ELF Renault Clio Cup racer Jonathan Ridley-Holloway is delighted to confirm a series of brand new sponsorship deals ahead of his maiden full season in the British Touring Car Championship supporting category, the 23-year-old revealing his new backers during last week's official test session at Silverstone in Northamptonshire.

 

Having undertaken a solid pre-season test programme in recent weeks, including visits to Oulton Park in Cheshire, Rockingham in Northamptonshire and Brands Hatch in Kent, the Barnstaple racer joined fellow competitors at Silverstone last Thursday, 20th March, where he ran for the first time with his 2008 livery on his bright orange Clio.

 

Driving for multiple champion entrant Total Control Racing, Jonathan will receive backing this year from Bond Oxborough Phillips, PicoPC.co.uk and A4 Apparel, for his first ever summer season of sprint racing in the all-action ELF Renault Clio Cup.

 

At Silverstone on Thursday, track conditions altered throughout due to occasional rain but in the wet during the final session Jonathan emerged as the fastest driver until he was pipped right at the end as conditions dried sufficiently for full slick tyres.

 

Having been 13th quickest during the first of the morning tests with a lap of 1m 06.780 seconds (88.35mph), the North Devon ace moved into 11th place in session three with a time of 1m 12.079 seconds (81.85mph).

 

The last of the day's four periods saw Jonathan take to the track with a mixture of wet weather and slick tyres on his Clio and it certainly appeared to be the right choice, leading the way with a best lap of 1m 09.163 seconds (85.31mph). As drivers on full slicks started to benefit from the drying track at the end though, he slipped to fifth place.

 

"We were consistently the quickest in wet conditions so I'm very pleased about that", said Jonathan following the Silverstone test, "We ran slicks on the front and wet tyres on the rear in the final session and we held the top spot for quite a while. We were done over by the guys on full slicks though towards the end which was a shame.

 

"I just need to find a bit more time in the dry conditions and then I feel we'll be able to consistently challenge in the top six in any weather. My car control in the Clio is getting better and I'm feeling much more comfortable."

 

There are now less than two weeks to wait until the first two rounds of the 2008 ELF Renault Clio Cup at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent on 29th/30th March.

 

Pre-event practice takes place on Friday, 28th March, qualifying and round one will follow on Saturday, 29th March, and round two – which may be screened live on ITV4 as part of the British Touring Car Championship television package – is timetabled to take place on Sunday, 30th March.

 

Looking ahead to the Brands Hatch race weekend, Jonathan added: "I'd like to see ourselves battling for the top six but I'm confident the top 10 is definitely do-able. I think there will be a big fight over the top six and if I can be involved in that I'll be very happy."