Paul Rivett says he’s “hungrier than ever” for a fourth Renault UK Clio Cup drivers’ title in 2017 after announcing he will again contest the championship for the WDE Motorsport team.
Rivett, Champion in 2002, 2004 and 2011, has attracted support from Tachosys, 4Front Motor Group and DMS Manufacturing for Music among others for what will be his 11th full season in the UK Clio Cup since he first entered it in 2001.
And commented the 38-year-old: “I’m hungrier than ever and want nothing more than my fourth title. The only way I’ll accept not winning it this year is if one of my team-mates beats me.
“As a team we’ve put so much hard work in behind the scenes these last three years and had it not been for some cruel luck mid-season last year we’d have been right in the hunt at the last round. WDE Motorsport now really are in a great place.”
Rivett also believes a new point-scoring system plus the championship’s switch back to Michelin tyres will further boost his chances.
He added: “I always loved the Michelins when we ran on them before and, having tested on the latest tyres, I can feel the car responding in a way that I prefer. Removing the dropped scores rule as well is I think going to suit me better because it will really reward consistency.”
As ever, 2017’s UK Clio Cup season will be played out at the British Touring Car Championship’s high profile events meaning huge trackside crowds (avg. 38,000+ in 2016) as well as live free-to-air TV coverage on ITV4 for its teams, drivers and sponsors. Its first two races take place on Sat 1/Sun 2 April at the world famous Brands Hatch circuit Kent – Rivett’s team WDE’s home track.
Wayne Eason, Principal of the Ashford based squad, said: “To have Paul – the most successful driver in UK Clio Cup history – with us once more is an absolute honour.
“With Paul Streather and Dan Zelos also on board we have an absolutely cracking line-up of drivers and 2017 promises to the most exciting yet for WDE Motorsport. We are 100 per cent going for not only race wins and the drivers’ title but also the teams’ title. We want the lot.”
Renault Sport’s UK Motorsport Championship Manager Will Fewkes added: “For many, Paul has been the UK Clio Cup’s absolute benchmark for the past decade and a half – as his incredible ‘one in four’ wins ratio across all those seasons testify. It is an incredible record and I have no doubt he and WDE are going to add to that in 2017.”