HARVEY RIBY EXTENDS EXCELR8 DEAL FOR SECOND VERTU MOTORS MINI CHALLENGE COOPER CAMPAIGN
Teenager Harvey Riby will return to the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE Trophy for 2024 after extending his deal with EXCELR8.
Riby joined the grid for the first time season with the multi title-winning team for his first taste of car racing on the back of a hugely successful karting career, including victory in the Junior British O Plate in 2021.
Having elected to enter the highly competitive Cooper class for his first taste of senior-level racing, Riby produced a fine performance in qualifying at Brands Hatch for the opening round of the year – where he qualified on row two.
Riby backed that up with a top-ten finish in race one, but it would prove to be his best result of what proved to be a character-building rookie campaign for the youngster.
Showing flashes of pace across the remainder of the season, Riby heads into the season finale back at Brands Hatch bidding to try and bring home a top-ten finish in the Rookie Cup before his focus turns to the 2024 campaign.
The announcement of a new deal makes Riby the first driver confirmed with EXCELR8 for the 2024 Cooper programme, with more to follow in what will once again be a multi-car entry.
Harvey Riby, EXCELR8 Motorsport Driver, said:
“I’m hugely excited to have the opportunity to come back for another crack at the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy. This year has been a massive learning year for me and has been really enjoyable, and I feel I’m in the best place to keep learning and improving next year.
“Coming into this season I wasn’t setting myself any big goals, so when I arrived at Brands Hatch for round one and qualified in P4, I think my expectations shot up. In that respect, I was hoping for more from the results, but I have to remember that the move into a series as competitive as this one is a huge one to take for someone my age.
“There is no doubt I’m going to be in a much stronger position going into my second year, and with people like Dan [Zelos] and Ronan [Pearson] to help guide me with the experience they have, and the support of a fantastic team in EXCELR8, I’m confident that 2024 can be a good season.
“Hopefully we can be in the Graduate Cup fight, and pushing to try and get into the top six overall.”
Justina Williams, EXCELR8 Team Owner, said:
“Harvey has been a fantastic addition to our Cooper team this season and has certainly shown his potential at times with his pace on track. Things haven’t always gone his way, but his enthusiasm and positive nature have shone through, and that approach is something that will serve him well going forwards in his career.
