Photo: BTCC media

RAC-man Stephen Jelley

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Stephen Jelley has recently been confirmed at Team RAC for the British Touring Car Championship. The Brit has high hopes for the coming season and is confident that the results will be there.
“My goal is to do everything that is required to be at my maximum, then the results will sort themselves out. If I make sure I’m physically and mentally fitter before I get in the car and am prepared for the season ahead then the first goal is done,” said Jelley.

The team will start testing next month for the coming season. But this year the team will not head abroad for the test work.

“We will start testing in march, we believe that the Spanish tracks are not similar enough to the British, so we’ll wait until the weather allows us to test in the UK,” said Jelley.

After a tough start of the season last year, the 26 year old Brit has gradually improved, his highlight being a stunning pole position in the series last meeting at Brands Hatch.

After a few years in Formula 3, Jelley has joined Team RAC after having competed in the GP2 Asia Series. While touring car racing being his current forum, he has not got a special favorite.

“They are both very different. Touring car racing is great, but the S2000 cars could do with a bit more power and mechanical grip to make them more interesting over a single lap. Single seaters are great as well, especially when you have 620 BHP as in GP2.

But the racing can sometimes get frustrating, because it’s harder to overtake and the only way by is if the guy in front makes a big mistake. With touring cars, if you are quicker it is easier to “make room” for yourself.”

While the focus of the 2009 season is set on the British Touring Car Championship for Jelley, he is not ruling out to continue his single seater career in some way.

“I’m all signed up to drive for Team RAC in 2009 so thats my main focus at the moment, but if I was asked to drive a single seater in the future and it did not clash with my other commitments then I just see it as another car.”

The interview was done by Pietro Casillo in co-operation with stopandgo.tv.