Following a highly successful debut season, the hopes of many Yorkshire racing fans will be riding with Leeds racing driver and former British karting champion Sam Tordoff as he prepares once again to race in the Elf Renault Clio Cup, the proving ground of future British touring car drivers.

In April, the 21 year old will start competing in this year’s Clio Cup, the UK’s premier one-make race series, as part of the Wednesbury’s Total Control Racing team.  Tordoff, the 2007 Super 1 ICA British Karting Champion, graduated to the Clio Cup last year and secured two race wins and seven podiums in his debut season resulting in an 8th place finish in the main Championship along with the title of ‘top rookie’ driver and vice-Champion in the Winter Series - missing out on the championship title by just one point.  Sam also raced in the Belgian Elf Renault Clio Cup Championship at Zolder where he secured two second place finishes.

Sam is part of the Tordoff family which owns JCT600, comprising 44 car dealerships throughout Yorkshire and the North East.  He is currently in his final year of a Mechanical Engineering degree at Loughborough University.

“We are, of course, very proud of Sam’s achievements. He began racing karts when he was just nine years old and there’s no doubt that a deep love of motorsport runs in the family.  His grandfather, Jack, was a well-known rally driver who competed all over the world; it’s fantastic to see Sam taking up the mantle and we believe he is a genuine forerunner in this year’s Clio title.”

Sam comments: “I’ll be racing to win the UK championship in 2010 although I’ll be up against some extremely quick and talented drivers.  My goal is to go on to race in the British Touring Car Championship and ultimately GT Sportscars.”

Sam is being supported by a number of businesses including JCT600, Blackhorse Motor Finance, Shell, Castrol, Turnkey and BHP Hairdressing.  This season, three more sponsors have been announced: Dealerweb, Northridge Finance and MIS.