Clio Cup Champion, 20, Targets Future Racing Success

Nicky Taylor, a 20-year-old racing driver from Little Plumstead near Norwich, has secured victory in Great Britain’s Clio Cup Championship, achieving five race wins, more than any other participant. He now aims to compete in the British Touring Car Championships within the next five years. Taylor’s achievement places his name on the trophy alongside notable figures such as Mini Challenge champion and his former coach, Dan Zelos, and Ash Sutton, a four-time British Touring Car winner. The Graves Motorsport driver expresses aspirations for continued success with Clio cars both within Great Britain and internationally, with his ultimate ambition being a position in Touring Cars or the V8 Supercars Championship in Australia. The trophy was presented to Taylor following the concluding race held at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent last month. The GB Clio Cup Championship ensures fair competition as all participants receive their vehicles from the same Alpine factory in France. Taylor commented on this process, stating, “You have to go out to France, drag the car all the way back to the UK, and eventually you can race it.” He further added, “There’s not too much different on the cars themselves that you can actually change… it makes for really good racing.” Taylor began his racing career in go-karts in 2016. Following several national wins and favorable outcomes, he transitioned to car racing. He recounted, “I did Mini Challenge for three years and got second last year. It was the right decision to move up again, to a faster car in the Clio… and the rest is history.” Taylor anticipates that his championship victories will attract the necessary sponsorship to advance his career. He explained the financial challenges, stating, “You have your base level entries for Minis, and then there’s the next step up, which is a major gap in [terms of] money.” He elaborated on the cost for higher tiers, adding, “Touring Cars is another major gap, it’s like triple, or even quadruple what we’re paying now.” For the upcoming year, Taylor intends to race his Clio vehicle in both Great Britain and across Europe, where starting grids can feature as many as 60 participants. Updates on Norfolk news are available via BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for content on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.