PYRO SWAP S CLIO CUP FOR TC R GERMANY AND RADICAL SR 1 CUP
Leading Renault UK Clio Cup squad Team Pyro will not compete in the final season of the category this year as it instead focuses on new programmes in TCR Germany and the Radical SR1 Cup.
Pyro drivers have won the Clio title eight times since the team first entered the category in 2005, with Max Coates narrowly missing out on becoming another Pyro champion last season. But, with Renault deciding to axe the series at the end of this season, Pyro has decided to prioritise other categories and not compete in Clios this year.
“It’s a shame [to leave Clios] because we’ve been around it for a long time but things have to change,” said team boss Mark Hunt. “With it being the last year, I don’t see the benefit [of continuing]. If we get someone new in, it’s for only one year when it should be a two-year plan and people won’t take it as seriously – it will be overshadowed by it being the last year.”
Hunt added that he wanted the team to get established in its new categories before being forced to move by the Clio Cup’s demise.
Instead Pyro will now move into European competition with a campaign in TCR Germany and is in talks with drivers. The team ran Ollie Taylor and Finlay Crocker in TCR UK last year and hasn’t ruled out remaining in the British category too, if there’s sufficient interest.
“The reason for looking at Germany is because it has a very strong grid and you can progress from there to TCR Europe,” Hunt explained. “The TCR manufacturers also look at the German series.
“[By joining TCR Germany and the SR1 Cup] we’ve gone from Clios in the middle to a higher-level championship and a lower-level championship to cater for other drivers’ needs and both will be two-car teams.”
Pyro’s first SR1 Cup signing is Andrew Wilkins, who has previously competed in the Michelin Clio Series. The low-budget nature of the SR1 category attracted Pyro to it.
“It’s less than a quarter of the cost of Clios and it’s faster,” Hunt added. “Radical are very helpful and have done a great job with the series. It’s also nice for drivers that it’s only on Fridays and Saturdays so they don’t have to spend the whole weekend away.”