SV Racing aims to extend its unbroken 2014 podium run when the Courier Connections Renault UK Clio Cup and Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup resume at Corby’s Rockingham Motor Speedway (6-7 September).
As the hotly contested UK Clio Cup heads into its penultimate round at ‘The Rock’, SV Racing holds a 194-point lead over Teams’ title rivals Team Pyro, while Josh Cook currently heads the Drivers’ standings and will be seeking to tighten his grip on the coveted championship trophy by building on his 19-point cushion to main title protagonist Mike Bushell.
However, the Bristol-based driver will also have his SV Racing with KX teammates to overcome in Northamptonshire.
In an effort to accrue as much track time as possible and upstage Cook in the UK Clio Cup title race, Lichfield’s Ant Whorton-Eales contested Rounds 9 and 10 of the Michelin Clio Cup Series at Snetterton last weekend (30-31 August).
The second-year KX Akademy racer has very fond memories of Rockingham, as it was the scene of his maiden UK Clio Cup race victory in 2013 and where, in its former guise, the Danny Buxton-led team achieved a remarkable one-two-four finish.
Naturally, Whorton-Eales is hoping to replicate that success, but says: “Repeating what I achieved last year is going to be a tall order because the current crop of drivers are tough. The trouble is, I set the bar really high and, having been in the top three several times this season too, everybody has high expectations of me. There’s always a little pressure in such a competitive arena, but I’ll simply go out like normal and see what happens. I haven’t got the pressure that comes with being at the top of the championship and I almost have nothing to lose; I’m still in contention and I’m not going to win the title by taking it steady.”
Nuneaton’s Ash Hand continued SV Racing’s podiums streak at Knockhill two weeks ago and is brimming with confidence that a maiden race victory might be on the cards on home territory at Rockingham.
“I have a natural confidence and affinity with Rockingham and it was my best circuit last year,” said Hand. “The fact it’s my home track doesn’t really come into it, as I’ve only ever been around there a couple of times, but it flows really well and there are a lot of corners that help you get into a rhythm and find some good speed. I just don’t have to worry about what I’m doing – it comes naturally – and I want to lead from the front by taking pole position. Winning races is definitely the aim and I have nothing to lose by going all out in the remaining two rounds to try and overhaul my teammates in the points.”
SV Racing is back to fielding a sole Ginetta G55 for KX Akademy scholar David Pittard who, in his maiden season of competition in the GT4 Supercup, has exceeded all expectations and remains in the title hunt with only three rounds remaining.
The newly-appointed test and development driver for fledgling British sportscar manufacturer, Elemental, Pittard is determined to preserve his fourth place in the standings, following a resolute and determined comeback to sixth position at Knockhill.
Letchworth Garden City’s Pittard has previous form at Rockingham. He drove to a brace of podium finishes there in the 2013 Ginetta GT5 Challenge and duly hopes to stand atop the winners’ rostrum this time around.
Pittard said: “I can’t believe how quickly each race meeting comes around. It’s the busiest race calendar I’ve ever had since making my car racing debut and it certainly keeps you fresh and on the ball. I achieved my first double podium in the GT5 Challenge at Rockingham last year and I’ve always felt at home there, as it’s quite similar to Snetterton and has a lot of corners, like a Kart circuit. I think I’m due a good weekend because, while the first half of the season went really well, I haven’t had a podium since the summer break, which is frustrating. I’ve been gapped in the championship as a result, and I need race wins from now on. Rockingham is the best place to start notching up wins and I won’t complain if I lead from the front or have to fight for it.”
Qualifying for Rounds 15 and 16 of the Courier Connections Renault UK Clio Cup is scheduled to get underway at 10.50 on Saturday (6 September) and this will be followed by the first of the weekend’s two races at 15.00, with the second encounter at 13.00 the next day (Sunday 7 September).
Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup qualifying will begin at 12.10 on Saturday (6 September), with Round 22 later that day 1t 17.10 and the final two races on Sunday (7 September) at 9.40 and 15.12.
For more information on SV Racing, please visit the www.svracing.co.uk website, ‘like’ the team’s Facebook page or follow @SV_Racing on Twitter and Instagram.