Paul believes he has his strongest opportunity yet to win a fourth Renault UK Clio Cup title in 2016 after announcing he will race in the championship for the third successive year for the WDE Motorsport team.
Rivett, UK Clio Cup Champion in 2002, 2004 and 2011 and with an unrivalled 44 race wins to his name, has also secured a new headline sponsor for the new season in the shape of tachograph data specialist Tachosys.
Furthermore his inclusion on the grid means two past UK Clio Cup champions on this year’s entry list with Mike Bushell having already signed for the Pyro Motorsport squad with which he won the title in 2014 – that is in addition to a host of other top-name signings.
“Last year turned into an epic season for the Renault UK Clio Cup – this year is looking like it’s going to be even more exciting before we’ve even had a race,” commented Rivett.
“The entry list is full of quality but, on saying that, I feel I have the best chance I’ve had since 2011 to go for title number four. I helped to set up the WDE team in 2014 and we have evolved so much in the past two seasons – I genuinely believe we are as strong as any other team now whether it’s reigning champions Pyro or British Touring Car team Ciceley who are coming in.
“And I’ve got a really exceptional young team-mate in Charlie Ladell who has been so impressive in pre-season testing. All that plus a really enthusiastic new sponsor in Tachosys – it’s fair to say I’m on a mission and I believe I still have the speed and am certainly feeling hungrier than ever.”
WDE Team Principal Wayne Eason is naturally ecstatic to have Rivett flying the flag once more for his Ashford-based squad and added: “The grid wouldn’t be the same without the name Rivett on it – a bit like Rossi and MotoGP! Now it’s official that Paul is with us once more – and having seen how much he still wants this – I’m sure a few of the opposition will start having sleepless nights in the next few weeks before the opening rounds at Brands Hatch.”
Will Fewkes, Renault Sport’s UK Motorsport Championship Manager, said: “We are delighted to see Paul continuing in the Renault UK Clio Cup in 2016 – he has raced in it with the utmost professionalism since 2001 and it is very fitting that the driver with most wins and titles should be on the grid in this the championship’s 25th anniversary season. But don’t even begin to ask if I think he can win it – all I know is we have an absolutely fantastic line-up of teams and drivers for 2016 and predicting a winner has perhaps never been more impossible!”