Canterbury's Tristan Ovenden will drive a renowned Renault Clio in this year's British Rallycross Championship after graduating to the SuperNational class.

The former motocross rider, 43, has acquired the ex-James Bird car, which was driven to three titles in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

Ovenden – who finished second in the Super1600 championship last year – bought the 3.5-litre V6 machine earlier this month.

“I am really excited about this season,” he said.

“It is brilliant that people are going to get the chance to see the Clio again as everybody remembers the car.

“I think it will be very different to anything I have raced before – it is like a glorified buggy and will be more like a go-kart with the engine in the back and rear-wheel-drive.”

The double Swift Sport Rallycross champion tested a Citroen DS3 Supercar at Lydden Hill over the winter.

He finished second to Dartford’s Paul Coney in the Super1600 championship last year, but is now targeting event wins in the highly-competitive MSA SuperNational category.

“Supercars are actually quite easy to drive as they are such lovely cars, but the Clio is a proper racing car,” Ovenden added.

“We didn’t really know what to do for 2017 and, if nothing came about, I would have used my Suzuki Swift in Super1600.

“But the Clio is really exciting to drive and I can’t wait to get going - I am hoping to be there or thereabouts from the start as I have just got the car to learn.”

Ovenden – whose Vauxhall-powered spaceframe Clio was used by Devon-based Steve Cozens in recent seasons – will be sponsored by Goody Demolition.

The 2017 MSA British Rallycross Championship will start at Croft in Yorkshire on March 19, before visiting Lydden Hill on Easter Monday and August Bank Holiday Monday.