Josh Caygill will dovetail his racing duties in the APR Volkswagen Racing Cup with a full season in Europe’s Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup during 2014, as he moves into his second year racing on four wheels.
The 2013 VW Cup’s top rookie will return to the UK’s single manufacturer championship for a second season, but the former bike racer will now head to the European circuits to compete in the DTM-supporting Scirocco R Cup.
Caygill has joined the Tim Sugden Motorsport management stable for his second year, the West Yorkshireman having impressed during his maiden campaign on his way to ninth place in the VW Cup championship standings this season at the wheel of an AWM Golf GTI.
“We’ve tried to fast-track the process a bit since moving into cars and we did make some mistakes during the early part of last season,” said Caygill. “I’ve only been working with Tim for about three months but it’s already had a big impact. I’ve had some lessons with him and that has made a major difference, just ironing out a few things which mean we’ll be stronger next year.
“You can practice and test a car until you’re blue in the face but there’s nothing like getting actual race experience, and that’s what I need. You need to learn what sort of moves to make, where to put yourself on the track, and that can only come with what you learn in a racing environment.”
Caygill’s European campaign sees him imitating fellow VW Cup competitor Ross Wylie, who ran a similar season plan during 2013.
Caygill however will – just like Wylie did – therefore not be able to compete in every event of the UK championship during 2014 due to date clashes with the European series. Not that this will deter Caygill’s mood however, the 24-year-old eagerly awaiting the challenge in store.
He concluded: “I’d have been devastated if I hadn’t got one of the drives in the Scirocco R Cup. It’s perfect for me with it being only my second season in cars: instructors are out on track watching you in each session and then they go through all of the data with you – that’s just what I need at this point.
“It’ll be a challenge learning all of the tracks but I can’t wait. We’re going to have a proper go at both championships and see how we get on.”
