Goodride sponsors AirAsia Renault Clio Cup rookie Rob Smith

Goodride Tyres, manufactured by China’s Hangzhou Zhongce and distributed exclusively in the UK by Grouptyre, has agreed to sponsor rookie driver, Rob Smith in the AirAsia Renault Clio Cup, beginning 31 March – 1 April. Smith’s Clio will feature Goodride branding, alongside the logos of Grouptyre and its individual member companies, as he begins his tour round the country for one of the motorsport calendar’s most exciting race championships. The championship runs on control tyres supplied by Michelin, and supports the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

“We’re really excited about Goodride and Grouptyre’s involvement in sponsoring Rob in his first year in the support category of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship,” says Grouptyre’s managing director, Karl Naylor. “It’s a completely new venture for the Goodride brand, but one we believe will pay off. Rob’s got off to a flying start in testing and we wish him all the best for the upcoming season.”

Driving for multiple title winning team, Total Control Racing in his first year in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship support category, the 19-year-old from Telford has posted a quickest lap of 52.526 seconds (82.78mph), which placed him 0.001 seconds off the top 10 as the 11th fastest of the 23 drivers taking part; second quickest of the true Clio Cup rookies. He was also only 0.4 seconds away from the outright pace set by returning title favourite James Dixon, a multiple race winner and experienced Clio Cup campaigner.
 
“I really was very happy with the way the official test went, it was our first time on track together with all of the other guys and to be just 0.4 seconds off the pace was fantastic”, said the Shropshire racer. “We know this is going to be an unbelievably tough season, there are so many quick drivers and a lot of experienced saloon car racers up at the front, so I’ll have my work cut out.”
 
Goodride has embraced its entrance into motorsport sponsorship with a dedicated website charting Smith’s progress during the season.

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