival-like atmosphere featuring music, food, and interactive displays, along with high energy racing and compelling community initiatives."

Before on-track activity begins for the weekend, Volkswagen Rallycross DC will host Andretti S.T.A.R. (Science, Technology, And Racing), a program for kids interested in science and engineering. Participants will travel to different stations that teach an array of scientific concepts using real-world examples derived from racing, inspiring the next generation of engineers and scientists.

"We are proud to continue to bring world-class events to the Mid-Atlantic," said Michael Andretti, CEO, Andretti Sports Marketing. "The Global Rallycross Series is a thrilling and relatively new form of racing that delivers an entirely new demographic to the sport. We can't wait to introduce the energy of one of these events to a new audience at Volkswagen Rallycross DC this June.

The two-day, action-packed event kicks off Saturday, June 21. The main-event will air live on NBC, Sunday, June 22 at 2:00 p.m. ET). For tickets and more information, visit www.redbullglobalrallycross.com/dc or call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000. Stay up to date with the latest news from Volkswagen Rallycross DC by following @RBGRCDC on Twitter, liking us on Facebook.com/rbgrcdc, and following @rbgrcdc on Instagram.

About Andretti Sports Marketing

Andretti Sports Marketing is an Indianapolis-based marketing company focusing on sports, entertainment, experiential, and urban event management. We manage and operate world-class marketing platforms and large-scale events around the world. Andretti Sports Marketing has partnered with companies such as Volkswagen, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, AutoNation, DHL, the FIA Formula E Championship, and Red Bull Global Rallycross, among others. Drawing on its competencies in marketing, public relations, strategy, retail, contract negotiation, public/private partnership formation, logistics, hospitality, and event management, Andretti Sports Marketing focuses on providing best-in-class services across a broad scope of disciplines.

About Volkswagen of America

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc., an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWoA) is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. VWoA's operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. VWoA sells the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, and Touareg vehicles through approximately 640 independent U.S. Dealers.

Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation's capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District's hospitality and tourism economy that generates over $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes the historic Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, and the non-military functions of the DC Armory. Events DC also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com.

About Red Bull Global Rallycross

Designed to produce the fastest and most exciting racing in motorsports, Red Bull Global Rallycross pits small production-based cars against each other in door-to-door racing featuring dirt, asphalt, and tabletop jumps. With enhanced engineering and safety features, the cars produce 600 horsepower and can accelerate from 0-60 miles per hour in less than two seconds, and can also withstand 70-foot jumps and other vehicle contact.