Burns, aged 15, finished a close second in last year’s Ford Fiesta Junior category with four victories, five more podium results and two race lap records. However a drive in the UK Clio Cup Junior car has convinced him to make a switch.

He commented: “The UK Clio Cup Junior car marks the next step for young drivers in performance, technology and engineering and if I can get a year or two of that under my belt before possibly moving into the senior UK Clio Cup – essentially the same car – then great.

“The car looks and feels fantastic whether it’s how the engine pulls, the really cool paddleshift gearchange on the steering wheel or the Michelin tyre which enables you to push things to new limits.

“JamSport won the senior UK Clio Cup in 2016 so know these cars inside out. I know therefore I’m with a great team.”

JamSport Team Principal Jamie Going added: “Bradley, driving for another team, pushed our drivers all the way in last year’s Fiesta Juniors – it’s obvious just how exciting a young talent he is which is why we’re delighted to have signed him for our 2017 UK Clio Cup Junior line-up. He immediately gives us a great chance of going for the title.”

The inaugural 2017 Renault UK Clio Cup Junior championship starts at the Thruxton circuit in Hampshire on the weekend of Sat 3/Sun 4 June with the first two races of its 12-race calendar (two each at six events). Four of these events will also include races for the popular British Truck Racing Association Championship.

It will use cars identical to those in the long-established Renault UK Clio Cup which features at the British Touring Car Championship’s high-profile race events with the exception of a minor modification to the ECU – limiting cars to 100mph and five gears – and a switch to road tyres, Michelin’s high performance Pilot Sport 3.

Drivers looking to be a part of the grid should contact Renault Sport UK’s Motorsport Championship Manager Will Fewkes will.fewkes-extern[at]renault.co.uk

Fewkes said: “We very much welcome Bradley to the grid. He’s an impressive character and clearly very driven to succeed. JamSport will undoubtedly give him the tools to do the job and we look forward to working with him and his family in 2017 and, as with all the young drivers on our grid, watching him develop as a competitor as he builds experience for his future racing career.”