Ash Hand has set his sights firmly on challenging for victories at Thruxton next weekend after claiming a career-best second place finish in the Renault UK Clio Cup at Donington Park.
Hand’s title challenge got off to a disappointing start during the curtain-raiser at Brands Hatch at the start of the month, however some hard work from the SV Racing team in the three week break ensured Hand was on the pace from the off in Leicestershire.
Qualifying in the top four for both races, Hand inititally struggled in wet conditions at the start of race one, but soon found his rhythm and fought to a seventh place finish.
Race two proved to be an action-packed affair. The KX Akademy member was in the thick of a fierce battle for second place with team-mates Alex Morgan and Ant Whorton-Eales, as well as Paul Rivett and Jordan Stilp, and after much position changing, Hand emerged in second place for his second career Clio Cup podium.
That result has ignited his title challenge, and he now heads to Thruxton on May 3/4 hoping to take a maiden Clio victory and in the process lay to rest demons from an 125mph testing accident at the high-speed Hampshire venue in February.
“Overall, I’m really happy with how the weekend went. We took a quantum leap forward from Brands Hatch, and that really spurs me on for the next round at Thruxton,” said Hand.
“It’s a circuit I love, and my accident there doesn’t change that in the slightest. I want to keep this positive momentum going and after adding a second-place finish to the third I achieved last season, there’s only one spot on the podium still missing from my CV – so that’s the one I’ll be gunning for!”
