KIDDERMINSTER-based Renault Clio Cup ace Dan Rowbottom will join the British Touring Car Championship in 2019.

Backed by leading fuel and exhaust system cleaning brand Cataclean, Rowbottom will graduate from the Renault Clio UK Cup to the BTCC with Ciceley Motorsport. That will mean he lines up in one of the team’s Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars for the 2019 season.

Rowbottom was a triple race winner last season on his way to fourth place in the Renault Clio UK Cup and has been eager to graduate to the BTCC. With the support from Cataclean, a long-time backer and supporter of his racing, the time is right to step up to the BTCC.

His career began in karting, winning the 2001 Super 1 National Comer Cadet Championship and the Renault Elite League - Super Libre title in 2005.

A move to cars came in 2008 with a season in the SEAT Cupra Championship before funding stopped his progression. A return to car racing in 2015 placed Rowbottom in the Lotus Elise Trophy before moving to Renault Clio in 2016.

“Money has always been tight and so to join the BTCC grid is a dream come true,” he said. “Cataclean has been a great backer of my racing and with its support we have been able to make this possible for 2019 and beyond. With Ciceley Motorsport we have found a team that is a perfect fit and one that I am really happy to be with. We have been talking to the guys at Ciceley for a while and I have a really good feeling about the team and it will be great to be able to learn from Adam Morgan who has proved that the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a winning car. I can’t wait to get started.”

Ciceley Motorsport Commercial Director Norman Burgess said: “We are delighted to welcome Dan to the team. We have been watching his pace in the Renault Clio Cup and have been very impressed, especially as he has been the real underdog up against the bigger teams. We are confident that he will soon be up to speed in the BTCC and we look forward to working with Dan and seeing him progress in the championship. Dan is a class act both at and away from the race track, we nearly secured his services while running our Clio team, everybody at Ciceley Motorsport is really looking forward to working with him.

“We are delighted to welcome Cataclean to the grid as well. A new, major sponsor on the BTCC grid is always welcome and we look forward to helping Cataclean promote its message successfully next season.”

The opening rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will be at Brands Hatch, Kent, on April 6/7 with live coverage on ITV4.