SV Racing take many positives away from Kent’s Brands Hatch following successful outings in the Michelin Clio Cup Series and Junior Saloon Car Championship(26-27 July), which included an impressive debut for series newcomer, Adam Hatfield.
Rounds 7 and 8 of the 2014 Clio Cup Series were held on Brands Hatch’s 1.22mile Indy circuit where Sam Randon and newcomer Adam Hatfield had a weekend of mixed fortunes.
In a hotly contested qualifying session on Saturday morning, with just one second separated the top 14, Randon and Hatfield positioned their Clios ninth and 12th respectively.
In the weekend’s opening race, Round 7, Randon ran door handle-to-door handle with rivals Brett Smith and Andy Jordan for much of the 12-lap contest, before crossing the line a respectable eighth despite a wounded car from an opening corner incident.
It was in Round 8 where debutant Hatfield made an impressive start to his Clio Cup Series career after finishing a high of seventh, having climbed several places from his original starting position of 11th.
16-year old Hatfield, who completed his GCSEs this summer, completed an 11th hour deal with SVR following the withdrawal of Norway’s Tommy Østgaard.
Having received tutoring from current Courier Connections Renault UK Clio Cup Championship leader, Josh Cook, throughout the weekend, Hatfield was quick to learn the ropes of the highly competitive Clio Cup Series and leaves Brands Hatch in a highly positive mindset.
“It was a brilliant weekend that exceeded all my expectations,” said Hatfield. “Friday’s practice was a good learning curve for myself, and thanks to the help of both Josh Cook and Danny Buxton, I was able to keep building on the pace going into the weekend.
“Race one was a little disappointing having been given a drive-through penalty for a start line infringement when I was running as high as ninth, but Round 8 was amazing. My start wasn’t great, but I was able to hold on round the outside at Paddock Hill Bend and moved up to tenth, and from then on I kept calm and was picked up the pieces to finish seventh.”
Elsewhere in the SVR awning, James Dorlin and Tom Stockton continued to impress during free practice in the Junior Saloon Car Championship, before positioning themselves fifth and eighth respectively in Saturday’s qualifying.
As the 14-car grid lined-up in their respective positions, Dorlin bolted off the line, and by the close of the opening tour, was battling with main title protagonist, Ben Colburn.
The duo ran nose-to-tail for much of the 15-lap contest, producing some great on-track action, but it was Dorlin who able to hold his nerve to cross the line three tenths ahead of his rival to extend his podium streak to five.
Race two was a different affair, as having started fourth, the 15-year old was unable to challenge for a sixth consecutive podium after making an error at Clearways, which demoted him three places before crossing the line fifth, with Stockton two places behind in seventh.
Stockton, who recently secured the backing of WIX Filters, ran a comfortable race and was able to leap frog Charlie Kennedy in the drivers’ standings to promote himself to fourth.
Having led the drivers’ standings since the opening round at Rockingham in April, Dorlin once again leaves an event with his name cemented to the top of the table as the series enters its final two rounds.
“Overall, it was another good weekend for myself and the team,” said Dorlin. “Race one was really good. Having started fifth and not feeling particularly well health wise, to finish second ahead of my championship rivals was great. Race two didn’t go quite as planned. I got a good start, but going into Clearways I made a slight mistake and lost three places, which I was unable to make up, but to finish fifth and take a handful of points is something I can’t be too upset about.
“Now it’s a case of making sure we don’t do anything silly and maintain our lead at the top of the drivers’ standings, which is now 19 points. We’ve also got to keep an eye on the dropped rounds, as we don’t want to drop too many points that could potentially land us in trouble.”