The organisers of the Renault UK Clio Cup have announced some changes to their testing regulations, points-scoring system and the championship’s prize fund ahead of the 2017 campaign.
The standout change comes with the removal of the championship’s “dropped score” ruling, which previously saw drivers drop their two worst scores from the season.
This season, the results of all eighteen races will count towards a driver’s final points tally, with the allocation of points to the top twenty driver per race not changing.
The changes to the championship’s prize fund will see the winners of the Masters Cup and Graduates Cup classes receive 25 per cent off their registration fees for the 2018 Clio Cup.
The eligible age for the Masters Cup has also been reduced by four years, meaning drivers aged 34 or lower as of April 1st can challenge for class honours.
There has also been a relaxing of the championship’s testing regulations, which had previously seen both teams and drivers unable to test at any circuits yet to host a round of the series.
The change will see no registered driver allowed to test a current car on any part of a circuit within 28 days of the venue hosting a round of the championship.
This will ensure that a driver can test at a circuit well in advance of the respective meeting, while prospective new drivers can test with teams whenever they wish.
Championship Manager Will Fewkes commented: “We value greatly the feedback we receive from our teams and stakeholders and these changes are a result of that.
“More than ever young drivers see the UK Clio Cup as the place to be ahead of a step into the British Touring Car Championship so employing an ‘all rounds count’ system gets them thinking more and more like drivers in the BTCC who use a similar system.
“Our revised testing regulations enable our teams to generate more business and we’re also very pleased to reward our Masters and Graduates Cup champions with prizes that are almost double the value what was on offer in 2016.”
