The Renault UK Clio Cup’s reputation as a production line for future top touring car talent was further underlined yesterday as 2016 Champion Ant Whorton-Eales excelled in a test with leading British Touring Car Championship squad Motorbase.
Whorton-Eales sampled Motorbase’s 300bhp Ford Focus in mixed conditions at Snetterton circuit in Norfolk – his prize for winning the UK Clio Cup courtesy of BTCC title sponsor and race tyre supplier Dunlop. The Motorbase car won seven times in 2016’s BTCC in the hands of Mat Jackson and Andrew Jordan, themselves past UK Clio Cup racers…

Following the test Dunlop’s UK Motorsport Manager Mickey Butler commented: “We’ve been super impressed by Ant. He’s a very controlled driver who’s not got fazed by the experience and he’s listened really well to what our technicians have been saying. In my eyes he could easily step up to the next level and today makes a great story as it delivers a really important opportunity for a young driver on their way to that next level.”

Motorbase Team Principal David Bartrum said: “Being totally honest, he’s the real deal. We came close to testing him with Dunlop at the end of last year’s Clio Cup but he just missed out on it so I’m glad we got him this time. He’s very definitely at the same level as Ashley Sutton and if Ant came along in the right conditions then he would be of interest to our team – he’s definitely got what it takes to do the job.”

And added the squad’s Team Manager Oli Collins: “He’s just been very impressive. He’s not come in saying he’s going to blow everyone’s doors off; instead he’s been very sensible and listened to us. As a result he’s done exactly as we asked and been on the pace straight away for the conditions.”

Jackson, too, was impressed by Whorton-Eales’s approach and said: “The real deal, like most of the top Clio Cup drivers tend to be. The Clios always give a driver a great grounding and Ant’s taken to this really well. He could have a great future ahead of him.”

Whorton-Eales was crowned the UK Clio Cup Champion after taking nine wins from 18 races during the 2016 season in his JamSport Racing-prepared car. Yesterday marked his second run in a BTCC car having sampled the Team HARD outfit’s Toyota Avensis during a Dunlop tyre test at Snetterton back in July.

But he said: “They were very different conditions – today started with a run on slick dry weather tyres on a damp track and then full wets were needed for my second run because of the rain that came in. Also the Motorbase car is a different animal to the Toyota as it has been running with all the latest BTCC kit on it.

“Full marks to Dunlop for giving me this day. It’s not just some token prize; they take it seriously and aren’t scared of throwing tyres at the car, meaning you get a proper go in it. Likewise Motorbase who’ve not simply put a safe set-up on the car – it’s been a properly aggressive race set-up which means I’ve been able to get a real feel for the car.

“Three or four seasons in the UK Clio Cup definitely gives you an edge when you get a chance to do something like this – most front-wheel-drive cars can be quite ‘understeery’, but that’s not necessarily the case with the Clio. I’ve had mine quite loose and that’s been the case with the Focus which I’ve really enjoyed. Driving it on slicks in the damp… well, I felt right at home, didn’t I!?”