The 19-year-old has proved rapid on occasion during his first two seasons in Europe’s most competitive single-make saloon car championship, but this year is determined to put together a consistent set of strong results.
He is a former Champion of the Junior Fiesta series and, in Westbourne, he has a team that in 2018’s Clio Cup often proved to be the outfit to beat – its lead driver James Dorlin won an unrivalled six out of 18 rounds and very nearly also the title.
Lutterworth racer Thompson, who will be sponsored by SDT Contracts, said: “The Westbourne name is one of the most successful in Clio Cup history – the results don’t lie and they are also excellent when it comes to race car preparation and driver development
“There’s a proper family environment there and I’m delighted to be part of their line-up for 2019’s Clio Cup – I’m determined to use my third season in the championship to remind people of what I’m made of again.” Thompson added: “The last two seasons haven’t worked out the way I’d hoped and it would have been easy to call it a day. But I’m no quitter, I’ve got a very supportive family behind me – thanks in particular to my little sister Holly for being so pro-active behind the scenes. “There’s unfinished business on my part and this Westbourne deal has definitely put the bounce back in my step.”
Thompson will join the already announced Ben Colburn (Worthing) and Finlay Robinson (Harrogate) in Westbourne’s driver line-up. James Colburn, joint Team Principal of West Sussex based Westbourne, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Aaron into our team for 2019. Results the past two seasons have probably not reflected his abilities and we are confident that the Westbourne environment can help him rekindle his form. “Certainly we look forward to seeing Aaron, Ben and Finlay working together to achieve the best results possible for themselves and also Westbourne in the teams’ championship.”
Meanwhile the Clio Cup has confirmed a ‘race bonus’ for each driver in this year’s championship – a £500.00 ‘credit’ (or voucher) per event contested to contribute towards purchase of parts/componentry for their cars.
The new Clio Cup season starts with the championship’s opening two rounds of 2019 at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent on the weekend of Sat 6/Sun 7 April. Its calendar comprises 18 rounds in total – two each at nine of the British Touring Car Championship’s high profile events. These command live television coverage on the free-to-air channels ITV4 / ITV4 HD and the action is also live-streamed by ITV Sport to mobile devices. Trackside crowds average over 38,000 people per event.
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