UK Clio Cup Junior’s inaugural championship will now include four events – each comprising two rounds to make an eight-round calendar.

Registration for the full championship will be just £1600 + VAT and will open on 3 July. The dates are:

Sat 9/Sun 10 September                Snetterton, Norfolk
Sat 23/Sun 24 September              Brands Hatch, Kent
Sat 14/Sun 15 October                   Pembrey, Carmarthenshire
Sat 18/Sun 19 November               Brands Hatch, Kent

The Champion will receive free registration to the Renault UK Clio Cup that features at the British Touring Car Championship’s high-profile events which are shown live on ITV4. This registration must be taken inside two years.

Second and third place will earn £2000 and £1000 respectively towards a Renault Sport UK registration in 2018 (either senior UK Clio Cup or Juniors).

Furthermore the winner of each race will receive a set of Michelin tyres to use in whichever Renault Sport UK category they choose to contest in 2018.

Those interested in competing in the 2017 Renault UK Clio Cup Junior championship should contact Renault Sport UK’s Motorsport Championship Manager Will Fewkes: Email Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein! or Tel +44 (0)7894 317477.

He commented: “So soon after having to postpone our original intentions, we are absolutely delighted to be able to announce that Renault UK Clio Cup Junior will still go ahead in 2017.

“As has been well documented we were not comfortable running the championship without some aspects that were out of our control being in place. Well now they have very much come together and UK Clio Cup Junior is very much go.

“The registration fee is less than half of the original six-event calendar and the value of the prize structure is clearly very significant – we believe this will appeal to drivers. Enquiries about UK Clio Cup Junior remain very strong and we look forward to receiving more in the coming months ahead of our opening rounds at Snetterton in September.”

Renault UK Clio Cup Junior is a new entry-level category for 14 to 17 year-old drivers competing in identical cars near identical to those used in the senior UK Clio Cup. The only modifications are to the ECU – limiting the cars to five gears and 100mph – and a switch to road tyres, Michelin’s Pilot Sport 3.

Jeremy Townsend, Communications Director for Renault UK, said: “As staunch supporters of nurturing young talent, Renault UK absolutely believe UK Clio Cup Junior has a place in the motor sport market place.

“It is therefore fantastic news that the championship can still go ahead. It’s also something of a pilot project as Renault Sport Racing will be following it closely with the possibility of launching it elsewhere in the world.”