NEWPORT motorsport ace Rory Collingbourne capped off an impressive debut season in the Renault Clio Cup by helping his team finish third in the constructors’ championship.

Collingbourne earned a brace of top-eight finishes in the final two rounds of the championship at Brands Hatch early this month.

The Team Cooksport driver has delivered nearly half of his team’s points this year with 13 top-ten finishes helping him also finish sixth in the drivers’ championship table.

That has led to respected authorities in the sport already making him a title contender for next season; something the 17-year-old says he’s also making his goal.

“It’s been a fantastic first season for me in the championship,” said the Newport Auctions-sponsored driver.

“At the start of the year I just wanted to experience competing against older professional drivers and cut my teeth challenging them.

"This is a championship made up of ex-touring car drivers and the best rising stars in British motorsport so my aims back then reflected this.

"I knew I could compete, but I never expected to deliver on the level I have done.

“To get 13 top-ten finishes and lead my team to third in the constructors’ championship in my debut season is something special.

"It’s been a great year and one in which I’ve been able to show have fast I can drive the car and get the performance from it needed to deliver the kind of results that pick-up the bigger points.

“The challenge for me now is to build upon what I’ve achieved and make the step up to podium finishes and a shot at the title.”

Collingbourne is hoping close-season testing in the lead-up to the 2016 championship will give him the edge he needs to challenge for the title.

“For me the 2015 championship may have come to an end, but the hard work has only just begun," he added.

"We’ve got a lot of testing planned for the close-season and the team in Bristol is looking to improve the car even more so we can challenge for the title.

"I want to be one of the contenders next year. That will give me the platform I need to break into the British Touring Car Championship, which is my ultimate goal.”