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Class winner of the Britcar 24 Hours Race, Jonathan Ridley-Holloway, has
agreed terms with multiple title-winning ELF Renault Clio Cup squad Total
Control Racing to contest the upcoming 2008 season.
The 23-year-old, who resides in Barnstaple, North Devon and has a Masters
Degree in Motorsport Engineering, made his Clio Cup debut with TCR during last
November’s four round Winter Championship, finishing sixth overall in the driver
standings.
Jonathan has only been racing since 2005 when, on his 21st birthday, he
made his debut in the Production S1 endurance series at Brands Hatch Grand Prix
Circuit. Finishing second in class at the wheel of a Honda Civic Type R, his
maiden class victory quickly followed two months later at Oulton Park
International Circuit.
Remaining in Production S1 in 2006, Jonathan finished every race on the
class podium while last year he contested selected rounds of the series before
making his Clio Cup bow during the 2007 ELF Renault Clio Winter Cup, having
purchased one of the new generation Clio Cup race cars at the beginning of the
year.
For the last three years, the Suffolk-born racer has also been a regular in
the annual Britcar 24 Hours Race at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit. Third in
class on his 24 Hours debut in 2005, Jonathan achieved class victory and
finished a superb seventh overall in 2006 while last year he was eighth overall
and took class honours once again.
With TCR having won three of the last five ELF Renault Clio Cup driver
titles, Jonathan firmly believes he is with the best and most successful team in
the championship for his full season debut and is looking forward to the new
campaign which is now just 11 weeks away.
Speaking on his new deal, Jonathan commented: “I’m going to take it as it
comes really, learn as much as I can and see what happens during the season. The
Winter Cup was a shocker really, I wasn’t happy with how I performed but I know
with a good testing programme in place we should be stronger for the new
season.
“Saying that though, I think it was much better to do the Winter Cup rather
than going straight into the 2008 season green. We’ll be out testing in
mid-February and hopefully have a good build-up. I’m really looking forward to
the championship and I know with TCR I’m with the right guys and they’ll help
bring the very best out of me.”
As ever, the 2008 ELF Renault Clio Cup will race on the HiQ MSA British
Touring Car Championship package at the UK’s most prestigious venues. The
20-round season will begin at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, Kent, on 29th/30th
March with Clio Cup also visiting venues such as Rockingham, Oulton Park,
Donington Park and Thruxton.
The most high-profile race meeting, however, will be the stand-alone World
Series by Renault event at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit on 7th/8th June.
Previously held at Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit, the British round of the
World Series by Renault attracted an unbelievable 135,000 spectators last
year.
Driver Profile – Jonathan Ridley-Holloway
Nationality: British
Age: 23
Born: Suffolk
Lives: Barnstaple,
North Devon
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Student; also runs Car Tune
Racing
Sponsors: TBA
Career History:
2007:
ELF Renault Clio Winter Cup – sixth overall;
Selected outings in the Production S1 series (Honda Civic Type R);
Britcar 24 Hours Race at Silverstone – eighth overall, class winner (Honda
Civic Type R)
2006:
Production S1 series – finished every round on the class podium (Honda
Civic Type R);
Britcar 24 Hours Race at Silverstone – seventh overall, class winner (Honda
Civic Type R)
2005:
Production S1 series – race debut on 21st birthday at Brands Hatch, second
in class (Honda Civic Type R); maiden class win at Oulton Park;
Inaugural
Britcar 24 Hours Race at Silverstone – third in class (Honda Civic Type R)
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