MARLO CORDELL RETAINS JAMSPORT SEAT FOR 2024

Marlo Cordell will return to the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE for a second successive season after agreeing to an extended deal with the JamSport team.

Cordell made his debut in the JCW class last year as former champions JamSport returned to the series for its first full-season programme since 2020.

The 20-year-old had originally joined forces with JamSport for the first time mid-way through 2021 for an assault on the ST150 class of the BRSCC Fiesta Championship, scoring six class podiums to take third in class despite missing the first two rounds.

Cordell then showed his ability to run at the front in the turbo-charged ST240s in 2022 as he again made it onto the podium en-route to a top-eight championship finish, before making the step up to the MINI CHALLENGE last season.

Competing on the biggest stage of his career to date as part of the BTCC support package, Cordell would twice qualify in the top six and scored a pair of top six finishes to end the season 16th overall, despite being forced to miss the three races at Silverstone.

With a year of experience now behind him, Cordell will aim to fight his way up the overall order in 2024 whilst also competing for honours in the Graduate Cup, with the youngster set to benefit from continuing to work alongside JamSport’s MINI CHALLENGE title-winner Ant Whorton-Eales 

“I’m looking forward to returning to the MINI CHALLENGE paddock this season with JamSport Racing,” he said. “Last season I had to deal with a few setbacks and personal trials, but I was able to learn a huge amount at the same time.

“After the off-season break, I feel refocused and am fully prepared to capitalise on the opportunity I now have for 2024 with the team, and I’m confident of a strong season.”

Team boss Jamie Going said he was confident that Cordell would be a contender on-track in the JCWs this season.

“Marlo came to us with very minimal experience and only completed his first full season in 2022,” he said. “We decided to make Marlo our development driver in 2022 and by doing this, he gained lots of invaluable skills and experience by being in and around not only our Fiesta team but also our TCR team.

“He’s gone from strength to strength since and I’m very proud of what he has achieved despite some setbacks along the way. I’m looking forward to seeing how he gets on during the season ahead.”

Whilst Cordell was a single-car entry last season, JamSport is set to run a multi-car programme in the series this year.