Nothing predestined Josh Files towards competition and he didn’t take the traditional route through the ranks. The young Brit was 18 when he got his start in motor racing.

”I had never raced anything until 2009”, says Josh Files. “No karting, no cars, nothing! I raced a historic Triumph TR6 with my dad. In 2010, I entered a championship on my own and win it two rounds before the end! As a result I decided I should have a go at something much harder. I contacted Mark Hunt at Team Pyro, had a test day and that is how I began my Clio Cup journey.”

In his first season on the national scene, Josh Files scored two podium results and finished seventh in the general classification. It was a learning year before he improved in 2012 with four pole positions and as many podiums, resulting in sixth place in the championship.

”For the first year of Clio Cup UK, I was learning and up against far more experienced drivers. In 2012, I had the raw pace, sometimes too much, and struggled to keep myself under control. I had a few too many accidents, sometimes my fault, other times unfortunate.”

In 2013, Josh Files set off on an ambitious two-pronged programme, racing in the UK Clio Cup with the older generation Clio Cup and the Eurocup Clio, where the New Clio Cup was introduced.

”The click was 2013. I had matured my driving style, focused on consistency and only went ‘balls out’ top speed in qualifying when it really mattered. And once I won, and started winning, I just never wanted to stop.”

”I was confident we could win the UK series, while the Eurocup Clio was very difficult. Every track I went I had to learn, much the same in 2014 as I only know two of the four circuits, and that was only as we went there last year. Eurocup was a way of learning the new car, having fun in Europe and mixing it with harder competition. As a result I never ever thought I would win Eurocup Clio, especially at my first attempt. Winning was out of all our expectations!”

After taking the European title, Josh Files now returns to go for a new unprecedented double: win a second consecutive championship in Eurocup Clio; a feat that that hasn’t been accomplished despite the attempts of Nicolas Milan and Oscar Nogues these past few years.

”In 2013 there was no pressure. I was relatively unknown at the start and we weren’t there to win. Now, everyone is looking at me and we are there to do the double. It’s a very different attitude I have to take. Competitors are coing back with a new car, more resources and another year under their belts as well as doing a national championship with the New Clio Cup. It makes my life a lot harder!”

There are other changes this year in the Eurocup Clio, and according to Josh Files they will make his goal more difficult to achieve.

”Four meetings instead of six make it more challenging. If one round is messed up, there is little time to bounce back! The new qualifying format, with two sessions, is very good. However it can make it harder too as a setup that can work on Saturday may not on Sunday. So, it is important to get the most out of the car, whatever you have to work with!”

After the first round at Motorland Aragón, Josh Files is fourth in the general classification, 28-points behind Oscar Nogues, who won both races in Spain. The Englishman isn’t about to give up in the fight against the 2012 champion and his other rivals!

”At Motorland, we were definitely among the fastest, and in testing, qualifying and race 1 we showed we will be at the front all the way. Race 2 was challenging. Contact with another car sent me spinning, so naturally I was happy to get myself back into some points, but this has left us a long way behind Nogues.”

”Now, I have to bounce back! The biggest thing to get back to the top is to win from now on. I have to go all out as a driver and deliver whatever it takes, as does Team Pyro with the car. Testing will be paramount to our success. Among the biggest challengers this year, I am expecting the usual protagonists, especially as they have been in the Eurocup arena for many years. The guys to watch will be Nogues, Trémoulet and of course Pedalà.”

Josh Files
Born: 9 January 1991 in Great Britain
Height / Weight: 1.80m / 72kg
2009-2010 : Thoroughbred Sports Car (Champion)
2011 : Renault Clio Cup UK (7th)
2012 : Renault Clio Cup UK (6th)
2013 : Eurocup Clio (Champion), Renault Clio Cup UK (Champion)
2014 : Eurocup Clio