In 2021 I completed my first year covering European Motorsport. The first series I was given the reins to was Clio Cup Europe - a championship that was celebrating its 30th anniversary in tremendous fashion by bringing together a multitude of their grids from across the continent in one massive season - it was epic!
Over 100 drivers entered from all over, competing in 30 rounds at some of the very best circuits in the world. Spa Francorchamps, Monza, Imola, Hockenheim, Catalunya, and even Paul Ricard, where the series supported the French Grand Prix, to name a few!
David Addison and I shared the majority of the commentary duties and despite some COVID-affected rounds meaning we were working remotely, the action was fantastic - non-stop door-to-door racing all year.
Well, I'm now very excited to say that I'm back doing it again in 2022 - not as many race meetings this time, but I'll be travelling out to each one that I'm covering, so I can take in the atmosphere as well as meet the drivers and teams behind the racing. I made a lot of friends in the paddock last year despite my lack of ability with other languages, and can't wait to see them all again.
The cars themselves are brilliant little pocket rockets - 200 horsepower, turbocharged fully stripped out little hatchbacks that make a great, raspy noise as they buzz past (usually in packs of five or more)!
I'll be there for the season opener at Nogaro in Southern France, Jarama in Spain just a week later, then Imola at the beginning of May. I'll be back at Misano in June before visiting the Hungaroring in mid-July, then rounding out my duties with the championship at Monza in October.
Thanks again to David for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this great series and to work closely with Renault - it's a real pleasure to be continuing to do what I love on such a scale. I'm so excited to get back to scenes like this...
