Renault Sport Racing has confirmed that its new Clio Cup UK championship has been postponed until 2021.

The single-make series was set to feature on the British GT support package this year, debuting the fifth-generation incarnation of the popular hatchback.

Benoît Nogier, RSR Customer Racing Director, said: “Renault has enjoyed incredible success with its motor sport programmes in the UK for more than 40 years, particularly with Clio Cup brand.

“This therefore is not a decision that we have taken lightly at all. It is important to stress that our decision is based on feedback from the teams as much as anything else.

“There is no escaping the fact that COVID-19 has had consequences for business models – that includes those of teams in the UK. As stakeholders, we have listened carefully to them and, now in July, clearly they would prefer more time to test the New Clio Cup car being introduced in 2020.

“Therefore, we have taken what we believe is a responsible decision to help protect their interest and have already put in place the following.

“We are making sure that track time will be reserved at British GT events for teams to test the New Clio Cup car. This will be at no cost to those teams and drivers taking up this option.

“UK teams are also invited to race their new cars in Clio Cup France and Spain in 2020 to help them gain additional mileage. Our ambition is very much to return with a full Clio Cup UK championship in 2021.

“Our commitment remains as strong as ever to make New Clio Cup UK as accessible as possible for club racers and novices just as much as career-minded drivers; also to build a sense of mutual regard and community on our grid.”