Freddie Hunt (Goodwood, West Sussex), son of Britain's 1976 Formula 1 World Champion James Hunt, is a dramatic late entry for 2015's Renault UK Clio Cup having signed with new team Bubble & Kick Racing.
Hunt tested for BKR recently at Brands Hatch – scene of his father's win in 76's British Grand Prix and where the 2015 Clio Cup season will get under way with its first two races of the year on the weekend of Sat 4th/Sun 5th April. All 18 Clio Cup races this season will take place at British Touring Car events meaning huge trackside crowds plus live coverage on ITV4.
The 27-year-old commented: “I'm extremely happy to be back racing again with a new challenge in the Clio Cup and a new team in BKR. Our test together at Brands Hatch went really well and we've kept talking since. I was very impressed by the Clio Cup race car as well and out of all the options I had this made perfect sense.
“The Clio Cup is the category to be in for drivers looking at careers in touring cars or indeed international sportscar competition – just look at all the names to have come out of the championship or from a background in single-model Renault racing to have successfully graduated to those categories.
“It's no secret that I'd like to do either of those in the future so for me, right now, this is the place to be. The Clio Cup's entry list is also looking extremely competitive which creates an extra buzz around any championship for all the drivers, teams and sponsors.”
Significantly Hunt will receive tips from 2014 Clio Cup Champion Mike Bushell whose title-winning car BKR has acquired for its debut Clio Cup campaign (Bushell will also be racing in British Touring Cars this year).
Nico Ferrari, Team Principal of Basildon-based BKR, added: “This is an extremely proud moment in BKR's history. To capture a name like Freddie Hunt for our first season in such a high-profile championship as the Clio Cup is massive although I suppose some might see it a little odd – his father after all spent most of his F1 career battling against Ferraris!
“We were all bowled over with Freddie's performance in testing with us and his professionalism and natural rapport with everyone in our team really made pursuing him worthwhile. He's our kind of driver and I believe the right kind of driver for the very exciting racing that the Clio Cup is famous for…”
“I'm delighted to welcome Freddie to the Renault UK Clio Cup," said Championship Manager Will Fewkes. “The Clio Cup is really starting to build momentum ahead of what will be one of its most competitive seasons in recent years and it's brilliant to have such a prestigious name in British motor sport tied to us.
“Freddie has previously competed in other highly competitive forms of motor sport and I'm sure that it won't be long until we see him establish himself as a front-runner in the Clio Cup."
