Burton will race for the JamSport Racing team in the championship which is set to take junior competition for 14 to 17 year-old drivers in Great Britain to a new level in terms of advanced technology, car design and lap times.
The 14-year-old commented: “This car is built for racing a lot more than anything I’ve sampled before – the acceleration and paddle shift gearbox are fantastic.
“I’ve been able to quickly get comfortable in the car and up to speed in any testing I’ve done. But I’m also still only 14 so I’m treating the new Junior championship as an opportunity to build up my experience. It’s a great opportunity in fact to prepare ahead of 2018 which in turn should prepare me for a step up to the senior UK Clio Cup.”
The inaugural Renault UK Clio Cup Junior championship gets under way with its opening two rounds at Snetterton, Norfolk on Sat 9/Sun 10 September. Six more rounds – two each at Brands Hatch in Kent, Pembrey in Carmarthenshire and Brands Hatch again – will follow. Click here for full race dates.
The championship is for cars near identical to those used in the senior UK Clio Cup which competes at the British Touring Car Championship’s high-profile events. The only changes are they are limited to five gears and a top speed of 100mph and will race on road tyres – Michelin’s high performance Pilot Sport 3 – instead of racing ‘slicks’.
The eventual Champion will win a free registration into the senior UK Clio Cup – a prize valued at £18,000. Prizes will be awarded to second and third overall as well as each race winner.
Full championship registration costing just £1600 + VAT are now open and can be lodged with Renault Sport’s UK Motorsport Championship Manager Will Fewkes: Tel +44 (0)7894 317477 / Email Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!
He said: “Gus is certainly displaying a mature approach and knows at such a young age he can use Clio Cup Junior wisely and get himself into good shape for the transition up to the more rapid senior Clio Cup car possibly in 2019. His comments about the Clio Cup Junior car’s performance also reflect those of many young drivers to have got behind the wheel.”
