Opening rounds of the Renault Clio cup take place at Brands Hatch this weekend
By Jamie White – Head of Communications
Britain’s best aspiring touring car racers are primed to do battle at Brands Hatch Indy this weekend (March 29th and 30th) at the opening two rounds of the 2014 Courier Connections Renault UK Clio Cup.
Marking the start of a new era for Renault UK’s flagship championship, the 18-round season is the first to feature the new, fourth generation turbo-powered Renault Clio racer which is based on the latest Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo EDC roadcar.
With a new title sponsor in place, Courier Connections, and a champion’s prize package including a classic Renault 5 GT Turbo road car and the use of a road-going Clio Renaultsport 200 for one year, the 2014 title will be as hotly contested as ever.
Leading the entry in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship feeder series is returning three-time champion Paul Rivett, the most experienced and successful Renault UK Clio Cup driver in history.
Alex Morgan, last year’s Vice-Champion, will undoubtedly be one of Rivett’s main rivals in only his second season of saloon car action.
Team-mates Ant Whorton-Eales, Ash Hand and Josh Cook are also part of the KX Akademy for 2014, with Renault UK Clio Cup race winner Whorton-Eales being retained on the bursary programme, which is led by double BTCC champion Jason Plato, for a second year.
Reigning champion entrant Team Pyro, which carried Josh Files to the 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup and Eurocup Clio titles, will be aiming to try and claim its sixth national crown in seven years, with Brands Hatch local Mike Bushell, who topped the official pre-season test at Rockingham, and new team-mate Rob Smith bringing strong Clio Cup experience.
James Colburn will be targeting a repeat of last season’s opening round at the weekend, the Westbourne Motorsport driver having claimed victory during the corresponding fixture in 2013. Colburn is partnered this season by Devon Modell.
Former category Vice-Champion, Lee Pattison, is determined to go one better in the first season featuring the new racing Clio, returning with JHR Developments.
Jordan Stilp, one of last season’s most impressive rookies, has joined 20Ten Racing and is targeting a maiden podium finish. At the other end of the age scale, Clio Cup newcomer Craig Milner teams-up with Stilp, while Mark Howard makes a return to Renault racing with Mark Fish Motorsport.
Pre-event testing for the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit weekend takes place tomorrow (Friday), with qualifying and the opening race of the season following on Saturday at 11.20am and 4.25pm. Round two, which will be screened live on ITV4 with streaming on www.itv.com/btcc begins at 3.30pm on Sunday.
Mystery Shopping and Performance Improvement company, Douglas Stafford, has been working with Renault UK for 12 years, and provides the manufacturer with a tailored and bespoke nationwide mystery shopping programme to include Telephone Mystery Shopping, Email Mystery Shopping and Video Mystery Shopping.
