2009 Renault UK Clio Cup champion Phil Glew has tipped Ash Hand to be a championship contender next season, describing his progress this season as ‘phenomenal.’
Former BTCC racer Glew worked alongside Hand throughout his maiden car-racing campaign with Team Pyro this season, helping guide the 19 year old to thirteen top ten finishes from sixteen starts en-route to a top ten championship finish.
That consistent run of results included two top five finishes, with the highlight of the campaign being a hard-fought maiden podium finish on the penultimate weekend at Rockingham.
Glew feels that result can be the catalyst for a championship challenge next season in the new fourth generation Clios.
“Ash’s progression in 2013 has been phenomenal,” said Glew. “I really can’t emphasise that enough. Very few people achieve a podium finish in their first year! Having never raced a car before, what was most impressive was the way he adapted to the Clio and the series so tremendously quickly.
“I am 100 per cent confident that Ash has a very good chance of winning the championship next year. In fact, as long as he puts everything he has learned and all the experience he has gained this year into practice, I would stake money on it.”