Page 7 - Motorsport News (January 2020)
P. 7
Advertising enquiries: 0203 405 8110 motorsport-news.co.uk JANUARY 29 2020 7
NEAL SAYS HE WILL
BE FIT FOR OPENER
First driver to sign up
Triple BTCC champion confident mountain bike accident won’t stop him competing Ex-British GT driver
Photos: Jakob Ebrey Wallace to race Clio
Former British GT
ByMatt James pre-seasontestsessions,” the racer Ben Wallace is
three-time titlewinnersaid. the first driver to be
British Touring Car “ButI shouldbebackintime confirmed as competing
champion Matt Neal says forDoningtonandIam goingto in the revamped Clio
he will be fit to return for win theopeningraceof the year Cup UK series this
the opening round of the –youcan quotemeon that!” year, after signing for
season after suffering Nealexplainedthat the Student Motorsport.
serious injuries in a accidenthadhappened ashe The 20-year-old drove
mountain bike accident. was takingavoiding action. a Ginetta G55 for Team
The 53-year-oldfellduring “Theguywhowas ridingin Hard in the GT4 class
aride withfriends earlierthis front of mefelloff,andI was of British GT in 2018
monthandsuffered aclean in hiswheeltracks,” saidNeal. and has also previously
breakto hisclavicle,multiple “Ihadachoice:eithergo raced in the Volkswagen
fracturesto hisshoulder, a over him,whichwould have Racing Cup.
brokenrib andapunctured caused injuriesto him,or try He will now switch
lung,which thencollapsed. andavoidhim.I lookedtothe to the relaunched
The TeamDynamicsHonda left andIcouldseeatree,but Clio category, which
CivicType Rdriverwastaken therewas atrackbehindthat. features a new fifth-
tohospitalinWorcesterwhere I figured Icould usethatas an generation car and has
hewastreatedby theWorcester escaperoute. But,asI veered joined the British GT
AcuteHospitalNHSTrust. off course,thegroundwas support bill.
Nealisrecuperatingat home reallysoftandthefront wheel Wallace will race for
andalreadyhas hissightson of my bikeduginandflipped Student Motorsport –
thebeginningof thecampaign meover thehandlebars. Idid a the racing arm of a new
onMarch28-29at Donington. supermanimpression intothe membership network
“The doctorshavetoldme
BTCC racer suffered thatI willdefinitely missthe tree.I shoulder chargedit,and that provides students,
that iswhatdidthe damage.”
graduates, educators
multiple injuries in crash and professionals with
the resources to develop
skills and links to the
motorsport industry.
Callahan to move into CALM All Porsche Trophy for second season of racing Team manager JP
Latham stressed that,
FormerXFactorcontestant explainedCallahan.“In differentmentalhealthissues while students will
SamCallahanwillcompeteinthe DecemberIreleasedanalbum thatIhadafterbeinginthepublic gain experience with
CALMAllPorscheTrophyinhis andallof theproceedsfrom eyeafterXFactor.Ihadsome the race team, they
secondseasonof racingthisyear. thatwillgototheCALMcharity amazingpeoplearoundmeand will be overseen by
Callahanmadehisdebutinthe sothat’swherethelinkcame I’mluckytohaveagoodfamily experienced personnel.
Bernie’sSportsRacingandV8s from.I’vebeendoingstuff as tohelpme,butIhadtwofriends “Ben is going to bring
serieslastyear,sharingaTaydec anambassadorforCALM.I’m Ilostinayearthroughmental vital driver experience
Mk3withhisfatherMark.The goingtobecreatingawhole health.Thisisagreatcharity to the team,” said
duowillagainsharethecarin bunchof content–Iwillbe formetodosomethingfor.” Latham, who first met
SportSpecialsthisyearbut doingaYouTubeandFacebook ThePorscheserieswas Wallace when he drove
CallahanJrwillcombinethat blog–I’mgoingtobereally originallylaunchedasthe4-Pot for Hillspeed in Ginetta
withracingaPorsche924in pushingittoraiseawareness. Trophybuthasbeenopenedupto Junior in 2014.
theCALM(CampaignAgainst “IknewaboutCALMthrough allof themanufacturer’scarsthis “He wants to enjoy
LivingMiserably)series. motorracingbutIchoseitformy year.Callahanisseekingtoraise his racing and do
“CALMPorscheswereinvited albumbecauseIreleasedasong asmuchsponsorshipaspossible well, but we’re also
intooneof theracesIwasatlast attheendof 2018calledStitches tosupportthecharity,whichaims going to utilise his
yearsoIgottalkingtothem,” andScarsandthiswasabout totacklemalesuicide. Former X Factor finalist has released album to support charity experience to help
our other driver and
with the team personnel
to inspire the next
Ollie Jackson to remain with Motorbase Performance in BTCC this year generation of motorsport
professionals.”
Ollie Jacksonwillremain “Iwas thrilledtomake the overtherace weekends, lThe draft regulations
in theBritishTouringCar stepupto Motorbaselast ratherthanjustgunningfor for the series have been
Championship atthewheel season, andit helpedme individual results,which is unveiled and include a
of aMotorbasePerformance to getbetterresults than maybewhatIhadbeenguilty new Junior Cup class
FordFocus RSin 2020. Ihaveeverhadinmy BTCC of inpreviousseasons.” for drivers aged under
Jackson scoredpoints in career,”saidJackson,who TeambossDavid Bartrum 20. Unlike the main
15of the 30racesin 2019 and willenterhiseighth full said:“Thereweresome championship, where
finished ineighthplacein the seasoninthecategory. toughweekends,buthe is two dropped scores
IndependentsTrophy division. “Iworkedreallyhard with improvingandhaving the will apply, Junior Cup
He tookonewin inthe classat theteambehind thescenes consistencyof thesame drivers can drop four
Snetterton inAugust,scoring andithasimprovedmeasa guysaround himgoinginto scores, meaning they
abestfinish of fourthoverall driver.We focusedon making 2020willonlycontinuethat do not have to commit
Jackson took one Independents victory during 2019 season during that meeting. sureI was moreconsistent upwards trajectory.” to the full season.
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