Paul Rivett capped off a successful season in the Renault UK Clio Cup at Brands Hatch by securing second in the championship and also winning the Masters Cup crown for drivers aged over 34.
The three-time Clio champion was delighted to end the season with two pieces of silverware, although the final pair of races of 2017 proved to be a disappointment.
Rivett was caught up in an incident in the opener that damaged his WDE Motorsport-run Clio and meant he finished a lap down.
“Three into one at Hawthorn’s doesn’t go,” said Rivett. “I was in the middle and that turned me around and into the barrier. After that the car was bent and I just limped it home.”
He then made an excellent start to the second contest – rising to fourth on the first lap by going around the outside of Paddock Hill Bend.
But then a tap from Max Coates – who received a penalty for the contact – sent Rivett into a massive slide at Paddock Hill Bend. Somehow he was able to regain control but dropped to eighth as a result.
“I thought I was going in the gravel and go on the roof!” he said.
However that was still enough for Rivett to clinch second in the standings, his best championship result since 2012.
“I’ve not had the results I wanted this weekend but had the championship results I wanted,” said Rivett. “It would’ve been great if I finished first but it’s been a good year to get second.”
It has been a memorable season for Rivett – during which he celebrated his 200th race in the series. At Brands Hatch he was given a ‘Mr Clio Cup’ race suit to mark the milestone.
“Renault gave me a special race suit for my 200th race which was nice – they say that is more than anybody else in the world has done in Clios,” Rivett added.
He plans to be back out in the Clio Cup again next year, with the season kicking off at Brands Hatch on April 7-8.
