CAYGILL PLANS JOINT UK & EUROPEAN VOLKSWAGEN RACING CAMPAIGNS

Josh Caygill has a busy season ahead of him in 2014. Photo: Image Vaults

The APR Volkswagen Racing Cup’s top rookie of 2013, Josh Caygill, is to return to the championship next season at the wheel of an AWM Motorsport-prepared Scirocco. The 24-year-old from West Yorkshire will dovetail his UK campaign with a full season of racing in Europe’s Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup.

Former motorcycle racer Josh claimed ninth place overall in the championship standings this season at the wheel of an AWM Golf GTI. His highlight was a sixth-place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix circuit of Spa-Francorchamps and in all he claimed eight top 10 finishes from 14 outings.

For his second season on four wheels, Caygill has joined the Tim Sugden Motorsport management stable. “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 Josh. “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.”

He is pleased to have been accepted for the Scirocco R Cup, following in the wheeltracks of VW Cup competitor Ross Wylie, who successfully combined UK and European campaigns in 2013. “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.”

Unfortunately for Caygill, the VW Cup and Scirocco R Cup calendars have a couple of date clashes in 2014, but his focus is on gaining as much race experience as possible: “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. We’re going to have a proper go at both championships and see how we get on.”

The APR Volkswagen Racing Cup returns to action on Easter Monday, 21st April, at the Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire.