Renault, British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) and Michelin have teamed up to launch a new entry-level in the United Kingdom, as a sort of stepladder for those trying to become a professional touring car racer. Michelin Clio Cup Series is one of the most cost-effective professional racing series.

One of the reasons it is so cost-effective is because the Clio Cups cars in this series are the previous generation models. The new one won’t get a touring model until 2014. The series will launch next year with only four events in the entire season as a sort of trial. They hope to make it a fully-fledged championship the year after that.

The series is expected to begin on 11th/12th May at Snetterton in Norfolk – running with the Protyre Formula Renault Championship – with a second event at Croft in North Yorkshire in July. Two more race meetings are also planned, the first at Rockingham in Northamptonshire over the weekend 10th/11th August, with the final event set to take place at Brands Hatch in September. Official calendar is yet to be confirmed.

“Michelin Clio Cup Series with Protyre perfectly fills the gap in the market for those who enjoy track days, such as our own very successful Renaultsport Trackdays, but who want to make the step into actual competition without moving straight into the Renault UK Clio Cup”, said Jeremy Townsend, Renault UK Communications Director.