Lee Pattison, one of the Renault UK Clio Cup’s top names in recent years, will again contest the championship in 2017 but with a different team – WDE Motorsport.
The Kent based outfit confirmed yesterday that its former triple Champion Paul Rivett would continue to race for it this season along with new signings Paul Streather and Dan Zelos.
Pattison’s arrival undoubtedly enhances WDE’s line-up. He was runner-up to now British Touring Car Championship star Dave Newsham in 2010 and was one of five drivers to lead the overall standings during last season. Notably he is also Streather’s half brother-in-law…
The 42-year-old, who as ever will be backed by his stillage manufacturer business Range Storage, commented: “Some outside factors have meant this deal has come together late in the day but I am really looking forward to working with the two Pauls – clearly I have a lot of respect for them both and young Zelos seems quite a tidy driver, too.
“It’s going to be very competitive between us all but in a good way which will help take the team forward – it’ll be very interesting to see how it all works out.
“The championship’s move to Michelin tyres is going to make a big difference – I’ve not had a chance to try them yet and it might not be until the Friday test for the opening rounds at Brands Hatch that I do as I’m still in some discomfort from a hernia operation!”
WDE Team Principal Wayne Eason said: “Our driver line-up just got even better and even more exciting – Lee is a huge asset to our team and we’re delighted to have him on board. Consider that five of the seven drivers to win races in 2016 have now re-confirmed their place on this year’s grid and we have three of them with Lee and the two Pauls. WDE’s chances of winning the drivers’ and teams’ titles have never looked so good.”
The 2017 Renault UK Clio Cup gets under way at WDE’s home circuit of Brands Hatch, Kent on Sat 1/Sun 2 April along with the opening rounds of this year’s British Touring Car Championship. All 18 races on the UK Clio Cup calendar will take place at the BTCC’s high profile events meaning huge trackside crowds as well as live free-to-air TV coverage on ITV4 for its teams, drivers and sponsors.
Renault Sport’s UK Motorsport Championship Manager Will Fewkes said: “Lee’s inclusion of course adds even more credibility to the UK Clio Cup grid which in 2017 is shaping up to be arguably the best in history. In total we now have six drivers to have won races in the championship ‘confirmed’ for this season with the possibility of more still to come before our pre-season Media Day launch at Rockingham next week…”