HUDDERSFIELD racer Craig Roberts is looking to a new challenge after taking the VW Golf Cup title this season.
Having tied up the Golf Gti championship title in 10 rounds of the 12-race series, he is now looking to show his abilities in a new discipline having been offered a drive in endurance events next season on the back of his impressive exploits.
“I have been given the chance of a drive in the 24-hour Britcar event,” explained Roberts.
“It will be racing in a team in a Seat Leon in an endurance race and, to be honest, it is the chance to do something different and, who knows, it might just take me somewhere else in racing terms.
“It is a great chance to do something different rather than just settling for being the typical cash strapped racer.”
So impressive was his winning run in the Motor Club Golf Gti Championship – taking first place in the first 10 races of 2009 to build on a season of podium finishes throughout the 2008 season – that Roberts even considered missing the final two races.
Having already confirmed his championship win at Silverstone, he was prepared to take a break,
But, given the penultimate round was to be televised, he decided to race.
“It was obviously just a race too far,” said Roberts, who this year set new track records for the eight-valve Golf category in the rounds at Mallory Park and Silverstone.
“With the television coverage it looked like a good chance to make an impact – and I ended up finishing second!”
The fact Roberts was considering pulling out had more to do with finance than with complacency having already taken the title.
“When you add up the travelling costs to get to the events and then fuel costs, track fees, race entry costs and the rest you are looking at around £2,000 a race,” he explained.
“They are looking at doubling up with two races at each venue for each round, which would halve the budget for next season, which will help.”
Anyone interested in the supporting of Craig’s push for a second successive Golf Gti Championship title or finding out more about the Britcar endurance race can find more information at the www.craigrobertsracing.co.uk website which will be up and running soon.
