Devon Modell confirmed that he will return to the Renault UK Clio Cup in SV Racing (SVR) colours for a second consecutive season today (3 March). 

Race winner Modell completes SV Racing’s front-running four-driver line-up, joining KX Akademy-backed trio Alex Morgan, Ant Whorton-Eales and Ash Hand.

Modell, aged 23, returns for only his second year of Clio Cup action since making a triumphant comeback to racing following a four-year sabbatical, during which he studied for a degree at Lancaster University.

The Maidstone-based driver has invested in his own fourth generation turbo-powered Clio Cup racer and is plotting to become the 2014 Renault UK Clio Cup Champion.

“I’m feeling very optimistic going into the 2014 Renault UK Clio Cup season and I’ll be gunning for nothing less than race wins and the championship title, having ended last year on such a high,” said Modell. “I was delighted with the way 2013 ended and I want to start from where I left off. I’m yet to try the new Clio Cup car and it’s too early to know what to expect, although I’m quite confident that I’ll adapt quickly. I raced in the Dubai 24 Hours in completely different machinery and performed well and it will just be a case of getting used to the car in the build-up to the season, having learnt all the circuits in 2013.

“It’s fantastic to continue my relationship with Danny (Buxton) under the SV Racing banner, as he is familiar with my driving style and what I need from a car and I’m also delighted to welcome Gallery Nightclub in Maidstone and Springfield Engineering aboard for what should be exciting ride in the Renault UK Clio Cup!”

Having contested his first major endurance race in January at the Dubai 24 Hours – where he finished a credible second in class with a Motorsport Services-prepared SEAT Leon Supercopa – Modell is now primarily focused on the forthcoming UK Clio Cup season.

With a strong finish to last year’s UK Clio Cup campaign and victory in the Winter Cup at Rockingham Motor Speedway, Modell has impressed SVR Director, Danny Buxton, both on and off track.

“Devon is one to watch for the 2014 Renault UK Clio Cup, as he returns with boosted confidence after a strong finish to 2013 and an impressive run in the Dubai 24 Hours recently,” said Buxton. “Not only did he win the Winter Cup at Rockingham in November, but he really threatened the top guys in the UK championship at the back end of last year.

“He is genuinely one of the most intelligent drivers I’ve ever worked with and that is his biggest asset. He’s hugely switched on both on and off the track and he knows what he wants and needs from a car to be at one with it. There’s no doubt he needs some testing mileage in the new generation Clio, but we know that he has a unique driving style that’s very different to a normal front-wheel-drive technique and should be able to give him what he needs to compete at the sharp end right from the outset. I’m certain that he has the ability to produce big things and, if he gets a positive start at Brands Hatch and stays focused, he’ll be a real contender this season.”

For more information on SV Racing, please visit the new www.svracing.co.uk website, 'like' the team's Facebook page or follow @SV_Racing on Twitter.