Four-time Clio champion Paul Rivett to debut in final two rounds

Multiple Renault Clio Cup UK title winner Paul Rivett will make his BTCC debut in the final two rounds of the 2020 season at Snetterton and Brands Hatch after signing a deal to join Trade Price Cars Racing.

The 42-year-old will replace James Gornall after he took the decision to stand down from from his drive with three rounds of the year still to run, but is unavailable for this weekend’s meeting at Croft – meaning the team will field just one car for Bobby Thompson in North Yorkshire.

Rivett will make the move into the BTCC as the most successful driver in the history of the Clio Cup UK having taken no fewer than four championship titles, and has been racing most recently in both the Fun Cup and the British Truck Racing Championship.

“It’s no secret that I have always wanted to race in the BTCC and at the age of 42, I know I’m not getting any younger,” he said. “My mother sadly passed away earlier this year and it really made me realise that I can’t let time pass by, and that I had to try and make it happen.

“I visited Silverstone to speak to a few people and see what opportunities there might be for next season, and suddenly the opportunity has come along for me to take part in the final two rounds of this season. That’s something I’m hugely excited about, and that I certainly wasn’t expecting.

“I’ve obviously watched the BTCC through the years whilst racing on the support package and have competed against a lot of the drivers on the grid during my time in the Clio Cup, and even before that when I was racing in Fiestas and had my novice cross alongside guys called Colin Turkington and Gordon Shedden, who have gone on to do quite well!

“My goal is to use these two rounds to show what I can do. I’ve always adapted quite well to new cars and the aim will be to get quicker every time I go out on track and look to keep progressing forwards. Snetterton will all be geared towards preparing for Brands Hatch as that’s my home circuit, and I’d love to be able to go out there in the final rounds and challenge for some good results.

“It’s a shame that I’m not able to also race at Croft this weekend, but I’ll be cheering Bobby and the team on and look forward to joining him on track. I have to say a huge thank you to Trade Price Cars for the opportunity to fulfil a dream, and also to my long term sponsors WDE Recruitment and Tachosys for helping to make this possible.”

Outgoing driver Gornall secured the team’s best result of the season to date at Brands Hatch with a seventh place finish in the final race – which marked the best result for a rookie driver across the past twp seasons. The former British GT champion also secured Jack Sears Trophy honours on the same weekend.