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The 2024 Trackday Trophy and Trackday Championship (TDC) seasons are fast approaching and excitement levels continue to build. As part of the buildup to the upcoming 2024 season, MSVT Racing took the time to quiz three of our drivers, to find out more about both them and their aspirations for the forthcoming year.
In the spotlight is the 2023 TDC Overall Champion Stewart Donovan (Se7en Motorsports), successful Trackday Trophy Class D driver Martyn Adams (Boreham Motorsport Midlands), and TDC 2023 debutant David Evans (Semprini Racing).
Q. What circuit are you most looking forward to visiting in 2024?
Donovan: “Brands Hatch GP. It's my home circuit and where I won my first race!”
Adams: “Cadwell Park. It was the first track I raced on (in 1992), the first one that I got a trophy (in 1997) and the first track to get an outright win (in 2008)”
Evans: “For me it has to be Navarra in Spain.”
Q. What are your goals for the upcoming season?
Donovan: “I have two main goals for 2024. My first goal is to try and retain the Championship. My second goal is to keep having fun and keep learning/developing as a driver.
Adams: “To have fun! It’s great to be able to race with Rob, my son, and have the full support of my wife, Jo. We’ve really enjoyed racing Trackday Trophy; the meetings are well-run and we've had a lot of close, clean racing.
Evans: “Hopefully a few more top 10 finishes in EnduroKA with Semprini Racing, also hoping to maybe get my first trophy in TDC with NJM Racing”
Q. Who is your motorsport hero?
Donovan: “I'm a big F1 fan and could name a few, but as I grew up watching Super Touring cars, I'm going to say Matt Neal - a very talented driver who battled at the sharp end even when he had lesser machinery and became the first independent to win a race outright.”
Adams: “I'd say Vic Elford; he had a relatively short career but was successful in such a wide variety of events such as rallying, rally cross, saloon car racing, sports car racing - including Targa Florio, Nürburgring 1000km, Daytona 24 hours and also raced at Le Mans, Can-Am, a few F1 races (getting 4th place in his first race) and even NASCAR.
Evans: “Jimmie Johnson, watching NASCAR as a kid is what got me into racing and the #48 livery is just iconic.”
Q. What’s been your standout moment with MSVT Racing?
Donovan: “After 6 years racing with MSV there's a few! Winning the TDC championship was a huge achievement for me, but my first podium is probably the biggest standout moment with MSVT Racing. The feeling I had when standing on the podium for the first time is a very memorable one.”
Adams: “We've had a lot of good times at MSVT meetings and it's difficult to pick just one moment. Probably the most memorable is Rob and me getting our first class win in Trackday Trophy - at Oulton Park in 2018. I think it was only Rob’s 7th race ever!”
Evans: “Sharing a car with my dad for the inaugural EnduroKA 24 hour race at Anglesey in 2022 was a brilliant event, glad it’s back for this year!”
Q. What’s your favourite thing about a race weekend?
Donovan: “My favourite thing about a race weekend is that work and day-to-day tasks take a backseat and I focus purely on the challenge of trying to be quickest. I think it's important to have something where you can switch off from the outside world and focus on one thing without distractions - and racing is what does that for me.”
Adams: “The combination of the excitement about the race and the atmosphere at a race meeting. It's great to have the common interest with others, the social aspect before and after the race and buzz from the time on track.”
Evans: “Other than getting out on track, being surrounded by great people both within the team and out to the rest of the paddock”
Q. Dry race or wet race?
Donovan: “Dry race - pushing a car to its limits in the dry is always at a higher speed, which I really enjoy.”
Adams: “Either - as long as we're racing! I didn't used to like racing in the wet but now (most times) enjoy racing in the wet as much as the dry. Although, it's more comfortable in the dry standing in the pit-lane and sat in an open-top car in the assembly area!”
Evans: “Dry race, all day long!