Legendary Perth racer Ru Clark to join Motorbase Young Driver Programme

Scottish driver Ru Clark receives support for 2022 from Motorbase BTCC team signs MINI racer to exciting Young Driver Programme.

Perth racing driver Ru Clark has become the latest competitor to join the Motorbase Performance Young Driver Programme for 2022, after also confirming the second season of action in the Quaife MINI Challenge.

The 21-year-old professional racer was a podium finisher in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship feeder category last year and ended the season 11th in the standings, second in the Rookie class.

Starting his motorsport career in karting, Clark moved up into cars in 2017 in the BMW Compact Cup where he was a podium finisher. Graduating into the Volkswagen Racing Cup the following season, he starred with two race victories, and three other podiums and ended the year as Vice-Champion.

In 2019 Clark was only able to contest a part season in VW due to A-level commitments, but he was still impressive – securing six podiums in seven races, including another win. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, his planned move into MINI Challenge in 2020 was delayed until last year.

Ru Clark said: “I’m very excited for the year ahead and to be joining the Motorbase Performance Young Driver Programme, it’s a fantastic development for my career as it moves forward. It’s going to be great learning from Motorbase’s BTCC drivers, including two of the top stars in the championship. I am incredibly grateful to have been selected for this opportunity and I intend to repay the faith Pete Osborne and Motorbase have put in me this year.”

Pete Osborne Motorbase Performance Team Owner and Team Principal said: “I’m delighted to welcome Ru onto our Young Driver Programme and looking forward to seeing how he progresses in MINI CHALLENGE this year. Ru has shown himself to be an extremely capable driver in the headline JCW class, becoming a podium finisher in his debut season, and he enjoyed a lot of success in the VW Cup as well. He also, of course, enjoys the great continuity of racing with JWB Motorsport again this year in MINI so we’re all confident it should be a successful season.”

Racing as part of the BTCC package, the 2022 MINI Challenge will get underway over the weekend 23rd/24th April at Donington Park National Circuit in Leicestershire.