AS CHAMPIONSHIP RESUMES FOLLOWING SUMMER BREAK
Following a near two-month summer sojourn, the Audi Sport TT Cup will make its eagerly awaited return to action at the Nurburgring in Germany next weekend, 10th/11th September, where series front-runner Josh Caygill aims to re-energise his challenge during the championship run-in.
Marking the second visit of the year to the Eifel region, rounds nine and 10 of the campaign provide the Netherton racer with a great opportunity to try and mount a bid for his first silverware of the year, having lapped with top three pace during the previous Nurburgring event in late May.
In actuality, the upcoming Audi Sport TT Cup race meeting will be the 27-year-old’s third trip to the Nurburgring as he took to the full-length Nordschleife last month during a debut appearance in the VLN Endurance Championship at the wheel of a BMW M235i.
Despite an electrical problem which ruled the Walkenhorst Motorsport-run car out of the reckoning early on, the experience gained across the event proved extremely valuable and Josh is now relishing the prospect of being back behind the wheel of his 310bhp Audi TT Cup car.
“It’s been an absolute age since Zandvoort so I can’t wait for the championship to get going again, especially as we had such good pace at the Nurburgring the last time we were there in the Audi”, he commented, “It’s good to be going back to a track we know, we can just crack on during practice and hopefully be in with a chance of qualifying in the top five or six – that’s really important.”
Going into the ante-penultimate race meeting of the Audi Sport TT Cup season the Briton is ninth in the championship, 28 points outside the coveted top six, and has a best finish of fifth place under his belt from the curtain-raiser at Hockenheim.
While displaying strong race pace throughout the category’s second season, an undoubted match for podium-finishing performance, Josh’s hopes have been hit on more than one occasion by some less than fortunate circumstances.
On the previous visit to the Nurburgring, for example, he had to battle a slow puncture in race one and clutch issue in the second contest which seriously blunted his challenge. Contact at the Norisring during the subsequent event dealt another blow and at Zandvoort, last time out, a difficult qualifying run hampered the weekend’s potential.
“We haven’t had a completely straightforward year to be honest, there have been quite a few opportunities to score well which have gone begging, but the pace has been there in the races”, added Josh, “As long as we can stay out of trouble, and have no problems, I’m confident we’re quick enough to challenge for the podium. We just need things to roll in our favour a bit more.”
Practice for the Audi Sport TT Cup racers at the Nurburgring will be held on Friday, 9th September, with qualifying following at 10.30 (UK time) on Saturday, 10th September, ahead of round nine at 17.10 (UK time). On Sunday, 10th September, round 10 will begin at 07.50 (UK time) and both of the weekend’s contests will be available to view live online, as ever, HERE
2016 Audi Sport TT Cup Driver Standings (after Rd8):9th Josh Caygill, 72pts
Through his motor racing Josh helps to support and promote Wooden Spoon – the children’s charity of rugby. Founded in 1983, the charity has been making a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people since that time. Wooden Spoon is one of the largest funders of respite and medical treatment centres, sensory enhancement therapeutic facilities, specialist playgrounds, sports activity areas and community-based programmes. For more information visit www.woodenspoon.com
