Christie Doran is ready for her 2017 season to start this weekend at Rockingham

The Golf returns for 2017 (Photo by Marc Waller)RISING VW racer Christie Doran reckons she has never been fitter as her new motorsport season kicks off this weekend.

The Scots speedster is ready to launch a title challenge in the VAG Trophy on some of the most iconic tracks in the country.

Christie, 21, has resigned with top team SlideSports to drive a VW Golf, starting at the high-speed Rockingham track in Northamptonshire this weekend after finishing third in the Class B championship in 2016.

She said: “This will be a tough season. Regulation changes mean there will be a number of top drivers trying out Class B this year. I finished last season on a real high – with pole position, two wins and two fastest laps at Castle Combe.
“But I need to be back to that level straight away. It has been a long close season but we are ready to go.”

Christie – who is part of the Macdonald Inchyra Hotel and Spa programme for supporting young local talent – added: “I have been working really hard in the gym at the Inchyra. The programme they devised has made me heavier, but it is all muscle. I need to be light but strong so it does not affect the weight of the car. We have also been testing the car at Oulton Park and Rockingham and that has all gone very well.”

Team boss Mark Jenkins is running cars in the Porsche Carrera Cup, GT Cup, VW Racing Cup and VAG Trophy and he believes his young Scots star has a real challenge on her hands.

He said: “I believe Class B will be the most competitive it has ever been. It will be tough to win but Christie knows she has a good car that is capable of winning – she has proved that.

“We did a pre-season shakedown and she got rid of the rust and put in some good times. Then she has gone to Rockingham – where she has never raced before – and was really impressive. She has settled into the car far quickly than last year and that is a sign of the progress she is making.

Taking the flag (Photo by Marc Waller) Christie is hoping for more podiums like this one (Photo by Marc Waller)

 

 

 

“I would hope she will be battling for podiums everywhere, getting wins and having a say in the championship.”

Christie is also backed by Advance Construction Scotland, Complete Cleaning, Draper Tools and Tunnock’s. She said: “Their support means so much. They have faith, now it is up to me to deliver. I have been itching to get started now I can’t wait for the weekend.

“SlideSports are the best around. They have given me another stunning car. A good championship will be about good driving and scoring consistent points. The best points are for a win so that’s what we are aiming for.” 

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