F3 racer Todd Hazelwood has not been dissuaded from a 2014 Dunlop Series drive despite a disappointing debut at Homebush earlier this month.
The 18-year-old South Australia endured a Dunlop V8 Supercar Series debut to forget as a qualifying accident with Steve Owen saw his damaged car sidelined for both races.
Hazelwood earned a place on the grid at the Sydney 500 with Minda Motorsport as a result of winning Channel Seven’s hit reality TV show ‘Shannons Supercar Showdown’.
The television program, filmed in conjunction with Ford Performance Racing, pitched 10 racing drivers against each other in a bid to find the next V8 Supercar star.
As the victor, Hazelwood won a testing contract with FPR as well as the prized Dunlop Series drive.
Although yet to compete in a Dunlop Series race, Hazelwood has revealed he fully intends to join the championship in 2014 if he can find the budget necessary.
“The Dunlop Series is our primary goal for next year so if we can make the grid that would be amazing”, Hazelwood told Speedcafe.com
“Obviously there are few opportunities out there to race Dunlop Series for next year.
“You always need money to go racing so if we can find the funds we can be on the grid.
“Its just a matter of funding but that it is the hard bit.
“We are working pretty hard to get sponsorship to go racing again next season. My ultimate goal is to run in V8 Supercars so we will be following that dream.”
Hazelwood may have failed to gain any V8 race experience on his outing with Minda Motorsport at Sydney, but he says there were plenty of positives to take.
“There were a lot of positives I have taken from it. To race on a street circuit like Homebush is very demanding and I learnt a lot.
“To drive a V8 Supercar is something I will never forget.
“I don’t think I made a complete disgrace of myself and I was there and thereabouts in the times.
“I’m focussing on the positives and trying not to get too down on what happened. It was pretty tough to get over it initially.”
Hazelwood is yet to be informed as to when he will join FPR to take up his testing role with the team.
