2013 Season

Double winner at Brands!

ASHBOURNE’S Sam Randon broke his Michelin Clio Cup Series duck last weekend in the final round at Brands Hatch, dominating the racing and taking the overall roadcar win on both race days.

Determined to consolidate his maiden win over his more experienced teammate Tommy Ostgaard the previous day, the teenager was also keen to impress a new local sponsor, Airglide Ultimate, whose paint finishing system – proven to reduce drag – was applied to Randon’s car during the previous week.

“I’ve been getting closer to teammate Ostgaard’s lap times each weekend so we knew the margin we had to make up,” said Randon, still in his rookie season.

“Reducing aerodynamic drag on the car could only help.”

The 18 year old JCB Apprentice attacked the Sunday qualifying session determined to consolidate his position. A spectacular last minute pole position in qualifying was followed by a lights-to flag second victory of similar dominance to the previous day.

“I’ve been working so hard all year to beat Tommy, he’s been the man to beat all season and now we’ve managed to do it”, said a thrilled Randon,

“I couldn’t have asked for much more this weekend, I’ve done more than I set out to achieve this year so I’m really happy about that.”

Randon now intends to build on his success this year and plan a 2014 campaign in the faster and more prestigious racecar class.

Winner!

After following teammate Tommy Ostgaard home for the last 6 races, 17 year old Sam’s determination finally paid off today with a first overall roadclass win at Brands Hatch in Kent. After qualifying P2 yet again, Sam took the lead by the first corner after Ostgaard was baulked by a slow starting Cup car, but the lead was short-lived when a charging Jake Honour dived inside at Druids.

x

A jubilant Sam explained “I was planning to work on my lead as Tommy had a terrible start but I wasn’t expecting Jake to nick the place. I had to settle into a rythm behind Jake and got the lead back a couple of laps later at Paddock Hill“.

x

From that point the charging Randon built up a lead through concentration and consistency, taking the chequered flag for the roadcar class by some 5 seconds ahead of the chasing pack and fastest lap into the bargain.

x

“I’m delighted to have won today. Its taken me all season to get closer to Tommy and finally took the win infront of our new sponsor, Airglide, who were here today to support me. Their paint finish was applied to my car last week and is proven to reduce drag, it is a great partnership.“

Click here for post race interview.

New sponsor – Airglide

We are delighted to announce a new association with Airglide – a world leading surface protection for cars, boats and aircraft …. and now a Clio Cup racing car!!

The ‘nano-technology’ in Airglide products is a polymer that enables it to cross link and bond with the surface materials – such as paint work, acrylic surfaces, polycarbon,, carbon fibre, bare aluminium and alclad leading edges – to which it is being applied. In addition to a top shine, Airglide reduces drag by up to 42%.

So we are expecting Sam to be slippery fast at Brands Hatch for rounds 7 and 8 of the Michelin Clio Cup Series.

Rockingham Round 6 – podium again!

Sam Randon picked up a fifth novice class win at rounds five and six of the Michelin Clio Cup at Rockingham Motor Speedway in Northamptonshire, but a first outright win remained elusive. Sunday held great potential for equally close racing with an identical grid to day one. Sam again took the lead from the start, but was unable to hold the position for long. Despite trading fastest lap times with Ostgaard, he was unable to get  close enough to seriously mount a challenge and finished the 20-minute race just two seconds behind, taking the novice class win in the process for the fifth time from six races.

“I’d like to thank SWB Motorsport for preparing the car especially after my test accident,” Randon said. “Unfortunately that has wiped out our testing budget so I am appealing to local  companies with an interest in motorsport to contact us and get involved in remaining two rounds at Brands Hatch in September.”

Rockingham Round 5 – best race of the year

Sam Randon picked up a fifth novice class win at rounds five and six of the Michelin Clio Cup at Rockingham Motor Speedway in Northamptonshire, but a first outright win remained elusive. The Ashbourne teenager crashed out in the first race on Saturday, but finished second in the Sunday contest to mark a decent weekend.

x

Friday practice times looked encouraging, but long-time rival Tommy Ostgaard came out fighting on race day and the Norwegian comfortably took pole with Randon second. The race itself was a thrilling three-car battle right from lights, with Randon coming out in front and leading the first couple of laps.

x

On lap three, Ostgaard dived down the inside to take the lead, and the teammates held each other up, allowing privateer Jake Honour to lead. Ostgaard again took the lead on lap four and broke away as Honour and Randon fought hard over second place until late in the race when yet another overtaking attempt saw Randon end up in the tyres.

“There was no grip off the racing line and I just couldn’t stop the car that time” said a frustrated Randon. “But what a great race. It just goes to show how competitive this series is.”

Class win in race 4 but still disappointed

Despite yet another class 5 Novice win, Sam was disappointed not to win the overall road class category, losing out to his more experienced team mate Tommy Ostgaard.

“I started well and even pulled away for a couple of laps” said teenager Randon, “but Tommy seemed to manage his tyres better than me and by half way he was all over the back of me“.

Despite drawing on all his karting experience and making the little Clio as wide as possible, Ostgaard took the lead and pulled away.

“I had chronic understeer and was really struggling with the front end. Before long, Jake Honour was challenging from behind and I found myself defending again. Thankfully I kept the place at the flag, but it was great racing so closely with everyone. I really enjoyed that one!”.

Pole!!

In a closely fought qualifying session in blistering sunshine, Sam managed his tyres and took his first pole position of the series.

“Half way through quali I could feel the tyres going off, so I pulled into the pits and let the tyres cool down for a few minutes. This seemed to work for me as my first flying lap was clear of traffic and I took pole by just a couple of tenths from my team-mate Tommy“.

Another class win – round 3

Karting graduate Sam Randon took the novice class win in the roadcar section of the Michelin Clio Cup with Protyre series at Croft today, but jumped out the car disappointed that he couldn’t challenge team mate Tommy Ostgaard for the overall road car class win.

“I started in 2nd gear which nearly cost me the race before I started” said 18 year old Sam

 “in the early laps of the race I seemed to have the pace and caught back up to within a couple of car lengths, but I was pushing hard and cooked my tyres to quickly. After that I went backwards.”

Despite his disappointment the 18 year old engineering student collected fastest lap of the class in the pursuit of his team mate.

It all starts again tomorrow with another quali and round 4.

Croft weekend begins in the sunshine

Following a great test day at the Croft ciruit near Darlington, Sam is looking forward to the race days. With a victory firmly in his sights, Sam will have his work cut out against stiff competition none more so than teamate Tommy Ostgaard.

Coaching day with BTCC star

Karting graduate Sam Randon prepared for the forthcoming Michelin Clio Cup race meeting with a test day at the Rockingham Motor Speedway near Corby, by driving with a passenger – British Touring Car driver, Jack Goff.

22 year old Goff, 2012 Clio Cup champion, coached novice Randon on the techniques required for his front wheel Renault Clio in the changeable conditions.

x

“I was really impressed how quickly Sam got up to speed at Rockingham despite his limited track time in the Clio. He listened to my advice and acted on it immediately which is really rewarding for a coach.”

“By the end of the day, Sam was clearly understanding what the car was doing beneath him in the changeable conditions. He just got faster and faster.”

Clearly exhausted after a full day on the track with the touring car star, the Ashbourne teenager was still smiling.

“What a day! I’ve just learnt so much from Jack.”

“We’ve had a real variety of track conditions from dry, to damp, fully wet and back to dry again, so Jack has been able to help me master them all”.

SWB team boss Simon Baldry was pleased with the days testing.

“Jack’s knowledge of the Clio has been invaluable and Sam’s confidence has grown visibly as a result. We are really looking forward to the next race weekend.”

Rounds 3 and 4 of the Michelin Clio Cup with Protyre are at Croft in South Yorkshire, July 6/7.

Snetterton event video

Official Renault footage of the Snetterton event with a short clip onboard with Sam as he made an electric start in race 2.

Another podium in race 2

Despite a valiant attempt, novice race car driver Sam Randon couldn’t quite take the road car class win away from his new and more experienced team mate, Tommy Ostgaard, and had to settle for another second place (and top novice trophy). On a drying track the two SWB cars traded places throughout the qualifying session but it was the Norwegian Tommy that nailed the crucial last few laps and took pole. Not to be outdone, Sam out dragged him when the lights went out and took the lead into the first corner at ‘Riches’.

“I led for about 2 laps but Tommy’s consistency won the day. It is only 6 days since I first sat in a race car so I have to work on my technique. But its great having a team mate like Tommy and I look forward to giving him a good run for his money in the next races.”

The next Michelin Clio Cup with Protyre race weekend will be at Croft July 13/14.

Class win in first Clio Cup race!

It was a small grid of road cars in the inaugral race of the Michelin Clio Cup with Protyre but 18 year old Sam had to overcome a complete lack of practice laps due to a broken exhaust to bring it home a creditable second overall, taking the novice class win in the process.

“I settled into a good rthym after the race started and felt I was catching the leader, but I was pushing hard when I had a big moment into the hairpin. I was lucky to hold on to it but it finished my hopes of fighting for the lead“.

It all starts again tomorrow – with another qualifying session and round 2 of the Michelin Clio Cup with Protyre.

First laps in the race car

After a long wait Sam finally got his hands on the Clio Cup car built by SWB Motorsport this week. Silverstone Grand Prix circuit on Monday followed Donington on Tuesday was the sum total of preparation before the first race weekend 11/12 May at Snetterton in Norfolk. Circulating in some prestidgious company (with 2 historic F1 cars on the track with him) Sam soon got to grips with his race car and began the steep learning curve to learn the circuits and learn the difference between karting and car racing.

Sam gets first entry in Autosport magazine

When it comes to milestones in car racing, we expected to have to wait a while. But Sam has already achieved one set by his dad. A subscriber for nearly 20 years to the magazine considered the “bible” of motorsport in the UK, father Neil was chuffed to see the SWB press release occupy a respectable quarter page. They even referred to Sam as a “karting ace” – praise indeed!

Click here to read the article.

Sam signs up to Renault Clios for 2013

Having held a UK driving license for just six months, Ashbourne kart racer Sam Randon has signed up with SWB Motorsport to race a Renault Clio in the new Michelin Clio Cup with Protyre series run by the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) for the next chapter of his racing career.

With an impressive karting CV behind him, the teenager hopes to continue the same rate of progress in car racing in his pursuit of a career in the sport.

“I am really excited with this opportunity to race at this level” explained Sam “but it is all very different to kart racing so I know I have a lot to learn. The support and development offered by SWB Motorsport was an important factor in our decision”.

Simon Baldry, Team Principal at SWB Motorsport said “We’ve worked with Sam before in Karts and he’s made a name for himself in KGP this year and in TKM in the past. We had him in the Formula Renault for a day, as he was originally looking to do that, and he was quick, so we’re looking forward to it.”

x

x

Racing a 2.0 litre converted Clio Renaultsport 197, Randon will compete in the 8 race championship at circuits around the UK. The first two rounds of the championship starts at Snetterton in Norfolk on May 11th and 12th.

Back to the home page

Click here for a full 2018 season review

Click here for a full 2017 season review

Click here for a full 2016 season review

Click here for a full 2015 season review

Click here for a full 2014 season review

Click here for a full 2013 season review

KEYWORDS Neil Randon get started in karting start karting TKM not ROTAX Whilton Mill, Kimbolton, Shenington, Rissington, BT82,Super 1 one, clutched direct drive, Tony, flags, trophy, clio cup protyre, renault, BARC,BTCC, British Touring Car Championship, Westbourne, SWB, SV, Danny Buxton, talent, future, racing driver, BTCC, Clio, Maserati,Tony Gilham, Team HARD, Westbourne Motorsport