SV Racing (SVR) will be seeking title glory in the 2014 Michelin Clio Cup Series with its drivers Tommy Østgaard and Sam Randon and therefore has lofty ambitions for this weekend’s season-opener at Rockingham Motor Speedway (5-6 April).
Having had a strong end to the UK Clio Cup last season – narrowly missing out on both the Teams’ and Drivers’ titles in the same specification of Renaultsport Clio 200s that now frequent the Clio Cup Series grid – the Cheshire-based SVR team is duly hoping to carry momentum into the 2014 Michelin backed championship.
Østgaard, aged 20, graduates to the ‘Racecar’ division in 2014 after finishing on the podium in every round and notching-up six race wins in the ‘Roadcar’ class, only to narrowly miss out on the title last year.
“Rockingham is a track I know quite well and it’s the only track I have driven, having competed in the ‘Autumn Cup’ late last year,” said Østgaard. “I am heading into this weekend with very little testing in the car due to a limited budget, but I have been doing a lot of simulator and physical work over the winter and feel in very good shape ahead of this weekend’s races.
“Friday will be my first outing in the car since last year so, if we can come away from the weekend with podiums, I will be very pleased. However, the main aim is to stand on the top step of the podium.”
Østgaard continued: “The aim for the season is, like every driver, to win the championship, but I will have to be consistent with my results and will be charging for podiums in every race.”
Lining-up alongside the Norwegian is Ashbourne’s Randon. Having made his car racing debut in the Clio Cup Series in 2013, the 18-year old also moves up to the ‘Racecar’ division.
He completed approximately 120 laps of the Snetterton ‘300’ circuit during a flawless initial winter test in race-spec Clio Cup machinery with guidance from BTCC podium finisher, Jack Goff, and is targeting consistently strong results from the outset of the season at Rockingham.
“I would like to racing competitively at the front of the field with the right amount of pace and, as this weekend will be my first competitive outing in a race car, I’d just love to come away with a decent amount of points for the team and myself.
“Over the winter I did a lot of testing and I’m getting to grips with the car, but I’m still learning every time I sit behind the wheel and I hope to continue improving over the course of the championship.”
Randon continued: “I have definitely made the right decision in joining SV Racing. The way in which Danny (Buxton) runs the team, and his record as a former Clio Cup Champion, means that he knows exactly what he’s talking about. He’s a very supportive figure within the team.
“I was at Brands Hatch this weekend (29 March) where they set the bar high in regards to results with Alex (Morgan) winning the double. I hope I can continue that success, as moving up to the UK Clio Cup is part of my racing career.”
Meanwhile, SVR has reinforced its commitment to nurturing skilled young drivers by signing 14-year old James Dorlin onto the first rung of its ‘stairway to talent’ in the Junior Saloon Car Championship (JSCC).
Following a prolific Karting career spanning three and a half years, Dorlin made his car racing debut in 2013, finishing runner-up in what was formally known as the SAXMAX Championship.
“I’m about to enter my second year in the JSCC and, having come second in the championship, I can only target the 2014 title. The success I achieved last year took me by surprise and I definitely underestimated my potential – it massively surpassed my expectations. The main thing is getting experience and, looking back on 2013, I know I could have been better in various aspects. However, I’m more experienced and confident in the car than ever, so there’s no reason why I can’t win the championship.”
SV Racing Director, Danny Buxton, said: “We head to Rockingham after a very successful weekend in the UK Clio Cup at Brands Hatch and we will be looking to carry that forwards. We have several years of experience and achieved a lot of success with the previous Clio Cup racecar and that knowledge will help during what will be a challenging season. Tommy (Østgaard) has huge amounts of natural talent, which was evident in the ‘Autumn Cup’ where he finished on the podium in both races despite having no miles under his belt. Sam (Randon), in my mind, is one of motorsport’s rising stars and we’ll see some huge performances from him this year as the season progresses.
“We signed James (Dorlin) onto our ‘stairway to talent’ scheme over the winter and his potential is huge, being so young. To be winning races in the super-competitive JSCC series is extremely difficult and what I have witnessed so far has impressed me greatly.”
Michelin Clio Cup Series qualifying is scheduled to begin at 10.55 on Saturday (5 April), with Rounds 1 and 2 at 10.50 and 15.10 the following day (Sunday 6 April).
Qualifying for the opening round of the Junior Saloon Car Championship (JSCC) will begin at 14.45 on Saturday (6 April), while the two races take place at 9.55 and 14.05 on Sunday (6 April).
For more information on SV Racing, please visit the new www.svracing.co.uk website, ‘like’ the team’s Facebook page or follow @SV_Racing on Twitter.