‘JJ’ Clio plans halted after test faux pas
James ‘JJ’ Ross has cancelled plans to contest the final two rounds of the Clio Cup season after a violation of testing rules meant he would not be allowed to contest the season finale at Brands Hatch.
The 2015 BRSCC Fiesta champion Ross had intended to contest the final two rounds of the Clio Cup season at Silverstone and Brands Hatch, having bought a car in Janaury.
But he competed on the Brands GP loop earlier in the year in the Clio, racing in the British Gt-supporting Quaife Saloons championship, contradicting Clio testing restrictions. That means he is ineligible to compete in the finale at Brands Hatch.
“We talked about it, and basically we can only do the one round,” said Bob Ross, JJ’S father. “Because we’ve been to Brands Hatch before, they won’t let us do Brands.
“We went there and did a Quaife Saloons race just to get a bit of experience. But apparently because it’s a current-spec car, we can’t race.
“My understanding was that until you’re in the championship, you’re not registered. But Will [Fewkes, Clio Cup organiser] said that’s not the case. I don’t think it [Silverstone] will happen now.”
Clio Cup regulations dictate a strict control on in-season testing, with Ross’s Brands Hatch outing qualifying as a contradiction of that.
Restrictions for the 2016 season began on Sunday March 27, and will run until a day after the conclusion of the campaign. ● James Colburn will return to the Clio Cup for the final two rounds of the season with PP Motorsport. The 2011 runner-up’s additon brings the Silverstone entry up to 22 cars.
British: Superkarts Cadwell Park Organiser: Auto 66 Club When: September 11 Where: Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire
Jack Layton lifted his second Superkart title in as many weeks when he secured the English Championship for the F250 National class at a very wet Cadwell Park.
Starting from the second row of the grid, he had to play second fiddle to his Parker Motorsport team-mate Tom Hatfield, who was the class winner in both races. By virtue of the two wins Hatfield accumulated enough points to finish second in the table and to complete a clean sweep for the team.
Adam Edgecombe was third in the series despite a spin in race two. The expected challenge from Andy Bird didn’t materialise when he spun off at Park Corner on the opening lap in race one in appalling conditions.
The race was then red flagged due to a stranded kart. However, Bird was not allowed to take the restart as he was not under power when the race was stopped.
In the F450 National four-stroke class, Andy Gulliford was in superb form, mastering the wet track. He was the runaway winner on the road in both races and had little opposition when his class rival Andy Waite spun on the opening lap of the opening encounter. Gulliford’s two wins plus the points from Castle Combe last month secured the E plate for him.
The Division 1 twin-cylinder championship went the way of Danny Chan. Nathan Barton was the class winner in both races but as he hadn’t competed in the earlier rounds he could not overhaul Chan in the standings.