Chili Pepper Racing announced on Monday their record setting MK5 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Diesel Race Car will be auctioned to benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.
The car, the World First Professional Bio-Diesel Touring Car, was built in 2006 by the Ooltewah-based team. The race car made its record-breaking début in March 2007 at Sebring International Raceway at the SPEED World Challenge Tour Car Series season opener.
This Volkswagen TDI was the first professional diesel touring car sedan in the world to race on bio-diesel fuel and was the only alternative fueled race car in the SPEED World Challenge Tour Car field to date.
The car will be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson’s first Orange County California event June 25-27. The auction will be televised live on the SPEED Channel. The Chili Pepper Racing, SPEED World Challenge MK5 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Tour Car will be auctioned on Sunday, June 27, lot number 647.1.
Chili Pepper Racing team principles, Jim and Amy Jo Osborn and crew will be on-stage for the auction.
“Although bittersweet, it is exciting to be able to provide this car to benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer. My son, Austin Hatcher (Hatch) Osborn, for whom the Foundation is named, passes away from an aggressive form of pediatric cancer at 11 weeks of age. The team was building this car when Hatch was born, and shortly after this car was unveiled at the 2006 Petit Le Mans, he became ill and quickly passed away in our arms,” said Jim Osborn MD, of Chili Pepper Racing, and co-founder of the Austin Hatcher Foundation.
“All of us at Chili Pepper Racing are not only proud of the achievements of this car, but also excited about what its sale can do to help families affected by pediatric cancer. To me this car represents Hatch, his hand in the foundation, and the beginnings of his contribution to Motorsports and Pediatric Cancer Care. We really want to thank Gary Bennett and the Barrett-Jackson Staff for helping with the auction and ensuring that all the proceeds from the sell of this car go to the Foundation.”