JWB PLANS FOUR-CAR ASSAULT ON VOLKSWAGEN RACING CUP

JWB Motorsport, the new team formed by truck-racing champ Chris Levett and former BTCC racer Nick Beaumont, will field a four-car squad in this year’s APR Volkswagen Racing Cup, it has been confirmed.

Joining Levett on the driving strength will be race winner Kieran Griffin in his Scirocco and Golf GTI racers Mark Clynes and Paul Dehadray. Levett will campaign a new Scirocco.

Team manager and driver coach Beaumont said: “I am delighted to have Kieran, Mark and Paul on board with Chris and myself with the new team. I have coached all the drivers over the past years and feel confident that they will be looking at good strong results this season.

“It will be a different challenge for myself this year running the team with old and new members. We have a new member who is in her final year of the Volkswagen graduation scheme and very keen to get involved in motorsport; it is great to bring new people into the sport and with the help of Volkswagen this is possible. I am looking forward to the year ahead with the team and drivers that we have and the new challengers for 2013 season.”

Kieran Griffin, elder brother of BTCC racer Liam, will be embarking on his sixth season in the championship. The Addison Lee-backed driver claimed his maiden race win in 2011.

Clynes is a three-season veteran of the VW Cup. The Manchester-based property manager said: “I am looking forward to this season’s racing with the new team, who have years of experience running GT and touring cars. Although I have moved teams this year it will be nice to be in the same team as my old team-mates who have also made the move to JWB Motorsport. We are lucky that Nick Beaumont is team manager and also team coach; he is a great asset.”

Dehadray cut his racing teeth only last season and was immediately successful, ending the year with a best race finish of ninth and in the top three overall among the rookies: “As I enter into my second season of racing, I am keen to get going and to improve on last year’s results. There is still much to learn, but with the experience of both my team mates and Nick, who has coached me since I started last year, I am confident that I can meet the challenges that lay ahead.”

JWB Motorsport – the initials are those of Levett’s great-grandfather, who founded the family haulage business, Bird’s – has bought an ex-F1 team race truck and awning and plan to help raise the championship’s profile.

A 30-car field is expected for the opening rounds of the 2013 APR Volkswagen Racing Cup at Oulton Park on Easter Monday (1 April). For more information visit www.vw-cup.co.uk