Jordan Stilp has been crowned the 2014 Renault UK Clio Cup Graduate Cup champion, a success the 20Ten Racing ace admits was completely unexpected.
Stilp headed into the final rounds of the season at Brands Hatch in mathematical contention for the overall title with eventual champion Mike Bushell and Josh Cook.
While the finale weekend didn’t go entirely to plan for the 20 year old, with contact on the opening lap of race one leading to a twelfth place finish, a hard-fought fifth place finish in race two secured him third overall and the Graduate honours.
“I can’t believe it really,” an elated Stilp told TCF. “It’s a surprise to be honest, we really didn’t expect to take third in the championship and win the Graduate Cup.
“It’s been a great year, we’ve all worked really hard and the team have been brilliant.”
The Graduate Cup success is the culmination of a fantastic run of six podium finishes in the last ten races for Stilp, who had taken none in the first eight races of the campaign.
The catalyst for that run was a stunning double victory at Croft in June, and Stilp feels that breakthrough weekend was crucial.
“It’s hard in Clios to get to the front and break that barrier of winning, but once you’ve done that it gives you confidence in yourself that you can win and stay at the front,” he commented.
After beating a number of more experienced Clio driver in only his second season of front-wheel drive racing, Stilp wants to return to the championship next season for an overall title challenge.
“If we can get the funds we’ll be doing it again next year, and if so we want to be contending for the title,” he added.