Intersteps runner-up Matthew Mason is eyeing up a move out of single-seater racing into the Renault UK Clio Cup this season.
Mason has competed in the Formula Renault BARC and Intersteps championship’s over the past couple of seasons, with 2012 seeing him follow up his second place in the final-running of Intersteps with third in the BARC Winter Series.
Mason has found himself at a dead-end on single-seater ladder though, with the 20 year old being unable to raise the vast budgets required to progress.
“I have been unsure of where my career can go for some time in motorsport,” Mason told TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk “This has nothing to do with my capability of driving, presenting myself, or being an all-round driver in any sense – but merely the incapability of financing the next step up after BARC Renault. Realistically, my next step would be Eurocup Renault, or GP3, and for those you’re looking at figures of £250,000 to £400,000.”
With his chances of progressing in single-seaters limited, the Nottingham-based racer is now considering a change of discipline and a move into the BTCC-supporting Clio Cup.
“Even though my dream of being multiple Formula One World Champion still exists, I have to look shorter term, and find a feasible next step, which could open doors to potentially a different ambition like touring cars.
“Clio Cup is a sensible option as it provides a brilliant marketing platform with the British Touring Car media package which will hopefully be more appealing to sponsors – plus you get a lot more car to advertise on!
“It also opens this route to Touring Cars in the future, as I will be exercising that all-important conversion from single seaters to sports cars. Hopefully it will open more doors, and I can climb the ladder from a different angle.”
Mason is now left with the tricky task of raising the sponsorship required to get out on the grid and although the Clio Cup is his preferred option for the upcoming campaign, he’s open to a move into any series.
“I am confident in my abilities, I just need someone else to invest in me. All I want to do is get out in a seat, even if it is not Clio’s, the likelihood is that I will go wherever my sponsors want me to go – I just hope we can raise some money to be in a seat this year.”