Newcomer Nathan Edwards under “no illusions” ahead of debut at Brands Hatch

4th April 2018


Nathan Edwards (Tunbridge Wells) says “going up against the best” played a major part in his decision to move to the Renault UK Clio Cup for 2018.

The 19-year-old, a former top name in Fiesta racing, will make his debut in the championship’s opening rounds of 2018 at his home circuit of Brands Hatch this coming weekend (Sat 7/Sun 8 April).

He will be one of six drivers lining up for local team WDE Motorsport – among its numbers are three-time Champion Paul Rivett and former championship runner-up Lee Pattison. Every driver on the grid has won races or titles or achieved victories in class during their racing careers…

Edwards, sponsored by Yeomans, impressed with the sixth fastest time in recent official Clio Cup testing at the category’s Media Day launch at Silverstone.

But he said: “The Clio Cup is at a totally different level to what I’ve done before and, being realistic, I know I’ll be doing very well just to get inside the top ten.

“Ashley Sutton aside, it takes even the best drivers two to three years to crack the Clio Cup – it is that competitive.

“I’m under no illusions but I also know it’s important to go up against and learn from the best if you want to progress your career. Any experience I gain this year I then want to put to good use in 2019…”

All 18 of the Clio Cup’s rounds in 2018 will take place at the British Touring Car Championship’s high profile events with much of the action being broadcast live on ITV4. Nearly half of the BTCC’s grid this year comprises drivers who have raced in the Clio Cup or a Renault Sport championship.

Among them is Ashley Sutton (mentioned above) who won the Clio Cup title in 2015 and now goes into 2018 the reigning BTCC Champion.

Renault Sport’s UK Motorsport Championship Manager Will Fewkes commented: “We very much welcome Nathan to the grid – he is among an increasing number of very impressive young drivers being attracted by the Clio Cup’s reputation for producing the top names in the BTCC.”