Race winning Renault UK Clio Cup team WDE Motorsport has become the first squad to name its initial three driver signings for the 2015 season, with an eye on fielding a capacity four car line-up in the ultra-competitive series next year.
Team manager and three-time former champion Paul Rivett (Banstead) will return for his 10th full season in the Clio Cup alongside 2014 team-mate Charlie Ladell (Felixstowe) and category rookie Rory Green (Sevenoaks), the latter graduating from club-level Fiesta racing with WDE.
 Rivett, who has the most victories in the history of the Renault UK Clio Cup with a tally of 43 wins and who won the Masters Cup last year, will again be incredibly busy balancing his own on-track exploits with the day-to-day management of WDE’s Clio Cup outfit.
Determined to challenge for an unprecedented fourth main season title, with backing from Stanford Coachworks and Paint-Tec having been confirmed thus far, the 36-year-old is confident with a year’s experience in the latest fourth generation Clio under his belt he will be a contender from the outset.
“I want to compete for the championship, the first year with a new team and working as the team manager as well was always going to be a challenge but WDE has come a long way in just one season in the Clios”, said Rivett, “We’ve got some great staff, some more experienced guys joining us this year too, and we’ve moved into new premises as well. Next year looks set to be really fantastic.”
Team-mate Ladell, who was one of the most improved drivers during his first year in the Renault UK Clio Cup,  returns for a major front-running challenge after concluding the 2014 campaign just shy of the overall top 10, despite only contesting 12 of the 18 races.
Achieving a best overall result of fourth place on only his third weekend in the championship, Ladell posted a best Graduate Cup class finish of second during the final race of the year and Rivett fully expects the 18-year-old to be a consistent front-runner from the outset.
Newcomer Green, who arrives in Renault UK Clio Cup racing after a couple of seasons in Fiestas, first caught the competitive bug in motocross before switching to cars in his late teens. Competing with WDE in club level Fiestas, the 20-year-old now makes the leap onto the BTCC package.
“We’ve got very high hopes for Charlie, we’d like to see him get that first win and I think he should be able to fight for the championship”, said Rivett, “He had a good first season in Clios with us this year, he was the youngest and least experienced driver out there but did a fantastic job and in the final round at Brands GP he was on pole for a lot of qualifying. He’ll be very strong next year.
“Rory is a great young prospect and we’re looking forward to bringing him on in a championship as competitive as the Clio Cup. Anyone that comes into Clios is going to find it tough but I’d like to see Rory build up to competing in the top 10 in his first season, and I think he will be able to.”
Discussions with drivers regarding WDE’s fourth Clio Cup seat are currently ongoing but the team also welcomes additional enquiries from interested parties. For more information, contact WDE team manager Paul Rivett on 07412 665385.
Renault UK Clio Cup championship manager Will Fewkes is pleased to see WDE Motorsport back on the grid for its second season in the category, especially with a three-car squad confirmed so early with a great mix of youth and experience.
“Paul [Rivett] is obviously a real mainstay of the Renault UK Clio Cup and a true ambassador”, said Fewkes, “We’re delighted he’ll be back challenging for another championship himself next year, and equally thrilled he’s returning in his role of WDE team manager too.
“Charlie [Ladell] really did develop impressively in his first season, with a bit more luck he could certainly have taken his first podium and I’m sure he’ll be a consistent front-runner next year. Rory has two excellent team-mates to learn from in his first season and we’re very happy to welcome him into the championship.” | 
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