UK Clio Cup champion to receive Motorbase test

Dunlop have confirmed that the 2016 UK Clio Cup Champion will earn a test with race-winning BTCC outfit, Motorbase Performance.

For the past three seasons, the Clio Cup champion has enjoyed a test in the team’s Ford Focus, working closely with Dunlop’s tyre technicians throughout the day.

“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,” said Dunlop UK Motorsport Manager, Micky Butler. “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 three champions [Josh Files, 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.”

The Clio Cup has a strong presence in the BTCC, not only being a popular grid in the support package, but half of the 2015 BTCC field comprised of former Clio Cup contenders.

“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,” added Renaultsport UK Championship Manager, Will Fewkes. “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 – makes this prize a massively important bonus.”