Podium finishes are top of SV Racing’s agenda when the 2014 Michelin Clio Cup Series and Junior Saloon Car Championship (JSCC) resume at Cheshire’s picturesque and undulating Oulton Park circuit on Saturday (17 May).
There were mixed fortunes for the SVR’s Tommy Østgaard and Sam Randon at Rockingham Motor Speedway’s Clio Cup Series season-opener in April.
Ashbourne’s Randon used a spectacular start to Round 1 to surge up the order and open his podium finishes account on his debut in the headlining ‘Race Series’, while technicalities prevented Oslo’s Østgaard from claiming a deserved podium.
Both had their fair share of misfortune in Round 2, but recovered superbly from collisions and sluggish starts to scythe from the tail end of the field back into the top ten in what is now regarded as one of the most competitive one-make championships in UK motorsport.
As a result, Randon and Østgaard will look to keep their noses clean on the narrow and undulatingOulton Park circuit this weekend (17 May) with the view of scaling the winners’ rostrum and initiating their respective title bids in earnest.
Norwegian Østgaard, said: “I had a pretty tough weekend at Rockingham because the pace was there and I didn’t get the results I wanted or deserved. I’m feeling confident that I’ll fight for the race wins at Oulton Park, even though I’ve never been there and I have limited knowledge of the circuit. It will be a completely new experience, although I shall learn the layout on a simulator as part of my preparations for the weekend. I know I have the pace to compete, I’m more motivated than ever and, while I’ve only had one competitive outing in the Clio Cup racer, it already feels like home. I really want to get my title bid underway and, with Danny’s (Buxton) guidance, I should be there from the outset of free practice on Friday (16 May).”
JCB engineering apprentice Randon, who recently announced a new and exciting partnership with Derby-based engineering and IT recruitment specialists, Syntax, said: “I spent half a day lapping Oulton Park in a road car on Monday (13 May) so at least I know which way it goes. It’s a really exciting and technical circuit with some fantastic high-speed corners and getting on the pace of those who have prior experience of the track is going to be one of the toughest challenges. Danny’s (Buxton) guidance and data analysis will be useful – that’s where a lot of the learning is done. I’m definitely aiming for the podium, although you don’t need to win every race to clinch championship titles. It’s always nice to take silverware home and it would be great to welcome my new sponsor, Syntax, aboard by finishing on the winners’ rostrum.”
Barnsley’s James Dorlin has been dominant in the opening two rounds of the 2014 JSCC, taking his Citroen Saxo VTR to three consecutive race wins at Rockingham and Anglesey Circuit and consolidating his championship lead with a hard-earned fifth place.
Two successive driveshaft failures and a clutch issue curtailed his running during a pre-event reconnaissance day at Oulton Park on Monday (13 May), but the 15-year old reported a notable improvement in pace compared with his previous outing at the Cheshire-based circuit and is targeting strong points finishes to bolster his title bid further.
Dorlin said: “I’m already familiar with Oulton Park, having raced there before, so Monday’s (13 May) test was simply about relearning the circuit and finding more speed. I had a couple of driveshaft failures and a clutch problem and that hampered progress a bit, although I think I’m in good shape to take more strong points that will consolidate my championship position. It’s always good to win races, but I think I just need to play the long game and concentrate on preserving my points advantage at this stage of the season.”
SV Racing Director, Danny Buxton, said: “To be honest, Tommy (Østgaard) and Sam (Randon) both had strong starts at Rockingham and showed really good race pace, although I’d like them to focus on qualifying at Oulton Park because there will undoubtedly be a few skirmishes in the first race and they will then be able to lead from the front and achieve a couple of solid points finishes. Oulton Park is a massive drivers’ circuit and I think it’s always a welcome surprise for drivers who have little or no experience there. Testing on Friday will be crucial and I have some video and data to show them, so I’m sure they will really take to the track.
“I’m hoping James (Dorlin) can continue his winning trend from the last couple of rounds, extending his lead over the rest of the field in the standings. I think two wins are possible, but podium finishes would tick the boxes and I think he’ll be very fast and the circuit will suit his ‘grab it by the scruff of the neck’ driving style. Raw ability always comes to the fore at Oulton Park.”
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