CLIO JUNIOR ON THE BRINK AS DRIVERS JOIN GINETTA
RENAULT CLIO JUNIOR
It’s not even two years since the Renault UK Clio Cup Junior concept was first launched. But after suffering a number of setbacks in that time, it seems that the series is now on the brink of cancellation since two of its remaining three drivers have switched to Ginetta Junior.
The series endured a troubled genesis. Originally due to begin in June last year, the inaugural season was postponed until September and managed to attract a peak of nine cars – a far cry from the 27 who took part in a sampler day in 2016.
But it got far worse this year. The five-car grid at the Silverstone opener has gradually reduced rather than increased. And now the final nail in the coffin appears to be the decision of Team Pyro drivers Gus Burton and Lorcan Hanafin to switch to Ginetta Junior with the returning Douglas Motorsport squad, making their debuts at Croft this weekend.
Burton’s father, Mike, explained: “The two lads were both in Clio Junior but unfortunately the grid is so depressingly small they are lacking competition and not getting the racecraft that the lads want and need, so that’s why they’ve switched.
“It’s a great shame – we chose it for a good reason and it’s a bloody good car. The plan was to cut their teeth in the juniors and use the same car in the senior Clios.
“Ginetta Junior is a bit of a challenge for them and they’re doing a couple of tests to
get up to speed as they’re switching from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive.”
Their departures leave just Nick Reeve in the series. Specialized Motorsport team boss Simon Horrobin said that while Reeve is currently entered for the next round at Donington Park next month, he will review that after this news.
Previously championship manager
Will Fewkes has blamed the Motor Sports Association for the series’ struggles, citing “numerous changes to junior formula requirements at short notice”. Other junior series have reported similar struggles but have more than one entry.
Fewkes was unavailable for comment this week following the funeral of his father, former Clio Cup technical commissioner Roy Fewkes, while the British Automobile Racing Club said it will consider the series’ future closer to the Donington event.
Burton’s and Hanafin’s moves to Douglas mean the team will compete in Ginetta Junior for the first time this season. It has retained much of its kit from last year, and one of the drivers will be using the car that Dan Harper drove to third in the standings in 2017.
Team boss Wayne Douglas said: “It’s a bit of a cultural shock to them going from front to rear-wheel drive and they’ve only had two tests in the car. They seemed to go well and we’ll do more testing.”
One former Clio Junior driver will graduate to the senior Clio series for the second half of this year. Jack Young, who claimed the title last year, will join the MRM team for the Snetterton round having studied for exams until now.
“It’ll be a bit of an eye-opener jumping up to the Clio Cup – we’re on a massive stage alongside the British Touring Car Championship,” said Young. “But MRM has been delivering some strong results with Jade [Edwards] and Brett [Lidsey], plus Colin Turkington who currently leads the BTCC is a good pal, so I’m sure I’ll feel at home pretty quickly in the paddock.”
Ben Colburn, younger brother of Clio regular James, will also join the series later in this year, competing in the final three rounds with Westbourne Motorsport.