Jake Honour will once again compete in the roadcar class of the Michelin Clio Cup Series in 2014, running as a privateer entry with support from Jade Developments.
The Wiltshire-based racer made his car-racing debut in last season’s inaugural running of the Clio Series, making the switch to competitive race action after spending a few years taking part in trackday events.
The 22 year old was a regular class podium finisher through the campaign, before ending the year on a high with his first two pole positions and race wins in the Autumn Cup event at Rockingham.
With the Clio Series becoming a fully-fledged, twelve-race championship this season, Honour is looking forward to the extra challenges and competition that will bring, and hopes he can end the season as class champion.
“I know that we have a very competitive car for this year, which was proved by our performance in the Autumn Cup, and we will be meaning to start this season as we finished last season – winning!” Honour told TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk.
“I have a great team around me, which has expanded slightly for 2014 meaning that I will have my own specific mechanic and a team driver coach for the year.
“I also have much more sponsorship for this year which is a fantastic bonus to me. It’s allowed me to commit to some more testing, and it will also take the strain of trying to fund another season myself again away from me, which I did last year and nearly didn’t make the Autumn Cup due to funding.
“My ultimate goal is to finish 2014 as the road class champion! I definitely think it is possible and we will all be doing all we can to ensure that happens. Ultimately, if I do well this year, the race class will be the obvious choice for 2015, but that’s a long time away yet.”
Honour heads into the season with added confidence after reaching the final eight of the Milltek ‘Find A Driver’ VW Cup, the prize for which was a part-funded season in the 2014 VW Cup.
While ultimately unsuccessful, he got valuable experience competing against a talented field including Ginetta G50 Cup race-winner Louise Richardson, Mini Challenge racer Chris Knox and eventual winner, VW Cup driver James Walker.
Honour enters the 2014 Michelin Clio Cup Series with backing from UK Parts Direct, Performance French Cars Magazine, Cazan Racing, APM Customs, Zephyr Performance, Extreme Gleam Detailing & Darryl Moore Carpentry.