Westbourne Motorsport has become the latest high-profile Renault UK Clio Cup team to announce it will field cars in the new Renault UK Clio Cup Junior championship for 14 to 17-year-olds in 2017.
The Worthing squad, a top name in the senior UK Clio Cup, will be giving a number of youngsters a trial run in its Junior-spec car at a special ‘sampler day’ at the Blyton Park track in Lincolnshire on Sunday 30 October. All current UK Clio Cup teams will have at least one car each available for youngsters to try at Blyton…
The Junior-spec cars are almost identical to those used in the senior UK Clio Cup which features at the British Touring Car Championship’s high-profile events with the exception of a modification to the ECU – limiting them to five gears and a maximum speed of 100mph – and the use of road tyres, Michelin’s high performance Pilot Sport 3. This ensures the cars adhere to strict junior car racing regulations.
Westbourne Team Principal Richard Colburn commented: “We’re testing four hopefuls at Blyton and are confident that will translate into at least three signings.
“UK Clio Cup Junior makes perfect sense for the UK junior racing marketplace. The cars are completely robust and are identical which is so important, particularly for the junior driver.
“It is also a fresh car with new technology and this is also bound to have massive appeal for the younger generation.”
Colburn’s son James plus Ed Pead, both proven race winners in the UK Clio Cup Cup, will offer coaching.
“Having those two on board is a big plus point for any driver joining our Junior line-up,” added Colburn Snr. “We are very confident that we will not only be able to look after the cars to a very high standard but also the drivers as well.”
Meanwhile those interested in booking a place at the UK Clio Cup Junior sampler day at Blyton Park should email Renault Sport UK’s Motorsport Championship Manager Will Fewkes will.fewkes-extern@renault.co.uk
He said: “Westbourne’s exciting announcement follows those of Ciceley Motorsport, WDE Motorsport and Team Pyro with 20Ten Racing.
“It means the number of top UK Clio Cup teams already building entries in the Junior championship into their 2017 plans continues to grow before we have even got to the sampler day when we are sure many of the young drivers attending will be blown away by the performance of the UK Clio Cup Junior car.”
The inaugural 2017 Renault UK Clio Cup Junior championship will take place over six race weekends (two races per event). Renault Sport UK anticipates that a small privateer entry could contest the full season for as little as £30,000.
