•Team Pyro star ‘honoured’ by admission to prestigious Club•21-year-old targeting title and new record in Renault UK Clio Cup

Ash Hand’s scene-stealing performances and remarkable winning run in the fiercely-contested Renault UK Clio Cup have clearly not gone unnoticed, as aside from earning him the championship lead, they have also secured him admission to the British Racing Drivers’ Club’s esteemed Rising Stars programme. The gifted Nuneaton ace has been beyond doubt the standout driver in the single-make, ITV4-televised British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) support series this year, leaving him firmly in the driving seat amongst the 23 high-calibre contenders with a 19-point advantage in the chase for the coveted crown – a margin that increases to 26 points once the dropped scores rule is taken into account. Along the way, there have been a staggering seven victories from 12 starts – including peerless double-tops at Thruxton and Knockhill – the same number of pole positions and five fastest laps behind the wheel of his Team Pyro-prepared, Sigma, The Manchester College and QTS-backed car. To put that into perspective, none of his rivals have triumphed more than twice, and from 11 finishes, Hand has been off the podium just once. What’s more, the second of his two successes at Thruxton broke records as the fastest race in Renault UK Clio Cup history, at an average – yes, average – speed of 99.89mph, and as he looks ahead to the final three outings at Rockingham, Silverstone and Brands Hatch GP, the highly-rated Maple Park hotshot has another record in his sights. Back in 2010, current BTCC race-winner Dave Newsham prevailed 12 times from 20 starts en route to the Renault UK Clio Cup laurels. Although there are two fewer races in 2015, should Hand win five of the remaining six, he will match that tally. If he goes unbeaten through to the end of the campaign – a tall order indeed but on current form, far from impossible – he will have set a new benchmark. The BRDC – which has long been a key supporter of young British talent – has now publicly recognised the 21-year-old Warwickshire star’s palpable promise, and he acknowledges that he is thrilled to have been admitted to one of the most prestigious initiatives within the sport.“I’m honoured to have been appointed a BRDC Rising Star,” reflected Hand, already a protégé of the Andy Priaulx Sports Management (APSM) programme. “The BRDC members and patrons are some of the most successful and accomplished racing drivers this country has ever produced, and being able to draw upon and learn from their wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise will be a tremendous boost as I seek to carve out a professional motorsport career.“Of course, the first step will be to win this season’s Renault UK Clio Cup, and I will be fully focussed on that over the coming weeks. Establishing a new record for race victories will be a big ask but it’s a challenge I’m relishing and besides, as I’ve said before, to be a worthy champion you have to prove you are consistently the best driver – and that means winning races...”“The BRDC is delighted to welcome Ash to the Rising Stars scheme,” echoed BRDC Secretary Gillian Carr. “The Rising Stars Scouts have been monitoring Ash’s progress over the last few seasons and his performances in the 2015 Renault UK Clio Cup have been very impressive.“We are confident that he has the potential to be a very successful racing driver, and it is hoped that an early introduction to the Club will assist his development. As he continues on his projected career path, we hope he will achieve the results he requires to become a full member of the BRDC and we wish Ash the best of luck on his journey.”