A broken hand caused by a rugby accident ruled Gus out of contention for the inaugural Clio Cup Junior crown in 2017.
He’s now announced a move to the most successful team in Clio Cup history, Team Pyro, for 2018’s championship.
Gus, a pupil at Felsted School, commented: “Every penny we raise – and we hope to raise £15,000 in sponsorship – will be donated to the Sparkle Foundation. We’ve even named my race car ‘Sparkle Car’! The money will go to a community support centre which helps hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children with nutrition, education and medical supplies.”
He added: “I feel confident I can make a serious bid for the Clio Cup Junior crown in 2018 – the category has really raised the bar in junior motor sport as the cars are the most technically advanced in the marketplace, plus there’s all the professionalism that Renault Sport is renowned for that comes with it. I see it as the best arena in which to develop as a young driver…
“I’m looking forward to working with Pyro: they’ve produced many Renault champions and I hope I can be their next one with a view to moving up to the senior UK Clio Cup with them in 2019.”
Those interested in advertising/donating towards Gus’s Sparkle Foundation efforts should visit www.gusburtonracing.com.
Meanwhile Mark Hunt, Team Principal of Leicester-based Pyro, said: “Gus is a very exciting talent and also very mature for his age. We very much look forward to working with him and, based on his performances in 2017, we are confident he will be a title contender.”
UK Clio Cup Junior is for drivers aged 14 to 17 competing in identical racing versions of the cars used in the senior Renault UK Clio Cup which features alongside the high profile British Touring Car Championship. The only differences – to meet junior racing regulations – are they are limited to five gears and 100mph and are fitted with high performance Michelin road tyres instead of racing ‘slicks’.
The Clio Cup Junior Champion will win a free registration into the UK Clio Cup – a prize valued at £18,000. The new season (12 rounds across six events) starts at the British Formula 1 Grand Prix venue of Silverstone on the weekend of Sat 24/Sun 25 March. CLICK HERE for the full dates.
Renault Sport’s UK Motorsport Championship Manager Will Fewkes added: “Gus I am sure will be among the Clio Cup Junior title contenders in 2018. At just 15 he is also a great ambassador for young sports people and his fund-raising efforts in aid of such a worthy cause are to be admired.”
