PP Motorsport will make its first entry into the Renault UK Clio Cup in 2016 with driver Anton Spires (Buckingham) and hopes a technical tie-up with proven front-running squad Westbourne Motorsport will set it on its way to becoming one of the championship’s leading outfits in the future.
Spires raced for the PP name in the club-level Clio Cup Series last year having previously won its road car class title in a Westbourne-prepared car. For PP Team Principal John Creasey, bringing in Westbourne’s engineering expertise for his team’s first attempt at the UK Clio Cup was an obvious choice.
“Westbourne know how to wring the most from these cars and Anton is a natural link so it makes perfect sense,” commented Creasey. “Furthermore our tie-up with Westbourne bolsters our existing engineering team which is headed up by MWT Automotive.
“We’ve always prided ourselves on being professional in our presentation and how we engage with the public and being on the UK Clio Cup grid, in front of the British Touring Car Championship’s crowds and with live coverage on ITV4, we have a golden opportunity to take our business model to a whole new level. We very much view the UK Clio Cup as being an integral part of our journey towards the BTCC.”
Westbourne Team Principal Richard Colburn enthused: “We get on very well with the people from PP so are looking forward to working with them in 2016. Anton has good experience of front-wheel-drive and we want him to be near the sharp end. This also gives us a really good way back into the UK Clio Cup after a year away and sets us up nicely for our plans to have a three or four-car team on the grid in 2017.”
Spires, aged 23 and a marketing co-ordinator for BTCC race team title sponsor WIX Filters, said: “It’s great knowing I’ll be on the UK Clio Cup grid in 2015 – I hope with Westbourne’s input we can work towards top ten results and maybe even the top six by season’s end. Seeing Paul Streather, who I raced against in the Clio Cup Series, do so well on his UK Clio Cup debut last year has certainly given us confidence.”
Renaultsport’s UK Motorsport Championship Manager Will Fewkes added: “PP Motorsport and Anton are the fourth all-new team-driver combination to announce they will be joining the UK Clio Cup grid in 2016 which underlines just how attractive the championship is proving. I am sure with Westbourne’s engineering input they will enjoy some strong results. It is also terrific to hear so far in advance of Westbourne’s plans for our 2017 season.”
