Redditch Advetiser

A Redditch businessman is realising his dream after battling against illness to finally take the plunge to take part in a top racing series event.

Dave Hughes, the former owner of Huggies nightclub in the town and who still runs a recruitment agency, is going to compete in the BRSCC Porsche Championship which gets underway in April and is currently building a car to compete in Britcar Production 2010.

He was struck down with Crohn’s disease two years ago, a stomach related disorder which meant he didn’t leave the house for six months and lost five stone in weight.

“The illness was debilitating I almost lost everything as I was just unable to work, I do feel for anyone that has this disease as there is no complete cure,” he said.

But after having surgery and getting his business career back on track, he decided to do what he always wanted and indulge his passion for motorsport in a new and exciting event which is set to attract a lot of attention.

And not content to just compete in his first season in competitive motorsport, Dave is going all out to win the series, which will run at eight top venues across the country featuring Porsche Boxster S cars.

Not only has he recruited top driver Kevin Clarke, the winner of the Britcar Production Championship for the last two years to race alongside him but he has had a car built from scratch to compete.

Dominic Delaney, who has worked with Kimi Raikkonen and Tommi Makinenin rallying and Mark Weber and Niko Rossberg in Formula One, developed Hughes’ car specially at his Specialist Vehicle Preparation business in Droitwich.

The result is a mixture of an experienced driver, a top car and the expert back up which Hughes thinks will make his team one of the contenders in the new series.

Dave and Kevin have been rigorously testing the cars, which cost £45,000 each to build, at circuits such as Mallory Park, Snetterton, Silverstone and Rockingham and the outlook so far is good.

He said: “After rebuilding my business life and getting some money together I realised life is too short and decided to follow my ambitions.

“So far it has worked well as we have recruited a top driver and top notch technician with a car which is custom built from new.

“Kevin has already been passing on his experience and knowledge to me because I am new to racing and the vibes have been very good.

“I really think we will have a chance because the car has been developed from the ground upwards by a Porsche expert and ex- F1 Technician, rather than being an adapted Boxster as many competitors use.

“Testing has gone well and Kevin is happy with the car. We think we have two vehicles which can really compete in this event.”

The series will get coverage on Motors TV and Eurosport and a testing day is being held at Silverstone on Friday to introduce the event to the press.

The first race will take place at Cadwell Park on Sunday April 10 and you can follow the team’s progress through the Redditch Advertiser or www.hughesracing.co.uk.

For details on attending the events or sponsoring Dave, contact him via e-mail at hughesracing@live.co.uk.

DRIVING AMBITION: Former Redditch nightclub owner Dave Hughes with his Porsche.

Picture Lisa Bedi.
A Redditch businessman is realising his dream after battling against illness to finally take the plunge to take part in a top racing series event.

Dave Hughes, the former owner of Huggies nightclub in the town and who still runs a recruitment agency, is going to compete in the BRSCC Porsche Championship which gets underway in April and is currently building a car to compete in Britcar Production 2010.

He was struck down with Crohn’s disease two years ago, a stomach related disorder which meant he didn’t leave the house for six months and lost five stone in weight.

“The illness was debilitating I almost lost everything as I was just unable to work, I do feel for anyone that has this disease as there is no complete cure,” he said.

But after having surgery and getting his business career back on track, he decided to do what he always wanted and indulge his passion for motorsport in a new and exciting event which is set to attract a lot of attention.

And not content to just compete in his first season in competitive motorsport, Dave is going all out to win the series, which will run at eight top venues across the country featuring Porsche Boxster S cars.

Not only has he recruited top driver Kevin Clarke, the winner of the Britcar Production Championship for the last two years to race alongside him but he has had a car built from scratch to compete.

Dominic Delaney, who has worked with Kimi Raikkonen and Tommi Makinenin rallying and Mark Weber and Niko Rossberg in Formula One, developed Hughes’ car specially at his Specialist Vehicle Preparation business in Droitwich.

The result is a mixture of an experienced driver, a top car and the expert back up which Hughes thinks will make his team one of the contenders in the new series.

Dave and Kevin have been rigorously testing the cars, which cost £45,000 each to build, at circuits such as Mallory Park, Snetterton, Silverstone and Rockingham and the outlook so far is good.

He said: “After rebuilding my business life and getting some money together I realised life is too short and decided to follow my ambitions.

“So far it has worked well as we have recruited a top driver and top notch technician with a car which is custom built from new.

“Kevin has already been passing on his experience and knowledge to me because I am new to racing and the vibes have been very good.

“I really think we will have a chance because the car has been developed from the ground upwards by a Porsche expert and ex- F1 Technician, rather than being an adapted Boxster as many competitors use.

“Testing has gone well and Kevin is happy with the car. We think we have two vehicles which can really compete in this event.”

The series will get coverage on Motors TV and Eurosport and a testing day is being held at Silverstone on Friday to introduce the event to the press.

The first race will take place at Cadwell Park on Sunday April 10 and you can follow the team’s progress through the Redditch Advertiser or www.hughesracing.co.uk.

For details on attending the events or sponsoring Dave, contact him via e-mail at hughesracing@live.co.uk.

DRIVING AMBITION: Former Redditch nightclub owner Dave Hughes with his Porsche.

Picture Lisa Bedi.