Bromley’s Matt Tiffin excelled during his first test in a Renault UK Clio Cup racer with the leading SV team at his home circuit of Brands Hatch on Friday (27 September).
A successful karting career, which culminated with Buckmore Park Sprint Championship titles in 2009, preceded single-seater campaigns in Formula Vee and the BARC Formula Renault Championships in 2011 and 2012.
Having made an impression during a recent Formula Renault outing at Rockingham Motor Speedway, Tiffin was earmarked as a prime candidate for a switch to tin-tops by SV Director, Danny Buxton.
The 17-year old was subsequently offered a test in one of SV’s Renault UK Clio Cup challengers at his local circuit, Brands Hatch, as he assesses his options for the 2014 season.
He ventured out onto the Kent-based circuit on Friday (27 September) and duly left the SV team awestruck by his rapid ascension up the timesheets.
Tiffin completed countless laps of the 1.22mile Brands Hatch Indy circuit during four 30-minute test sessions, adapting seamlessly to the demands of racing front-wheel-drive saloon cars and sensationally matching SV’s established Clio Cup runners for pace.
SV Director, Danny Buxton was highly impressed, saying: “Matt’s performance was unbelievable during his maiden test in a UK Clio Cup car at Brands Hatch. He demonstrated a supreme natural flair behind the wheel and was unfazed by the transition from a single-seater to a front-wheel-drive saloon car.
“To match the quickest of our current Clio drivers for pace straight out of the blocks is incredible; the times he did with us would have put him on the front two rows of the grid in qualifying without a shadow of a doubt. And he evidently enjoyed himself, as he was grinning like a Cheshire cat as he emerged from the car. His aim is to do a full-season in the UK Clio Cup in 2014 and we’d be delighted to welcome him aboard.”
An enthused Tiffin added: “It was an absolutely fantastic day! I arrived at the test with an open mind and I immediately loved driving the car. It was a strange transition and I had to adjust a few of my single-seater habits, but I was soon up to racing speed and it was incredibly satisfying to return to the truck and be told that I’d gone so quickly so soon.
“I always aim for the best team and SV was at the top of my list. I must thank Danny and the team for doing such a fantastic job – everybody was highly professional and worked hard to ensure that everything down to the finer details was perfect and I was as comfortable as possible. They all made a huge impression, as they genuinely love racing and always strive for the best possible outcome. That makes a huge difference for a driver.”
For more information on Scuderia Vittoria’s racing activities, please ‘like’ the team’s Facebook page or follow @ScudVittoria on Twitter.