Team Pyro will be entering two cars into the Michelin Clio Cup Series this weekend at Brands Hatch for their first appearance in the championship this season.
Pyro, who have won six of the last seven drivers titles in the BTCC supporting Renault UK Clio Cup, will run third-generation Clio race cars for category newcomer Darren Johnson and the returning Andy Wilkins.
Alongside their outing for Rounds Eight and Nine of the season this weekend in Kent, both drivers are also confirmed for the season finale at Silverstone in September, for which Pyro will expand to three cars with Charlie Fulk who made his series debut in the 2014 closer.
Johnson enters the Clio Series for the first time meanwhile after progressing from track day events to circuit racing in the last year, taking class wins in the MSV Team Trophy, the CSCC New Millennium Series and the Britcar Saloon Series.
“I’ve had my eye on racing in the Michelin Clio Cup Series for a while – I bought my car from Pyro and have done a few club meetings but I was always planning to do the Clio Series,” said Johnson, who has Josh Files’ 2013 Clio Cup winning car.
“The time is right to join the championship, I’ve only had one test at Brands before but hopefully I’ll be OK, although I’m sure it will be an eye-opener! The plan is to do the full championship next year, we’ll see how I get on – I’m so looking forward to it.”
Wilkins meanwhile competed in four meetings of the Clio Series last year with Pyro, with a best result of sixth in the opening race being followed by four other top twelve finishes, including a pair of eleventh places at Brands.
“I don’t have particularly high expectations for Brands as I’ll be racing against people with a lot more experience,” commented Wilkins.
“I have set a personal goal though of a lap in the 53 second bracket, in qualifying last year I did a 54.060 second lap so if I can find seven hundredths I’ll be a happy man! If I can keep with a few of the guys it’ll be good, I just want to enjoy it.”
