Dan Zelos will continue to race with EXCELR8 Motorsport in next weekend’s British Touring Car Championship races at Silverstone, having impressed on his début at Donington Park.
Zelos, 26, was given a last-minute call up to the BTCC ahead of the eighth round of the season, following the mid-season departure of Ronan Pearson.
Despite having no race experience in the team’s Hyundai i30 N Fastback, and faced with difficult changeable conditions throughout the weekend, Zelos scored points in all three races and ended the weekend with his best race result of 11th.
The Norfolk racer will get a second chance to impresses in the penultimate event of the year on the Silverstone National circuit next weekend.
“Joining the BTCC grid at Donington Park was the realisation of a dream, and the whole experience only left me wanting more,” said the three-time MINI Challenge champion.
“So much hard work has gone in since then, and I’m over the moon to be in a position where I can now continue to fly the flag in the Macklin Motors-backed car for the event at Silverstone.
“I had no real expectations going into Donington Park given that I had no time in the car prior to the weekend, and I was proud to come away from my first BTCC meeting with three points finishes from three having battled against some of the very best drivers on the grid.
“I feel very fortunate to have such amazing support around me, which has helped to get me to the position I now find myself in.
“With extra experience now under my belt, albeit still nowhere near as much as my rivals on track, I want to go out and there and try to build on the performance at Donington Park and really let the racing do the talking.”
Justina Williams, Team Owner, is looking forward to seeing how Zelos can build on the experience he gained in his August début.
“Dan did a fantastic job at Donington Park on his first weekend in the car in difficult circumstances with the weather conditions as they were, and more than showed he has the talent required to be part of the BTCC grid,” added Williams.
“We’re delighted to confirm that Dan will once again be out on track at Silverstone and look forward to seeing what he can achieve with the additional knowledge and experience he now has after a weekend in the car.
“We’re sure he will continue to give his all to aid the team at a vital stage in the championship battle.”