Lee Pattison will make a full-time return to Renault UK Clio Cup competition this season with the Team Cooksport squad.
Pattison made a one-off appearance with the Bristol-based outfit last season, jumping into the car at Knockhill and making an immediate impact with a pair of top five finishes including a best of the fourth – the team’s strongest result of the season at that point.
The 41 year old has three Clio Cup race wins to his name, two from 2010 when he finished runner-up in the championship standings to Dave Newsham, and one from 2013 when he was team-mate to Cooksport boss Josh Cook.
With limited pre-season running under his belt Pattison is expecting a slow start in the opening two weekends, but is hoping to kickstart his season at Thruxton – the circuit he currently holds the series lap record for.
“My deal with Cooksport has come together late, so Brands and maybe even Donington after that are going to be like my pre-season testing which everyone else has already had,” said Pattison.
“The aim will be to collect as many points as possible at those two, but then it’s Thruxton where hopefully I can be back fighting for wins. I’m not coming back to mess about – I’m doing this because I really believe the title is on and Cooksport can give me the car to do it.”
Pattison joins second year drivers Rory Collingbourne and George Jackson at Cooksport, with former Clio vice-champion Cook excited to be working with Pattison, a driver he has battled with many times on track.
“Lee is the perfect addition to our team – his experience will only help bring Rory and George on and we see this very definitely as a championship campaign with all three drivers,” added Cook.
“I know exactly what Lee is capable of, which he demonstrated with us last year when he jumped in our car and was straight on the pace. We’re delighted to have him on board.”
