Paul Rivett has been confirmed as the 2018 Renault UK Clio Cup Champion after the Motor Sports Association’s National Court today over-turned a stewards’ decision to disqualify him from round 16 of the season at Silverstone in September.
The National Court’s decision means that Rivett is now a four-time UK Clio Cup Champion after he previously won the title in 2002, 2004 and 2011.
Furthermore, his success marks a first Clio Cup drivers’ title for Ashford based WDE Motorsport.
Rivett was initially disqualified from round 16 at Silverstone (Sun 17 Sept) by the Clio Cup’s Clerk of the Course following an investigation into an on-track incident between him and another driver, Max Coates.
At Silverstone, Rivett appealed against the disqualification to the event’s stewards who upheld the Clerk’s decision.
Rivett then chose to appeal further, to the MSA’s National Court. After hearing further evidence, the Court has found in Rivett’s favour.
He is thereby reinstated to third position in round 16. Crucially this gives him back 20 championship points – enough to take him to the top of the final standings past Westbourne Motorsport driver James Dorlin (Barnsley) who had been crowned provisional Champion in Brands Hatch’s final round (Sun 30 Sept).
Rivett commented: “A fourth title is very special but I’d also say extra special because this is the one I’ve had to work the hardest for.
“This title shows just how much the WDE team has grown and improved since I first joined them in 2014.
“Looking back I’d say the pivotal moment in the season was Donington Park in April – we suffered a very heavy crash in race one and the crew only had three hours to get my car repaired for race two. The fact they managed it and it was still good enough to take fourth place was massive for us – it earned us 18 points without which we would not have won this title.
“To everyone in this team – the mechanics, technicians, team boss Wayne Eason, all my sponsors and my family – I’d like to say a big ‘thank you’.”
WDE Team Principal Wayne Eason added: “This is a terrific achievement for WDE but it is very much all about the people in the team and who work on all the cars we run.
“It confirms the spirit within the team which is renowned for never giving up despite the odds, as Paul’s race two result at Donington showed.
“I’d also like to praise James Dorlin and Westbourne Motorsport. We are very respectful of them and have always got on and I actually have a bit of sympathy with them to have it taken away like this but, as has been decided by the MSA’s National Court, we are genuinely the champions.”
Final drivers’ points: 1 Paul Rivett 333 points; 2 James Dorlin 316; 3 Max Coates 309; 4 Daniel Rowbottom 276; 5 Bradley Burns 238; 6 Michael Epps 209