Paul Rivett is delighted to have ended his 2014 Renault UK Clio Cup season with a long-awaited first win of the year and the Masters Cup title.
The three-time Clio Cup champion capped off a mixed first season as a driver/team manager with WDE Motorsport with victory in the live-televised final round of the season at Brands Hatch GP.
From fifth on the grid, Rivett picked his way through a dramatic incident ahead at the first corner to take a lead he wouldn’t relinquish, despite pressure from Josh Cook first of all and then Alex Morgan.
The victory, Rivett’s 43rd in the Clio Cup, was the first for WDE and after coming so close on many occasions this season, finishing second on four occasions, Rivett is relieved to have ended the season with a win in the history books.
“I’ve wanted a win all year long. If I hadn’t have won, it would have been the first season of Clio racing that I’ve ever competed in and not won a race, which would have been disastrous for me,” Rivett told TCF.
“We got through at the start and had a bit of luck with the sideways cars, but after that we proved that we had the pace to win. We put it on the front row yesterday too and probably should have had pole, so I’m really, really pleased with the weekend, it’s such a nice way to end the year.”
This season marked the first time Rivett has been eligible for the Masters Cup, the title battle for which ended up being a year-long duel with old adversary Lee Pattison.
With Pattison electing to sit out the finale weekend at Brands, Rivett was given a clear run to the class honours.. While it was not the title he wanted to end the year with, he’s pleased to have come away with some extra silverware.
“We’ve called it the geriatrics cup, it’s the first year I’ve been in it and we’ve picked it up, so it’s nice to end the year with another trophy,” he added.
“It’s a shame Lee [Pattison] didn’t turn up this weekend as it would have been great to have fought him for it right to the end. It’s nice to win it either way and it’s some money towards next year’s entry fees.
“Finally I have to say a massive thank you to WDE Motorsport for this season, they have been absolutely fantastic, all the boys in the team have done a great job, and a huge thanks to my sponsors too, Pulsant, Cube 52, Stanford Coachworks, Paint-Tec, Vortex Exhausts, without them I wouldn’t be racing.”
