The Courier Connections Renault UK Clio Cup heads north of the border to Scotland’s Knockhill circuit, where Devon Modell will be hoping to avoid ensuing contact and scale the winners’ rostrum (23-24 August).
Four years since the UK Clio Cup last visited Scotland, the series makes a welcome return to the twists and undulations of Knockhill this weekend, where, after producing one of the season’s best drives at Snetterton earlier this month, Modell will be hoping to emulate that success as he bids to keep his nose clean and make progress in the Drivers’ Championship.
Having qualified down in 11th in Snetterton’s opening race, the Maidstone native, who tested TF Sport’s Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 during the three-week break, kept a cool head and was quick to dispatch his rivals to take a season’s best fifth place and promote himself to ninth in the standings.
Combined with Knockhill’s unique demands, high kerbs and the season’s largest UK Clio Cup grid, this weekend’s event is set to deliver yet another dose of exciting door handle-to-door handle racing that has made the UK Clio Cup a fan-favourite.
“I’m really looking forward to this weekend, as it’s an interesting circuit and is sure to deliver some great entertainment for the Scottish fans,” said Modell. “I’ve heard stories of previous Clio outings at Knockhill and, if they are anything to go by, there is going to be a lot of contact due to the tight and twisty nature of the circuit. It’s quite a short track with only a few corners, so it shouldn’t take me too long to familiarise myself with it, but a lot of the drivers on the grid have yet to race there, so we are in the same boat on a level playing field.
“We’ll see where we are in terms on pace come the conclusion of Friday’s Free Practice sessions, but the main objective of the weekend is avoid contact and bring the car home. If the stories are to be believed, that will be a great achievement and could potentially bag us a big handful of points.”
Qualifying for Rounds 13 and 14 of the Courier Connections Renault UK Clio Cup will get underway at 09.00 on Saturday (23 August), with race one following at 15.50.
On Sunday (24 August), the second and final race of the weekend will begin at 12.30 and will be screened live on ITV4 and ITV4HD, as well as online at www.itv.com/btcc.
For more information on Devon Modell and his racing activities, please follow @Devon_Modell on Twitter.