SV is primed for a highly fruitful climax to the 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup season on the world-renowned Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit (12-13 October).
The KX Akademy-backed Stefan Hodgetts overcame fading light and treacherous weather conditions to achieve a brace of race wins at the world-famous Kent circuit in 2012.
The Redditch-based racer is well-positioned for a repeat performance this time around having achieved four wins in 2013, including a controlled lights-to-flag victory at Rockingham Motor Speedway one month ago (14-15 September) –
Maidstone’s Devon Modell, meanwhile, is gunning for podium finishes on home tarmac at Brands Hatch.
The 23-year old rookie has shown flashes of brilliance during his maiden UK Clio Cup campaign. He was the lead SV contender in sixth place at Snetterton in August but was particularly mighty last time out at Rockingham, finishing fourth and within sight of the winners’ rostrum after some fraught on-track battles.
“I’m full of confidence after Rockingham and I’m more determined than ever to reach the podium places,” said Modell. “Third place was tantalisingly close and I think achieving that at Brands Hatch – my home track – in the final round of the season would be spectacular. It’s a challenging circuit to master and there are always a lot of variables, but I’ll be pushing harder than ever!”
KX Akademy’s Ant Whorton-Eales sensationally opened his UK Clio Cup race wins account at “The Rock” after scything his way up from 12th to first away from the start line in Round 14 and will be hoping for more of the same at Brands Hatch.
Ronnie Klos, from Market Harborough, also starred at the Corby-based circuit. The 45-year old was given a much-needed shot in the arm when he took his One Call Insurance-liveried Clio Cup racer to a career-best fifth on the grid.
This boost in confidence should serve him well at Brands Hatch, a track where he has previous form and battled atrociously wet weather to seal a season-best 13th place finish in 2012.
Finlay Crocker was a Masters Cup victor at last year’s season finale on the undulating Kent circuit and will no doubt be a contender again, while British GT4 graduate Josh Wakefield will be looking to replicate the raw pace he showed in qualifying at Rockingham – he was on for a front-row grid slot before aborting his fastest lap – and end the 2013 season on a high.
SV Director, Danny Buxton, said: “The team is on a massive high after such a successful outing at Rockingham four weeks ago and it puts us in a positive frame of mind going into Brands Hatch’s season finale this weekend. After achieving a breakthrough win, Ant (Whorton-Eales) has a taste for victory and will no doubt be targeting the top step of the podium in Kent, although his KX Akademy team-mate Stefan (Hodgetts) might have something to say about that.
“Then there’s Devon (Modell). He has shown so much promise throughout his maiden UK Clio Cup season and is gunning for a podium finish after coming so close at Rockingham. It would be so satisfying for him to scale the winners’ rostrum at his home circuit, but I think Josh (Wakefield) is capable of producing a surprise or two, having shown such great pace last time out. Ronnie (Klos) produced the highlight of the Rockingham weekend for me personally, qualifying fifth on pure merit. He didn’t have the best of luck in the races but both he and Finlay (Crocker) should threaten for Masters Cup glory. I just hope we go into the winter months with some solid results for all of our drivers.”
Renault UK Clio Cup qualifying will take place at 10.50 on Saturday (12 October), with Round 15 set to begin at 16.50 that afternoon. On Sunday (13 October), the final race of the 2013 season (Round 16) is scheduled to begin at 13.30 and will be broadcast live and in high definition on ITV4 and ITV4 HD.
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