Simon Rudd announced this week that he will be making his Tin Tops racing debut this season in the VW Cup.

Not only that but the Chatham based racer will be teaming up with Team HARD Racing who this week also announced a restructure with Gary Allen taking control of the VW Cup Operation, with support from Tony Gilham who ran the BTCC and VW Cup teams last season.

Speaking about how the move to Team Hard and the VW Cup came about Simon said: “We got introduced to Tony from connections whilst looking for sponsorship and options for 2014. We met up and straight away decided that the opportunity to work with Tony and Team HARD was too good to turn down. The support that the team have and are able to give me, and my team-mates, is a huge advantage.

“They have a great bunch of lads and really want to build on the success of last year, so I want to be part of the ongoing development of the team.”

As we said Simon has yet to race in tin tops in his career but he is looking forward to the new challenge that is in front of him for 2014.

He added: “The VW cup is close and competitive racing. It is a great series to be involved in if you want to progress your career and being on the same package with the British F3 & GT series, as well as being on TV, it will receive a huge amount of coverage and backing.

“I haven’t raced a tin top in my career and I am hoping to use my experience from single seaters to adapt as quickly as possible. I have experience of some the tracks that we will be going to, which puts me in a stronger position than I was at this point last year. With the right preparation and attitude, we will be ready for the first round in April.”

With it being his first season in a new Championship Simon will be looking to bed himself in to start with before pushing on.

“Initially I want to get in the car and adapt as quickly as possible. It’s going to be a tough series but I see no reason why we can’t be competing for a good points haul and even challenge the top end of the grid as the season progresses.”

Simon will be racing the Number 51 car next season although he can’t claim credit for the reason why he is racing that number, and we ask him about testing in the coming weeks.

He said: “It was actually a great idea from Tony! – It is the first part of my name so makes sense to use that number to its full potential. It makes me much easier to recognise!

“That’s the aim – we will sit down over the next couple of weeks and work out a plan – so fingers crossed I will get my first taste of the VW very soon!!”

Team Hard have also announced that Tom Barley who was supported by KSN last season will be returning to the team for the VW Cup, as will Kieran Gallagher.

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