SV Racing has visions of scaling the winners’ rostrum when the highly competitive Michelin Clio Cup Series and Junior Saloon Car Championship resume at the history-rich Donington Park circuit this weekend (31-1 June).
Following a two-week break, the Cheshire-based SVR outfit will be looking to build on a successful start to its 2014 Clio Cup Series and JSCC campaigns in the East Midlands this weekend.
Having claimed his first podium finish since graduating to the Michelin Clio Cup ‘Race Series’ in 2014 on the technically challenging Oulton Park circuit a fortnight ago, Oslo’s Tommy Østgaard naturally hopes to go a step further at Donington Park, another track that he has very little experience of.
“I have now raced in two meetings, and I feel a lot more confident in the car, which is starting to feel like home,” said Østgaard. “I have only ever tested a road car at Donington Park, so I’m heading into the next round with no experience of the track in a race-spec Clio Cup car. I’ve driven it on the simulator and it seems like a track that I’ll enjoy and hopefully do well at. After taking my first podium at Oulton Park, I’d love to come away from this weekend with two podiums, one of which will hopefully be a race win.”
Sam Randon, aged 18, claimed a podium finish on his debut in the ‘Race Series’ in Rockingham Motor Speedway’s curtain-raiser in April, having previously achieved multiple top three finishes in the ‘Roadcar division’.
Currently seventh in the standings following a challenging weekend last time out at Oulton Park, Randon will be hoping to return to winning ways and reignite his championship charge on his home circuit of Donington Park.
“The season has been a bit of a rollercoaster so far,” said Randon. “After the highs of Rockingham and the lows of Oulton Park, I’m desperate to have a good weekend and resume normal service. I’ve only raced on Donington Park once prior to this weekend and that was in a road car last year, so competing in the ‘Race Series’ this weekend will be a completely new challenge. I showed great pace during the opening weekend of the year and have continued to progress throughout the season and the main aim now is to keep up that momentum until the very end of the season.”
Elsewhere, Barnsley’s James Dorlin continues to shine in the JSCC and has the sole objective of consolidating his championship lead by extending his race wins tally on the Derbyshire/Leicestershire border.
“I raced at Donington Park last year, but it didn’t go too well due to mechanical issues and I’m hoping this year will a different story,” said Dorlin. “I had a few technical gremlins at Oulton Park, but SV Racing and I have been working very hard on resolving those issues and I feel very confident in saying that the car is on song.
“We didn’t get the results we hoped for at Oulton Park, so this weekend I will be going all out for two race wins and the maximum amount of points on offer. Having won three races already, it gives me a huge boost going forwards, but it’s consistency that is going to win me the title.”
Dorlin has been joined at the foot of SVR’s rapidly expanding ‘stairway of talent’ by fellow JSCC frontrunner, Tom Stockton, who has also been a regular feature on the podium in 2014.
The 15-year old hotshot will benefit from coaching from SVR Director, Danny Buxton, as well as backing from the leading SVR team and will subsequently be disappointed not to achieve a brace of top three results at Donngton Park.
“I’ve had a pretty strong start to the 2014 season and I’ve been on the podium quite a few times already,” said Stockton. “I’m looking forward to achieving more top-three finishes at Donington Park this weekend, as it’s a circuit I revel on and I hope SVR’s knowledge and experience will help me move forwards. I really enjoy Donington’s fast, flowing nature and two podiums would be perfect, although you can’t help it if somebody tries going through you.”
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.