The coveted test offers the UK Clio Cup Champion the chance to sample the multi-race winning Motorbase Ford Focus ST and to experience a full BTCC test day with exclusive support from the Wrotham-based team alongside Dunlop’s own motor sport tyre technicians.
“Dunlop are an outstanding asset to British Motorsport and the BTCC and we’re delighted to be teaming up with them again to offer a fantastic opportunity for young talent to sample a BTCC car in its full glory,” commented Oly Collins, Motorbase Performance’s Team Manager.
“We've seen how many young Renault Clio Cup drivers have made the natural progression through to the BTCC and I don't see that changing any time soon. We're proud at Motorbase Performance to continue this longstanding young driver development programme in partnership with Dunlop and look forward tracking their progression through the ranks of motorsport.
“Only last weekend we were proud to watch Jonny Adam, our young BTCC driver from 2009 compete the Daytona 24 hour race.”
Micky Butler, Dunlop’s UK Motorsport Manager added; “We pride ourselves on being able to give the top drivers in championships we support a further chance to learn and impress as part of the next step of their careers.”
“The UK Clio Cup has a reputation for producing some of the very best drivers in touring cars and also GT and sportscar competition and that was certainly reflected in the immediate professionalism and abilities of its last two champions (Mike Bushell and Ashley Sutton) when they took part in our test with Motorbase.
“The 2016 UK Clio Cup grid is looking phenomenal and whoever wins the title will richly deserve it. We look forward very much to meeting the new Champion at our test with Motorbase later in the year.”
Will Fewkes, Renaultsport’s UK Motorsport Championship Manager, said: “Dunlop are to be applauded once more for their very generous support of the UK Clio Cup Champion – in fact of motor sport in Britain. It would be very easy for a company not do to something like this but Dunlop, like Renaultsport, genuinely enjoy bringing on talent.
“Tyre technology and understanding how to get the most performance from it are among the biggest strengths any driver can ever have in motor sport. So for the driver who wins the UK Clio Cup to glean such data from a test with one of the world’s most successful motor racing tyre manufacturers and in one of the fastest cars on the BTCC grid this prize is a massively important bonus.”
The race to become the 2016 Renault UK Clio Cup Champion – and win Dunlop’s big British Touring Car test – begins on Sat 2/Sun 3 April with the opening two rounds of the championship at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent.
