Demise of UK Clio Cup set to boost Michelin series
The Michelin Clio Cup Series expects to receive a boost when the Renault UK Clio Cup is axed at the end of this season, having already added a class for current Clio Cup cars.
Shortly before it was revealed that 2019 would be the final season of the British Touring Car Championshipsupporting UK Clio Cup, the Michelin series announced the introduction of a Sport Series class that would allow fourth generation Clios into the category for the first time.
Initially these cars will run on slower trackday tyres, but it’s planned that they will be adopted into the main Race class with race tyres in 2020.
“This year we’ve got the new Sport class which will allow Clio Cup cars in, albeit with trackday tyres,” said Michelin Clios promoter Richard Colburn, whose Westbourne squad also runs cars in the UK Clio Cup. “We didn’t want to be seen to rival the main series. In 2020 we are going to have it running in the Race Series with the performance equalised.
“It gives an opening for those people that cannot afford to run in the UK series because of the TV coverage. It gives club racers the chance to buy a fantastic and very affordable car and run it in an interim year with us this year [before it becomes part of the main class in 2020]. We are quite excited and aim to get a grid of 25 cars.”
Series regular Simon Freeman is targeting the title this year after purchasing the double title-winning car of Ben Palmer. Freeman finished third in 2018 and will be the highestplaced driver returning this season.