Newcomer Gary Jenner will join the grid for the season finale of the Courier Connections UK Clio Cup next weekend.

The rookie racer from Hartley will take to the track in a Clio run by Westbourne Motorsport and he will use the drive to raise valuable funds for Urban Blue Bus of Maidstone, which ensures the safety of young people in the County town.

Ironically Jenner will replace another Kent racer in Devon Modell from Maidstone in the Westbourne car having completed his ARDS test to enable him to compete at Brands Hatch this weekend last week.

The 51-year-old has close ties with Modell, as a chief sponsor to the series front-runner through his businesses Gallery Nightclub and Strood Motor Centre, and when the opportunity to compete at Brands Hatch presented itself Jenner didn’t think twice about grasping the chance with both hands.

Well aware of the huge leap he is making into the ultra-competitive Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship feeder series, the motorsport enthusiast is aiming to stay out of trouble and simply use the event to learn as much as he can.

Speaking ahead of his racing debut at the weekend, Gary said: “The opportunity has all come about through Devon as we’ve supported his racing with sponsorship.

“I only took my ARDS on Monday of this week, so it’s definitely going to be a baptism of fire for me next weekend. Obviously, I’m not allowed to test the new car at Brands until next Friday but I have had a run in one of last year’s cars which went well.”

“I’m no slouch but I’m not setting my sights too high – just because someone might play golf doesn’t mean they can go and play in the Ryder Cup. I’m very excited to be racing on the Grand Prix Circuit for the first time and hopefully we can raise some good money for the charity too.”

Picture supplied by Jakob Ebery.