Josh Cook, Vice-Champion of this year’s Renault UK Clio Cup, will enter a multi-car team in the one make championship in 2015 after today, Friday, 14th November, confirming plans to field as many as four drivers under the Team Cooksport banner.
While the 23-year-old British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) Rising Star won’t be returning to race in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship feeder category himself, as he strives to graduate up the motorsport ladder, he will provide the team’s drivers with the benefit of his vast experience.
Operating from new premises in Bristol close to the M32 junction, Team Cooksport will feature the same engineering strength which backed-up Cook’s successful season in the Clio Cup this year where he earned six race wins – the most of any driver – and a total of 10 podiums.
“We’re planning on running a three to four car team”, he explained, “I won’t be racing as part of it myself, I’m still moving my own racing career forward in other ways, but my father [Chris Cook] will be managing the Clio team and we’ll have the same engineers who were working with me this year.
“We’ve already got a new lorry and new premises in Bristol, we’re just off the M32 so it’s a good location and very accessible. Obviously we have the car I raced this year, which we’ll be renting out, and we’re already talking to a few drivers – some experienced Clio racers and some newcomers.”
Cook added: “I learnt a lot this year as part of the KX Akademy and that’s a big part of what we want to do with the team, help guys progress by passing on experience about everything you need to do off track, such as the media work and sponsorship side, as well as on track.”
While the ‘Team Cooksport’ brand is new, the squad is no stranger to running drivers having competed in Stock Hatch, where Cook won the championship in 2010, the Production Touring Car Trophy and, of course, the Renault UK Clio Cup.
With today’s announcement, the team becomes the third new squad to confirm involvement in the Renault UK Clio Cup next year alongside Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship outfits AmDTuning.com and Team BMR Restart Racing.
Delighted to welcome the arrival of Team Cooksport, Renault UK Clio Cup Championship Manager Will Fewkes said: “This really is fantastic news, Josh and his guys did a great job this year and were very close to winning the championship. While we’ll be sad Josh isn’t part of the grid himself in 2015, it’ll be great to have him there heading-up his own team.
“Things really are moving forward well ahead of next season already, there is a lot of interest from drivers and, as this announcement proves, teams as well. Team Cooksport will be a very welcome addition to the championship and I’m sure they will be very competitive.”
Drivers interested in contacting Team Cooksport to discuss 2015 options for the Renault UK Clio Cup should call Josh Cook on 07980 222001.
The Renault UK Clio Cup is supported by ELF, Performance Friction, WP Racing and official tyre supplier Dunlop.
