Michael Epps will swap single-seaters for tin-tops this season after signing a late deal to contest the Miltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup with Team. HARD.
The move brings to a close a nightmare twelve months for Epps, who this time last year looked set for a successful campaign racing on the IndyCar ladder in America after finishing second overall in the pre-season USF2000 Cooper Tires Winterfest.
Unfortunately for Epps, who secured his maiden USF2000 wins at Barber Motorsports Park last February after completing a full season in the series in 2013, ongoing VISA troubles left him sitting on the sidelines throughout the year.
Epps’ only other racing of 2014 ended up coming with a return to the Protyre Formula Renault Championship at Silverstone in September with SWB Motorsport, a series he previously campaigned in during 2012.
The 23 year old will now return to racing full-time in the competitive VW Cup, which supports the British GT and BRDC Formula 4 Championships, driving a Team HARD VW Golf Mk 6.
“I’m excited as can be about this. It’s a new pathway within motorsport for me that I have considered before, but never jumped at,” said Epps.
“With the utter disappointment of having to sit out for 2014 after establishing myself as a championship favourite over in the states, I feel like this move is right for me. It’s great to be back out on track again for another season.”
After getting to grips with his Golf for the first time at Snetterton last week, the Hemel Hempstead-based racer is quietly confident he can become a front-runner in the series.
“I felt pretty good in the car straight away,” he added. “Compared to a single seater things don’t happen quite as quickly, so I am fine in terms of reacting and responding to the car, but the basic technique for a quick lap is different and that will be the main challenge. Provided all goes well, I think we will be there or thereabouts.”
Epps joins fellow ex-Formula Renault BARC racers Laura Tillett and Howard Fuller in Team HARD’s VW Cup ranks alongside Simon Rudd, Bobby Thompson, Rob Cox and Damani Marcano.
The 2015 Miltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup season kicks off at Oulton Park this Easter weekend, with qualifying and the opening race on Saturday 4th, before race two is part of the action on Bank Holiday Monday (6th).
