Team RAC has today announced that it has re-signed Stephen Jelley for the 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season.
Team RAC has today announced that it has re-signed Stephen Jelley for the 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season.
The 26-year-old will continue to race for Team RAC following a promising 2008 season in which Jelley was part of the winning team that claimed the Independents Team title.
Jelley finished his debut BTCC season in 15th place in the overall Drivers Championship and eighth in the Independents standings. The highlight of his season saw Jelley, in September, at Brands Hatch, secure an impressive pole position in qualifying.
Jelley joined Team RAC at the beginning of last year after three seasons competing in the British Formula 3 Series. He started his motorsport career in the Avon Junior Formula Ford Zetec Championship in 2002 before moving into Scholarship Class the following year.
Driving for Raikonnen Robertson Racing for two seasons in Formula 3, Jelley finished third in the Championship Class standings in 2007.
Jelley once again joins Colin Turkington at Team RAC, who will be looking to build on a successful 2008 BTCC season in which he finished Independent Drivers' Champion.
Leicester-born Jelley said: "It's great to be driving for Team RAC once again this coming season. There has been a lot of hard work going into the cars over the winter and I am sure we will be very competitive and hit the ground running.
"I am totally focused on the first round at Brands Hatch in April. I have been looking after myself more by going to the gym and undertaking a rigorous fitness regime. I have set myself goals of where I want to be both physically and mentally before the start of the season.
Dick Bennetts, WSR Team Principal, commented: "I am delighted that Stephen has agreed to re-sign for Team RAC. Stephen had a steep learning curve adjusting to the hurly-burly of touring cars at the start of the 2008 season, but this was overcome as the year went on.
"The pole position secured in the final round at Brands Hatch was no mean feat and a tribute to his driving abilities. He is a promising driver, a quick learner, and someone who complements Colin Turkington perfectly."
Kerry Gazzard, RAC sponsorship and PR consultant, said: "RAC are thrilled to have Stephen on the team once again. He showed a lot of potential last season and, with a bit of luck that is long overdue, he can secure points both for himself and Team RAC. Alongside Colin, Team RAC continues to have a formidable duo to compete in the BTCC."
To keep up to speed with Team RAC visit teamrac.co.uk.
Profile
Name: Stephen Jelley
Date of birth: 12 May 1982
Lives: Leicester
Height: 6'
Other facts: Stephen attended the Wimbledon School of Art has a BA Hons in Fine Art
Favourite track: Oulton Park
Best race: Thruxton 2007 - British Formula Three Championship
Motorsport hero: Michael Schumacher
Stephen Jelley Racing History
2008 - (Main) BTCC Team RAC, 15th place. One pole, part of team which claimed the Independents Team title 2008. (Winter) Gp2 Asia championship ART.
2007 - British Formula Three Championship, Raikkonen Robertson Racing, third place. Two wins two pole positions, four fastest laps, 10 podium finishes.
2006 - British Formula Three Championship, Raikkonen Robertson Racing, seventh place. Six podium finishes, four fastest laps.
2005 - British Formula Three Championship, Menu Motorsport.
2004 - British Formula Three Scholarship Class, Performance Racing, runner up, three wins, 14 podium finishes, six fastest laps.
2003 - British Formula Ford Scholarship Class, Medina Sport, runner up, one win.
2002 - British Formula Ford Junior, Medina Sport.
2001 - BRDC Formula Ford.
2000 - BRDC Formula Ford.
-ends-
For further information please contact:
Steve Stammers
Lexis Sport
Telephone: 0207 908 6439
Notes to editors:
About BTCC
The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) was formed in 1958 and is Britain's most popular motor racing spectacle. Its race season comprises ten events at top circuits across the UK. It is contested by professional racing drivers in competition versions of every day road cars, giving it tremendous public appeal. Some 325,000 watch the BTCC trackside each year. www.btcc.net/
About RAC
RAC is one of the UK's most progressive motoring organisations and a provider for both private and business motorists. Whether it's roadside assistance, windscreen repair and replacement, learning to drive, vehicle inspections, legal and financial services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information - RAC is able to meet motorists' needs.
About HiQ
HiQ (part of Goodyear Dunlop) became the BTCC's new title sponsor in 2008 in a new three-year agreement. It provides a fast-fit car care service at its 150 centres across the UK. In the next two years, that number will rise to 250 as HiQ embarks on revolutionising the fast-fit industry. It has already taken the lead by offering a unique online service www.hiqonline.co.uk/ for motorists to buy tyres and arrange a fitting appointment.