The famous Brands Hatch circuit in Kent will this weekend (Sat 12/Sun 13 October) decide which one of three drivers – Jack Young, Max Coates or Jamie Bond – will become the Renault UK Clio Cup’s final Champion.
This weekend’s two races, on the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, mark the final rounds of the 2019 season but also the end of the Renault UK-backed Clio Cup which has so memorably raced alongside the British Touring Car Championship every year since 2000.
Jim Edwards Jnr, Paul Rivett, Jonny Adam, Tom Onslow-Cole, Phil Glew, Dave Newsham, Jack Goff, Mike Bushell, Ashley Sutton… all have been among the Clio Cup’s title winners. Meanwhile three drivers in contention for this year’s BTCC title – Colin Turkington, Andrew Jordan and Josh Cook – also have backgrounds in the category.
It truly is the end of an era, so which of the ‘Clio Trio’ who go into the 2019 Clio Cup’s season finale will emerge as the last name to lift championship’s coveted crown?
MRM driver Young (Belfast) will arrive at the Kent venue holding a 15 point championship lead over Team HARD’s Coates (Scorton) in second. Brands local Bond (West Malling), also racing for Team HARD, is third and very much the outsider – he is 46 points adrift of leader Young with a maximum of only 56 available from these final two rounds.
Young, who turns 18 this Friday, is currently on the cusp of being crowned the Clio Cup’s youngest ever winner. Second and third place finishes will guarantee him the title but, as history shows, nothing is certain in the Clio Cup and 2019’s season has had its fair share of drama and unpredictability…
This has been much to the excitement of fans watching trackside and also ITV4’s live television coverage of events. Indeed this Sunday’s very last round – at 12:45 – will be broadcast live on ITV4 and also live-streamed by ITV. This will follow the season’s penultimate round at 15:45 on Saturday.
Adding to the intrigue, a number of names on the quality entry will be eager to end 2019 on a high for themselves. Each is certainly capable of getting in among the main protagonists who they will know can ill afford to take too many risks…
Although now out of title contention, MRM’s Brett Lidsey (Northfleet), fourth in the standings, will want a victory at his home circuit to add to his stylish maiden win at Silverstone.
Just one point separates HARD’s Ethan Hammerton (Northallerton) and Westbourne Motorsport’s Ben Colburn (Worthing) in their battle for fifth in the standings.
Each with a fourth place to their name, Assetto Motorsport’s Jade Edwards (Northampton), another ‘Brands local’, MRM’s Nathan Edwards (Tunbridge Wells) and Westbourne’s Anton Spires (Buckingham) badly want a first podium result.
Specialized Motorsport’s Luke Warr (Sudbury), Westbourne’s Finlay Robinson (Harrogate) and MRM’s Tyler Lidsey (Northfleet) are never too far away – often providing some of the best entertainment of the day.
Adding to Brands’s farewell grid is Colburn’s big brother and former championship runner-up James (Worthing). In a fourth Westbourne-prepared car is the returning Aaron Thompson (Lutterworth), while Paul Taylor (Hertford) gets a second outing with Team HARD.
