MASON LOOKING TO REGAIN HIS VW CUP CROWN IN 2015

Aaron Mason will be hoping for better luck this campaign. Photo: www.jakobebrey.com

Former champion Aaron Mason is to return to the Milltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup in 2015 with two intentions – first to regain the crown he lost last year to Joe Fulbrook, and second to get back to enjoying his racing.

Despite winning more races – a total of four – than any other driver last season, 35-year-old Mason suffered a string of misfortunes which left him outside the championship top three for the first time since 2010.

“A fuse board going kaput at Rockingham was the start of it all,” said Doncaster-based Aaron, “then we had a damper snap at Silverstone and a set-up for Spa which too aggressive for the tyres. I thought Spa was the nail in the coffin but then I fell off a skateboard and hurt my ankle just before the Brands Hatch races…

“Last year was mostly down to bad luck – one of those things; the car broke at the worst possible time. I’m keen to get back to the sort of luck that I enjoyed on my way to the championship title in 2013, and to getting back to enjoying my racing again.”

He plans no major upgrades to the AWM-prepared Scirocco R with which he has claimed nine victories over the last two seasons: “I don’t feel I need to do much development work because the Scirocco is certainly quick enough. We will be going through all the data from last year to make sure we optimise the set-up, and we need to make sure with the move towards longer races that we can make the tyres last to the end, otherwise we will have to lighten the car, which won’t be a quick job.”

Mason came into the series as a novice in 2009 and claimed championship third that season, and again in 2011 and ’12, before taking the crown in ’13. With a total of 20 race wins under his belt he is the most successful driver in the championship’s history. Triple champion Fulbrook has 16 victories to his credit.

The opening rounds of the Milltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup take place at Oulton Park over the Easter weekend (4-6 April). This season will see 16 races decide the championship outcome, with longer races planned for the Spa, Snetterton and Donington Park events.

More information about the championship can be found at www.vw-cup.co.uk