I spent over six hours yesterday afternoon & evening (12th Nov) in the HQ of Motorsport Ireland, in Dublin, at a hearing that would ultimately decide whether Rory Butcher or I would be the 2009 Webcon UK Formula Ford National Champion.
I have to be perfectly honest in that it is not an experience that I would be keen to repeat but unfortunately in this case it was totally necessary. It was brought about by an on track incident early on in the final championship round at Mondello Park in September. Rory?s car made contact with my car and the damage that my car sustained caused me to retire from the race soon afterwards. If you read my earlier blog concerning this incident you will know that this is a race I?m certain I would have won. After the race, the Clerk of the Course examined CCTV footage of the incident along with other evidence and made the decision to exclude Rory from the result of the race. Rory subsequently appealed this decision to the Steward of the meeting making this hearing necessary.
After a very long hearing yesterday the Motorsport Ireland officials retired to deliberate making known their final decision this morning (13th Nov). I am very pleased that Motorsport Ireland agreed with the Clerk of the Course decision and found in my favour. Rory?s exclusion means that I am now 2009 Webcon UK National Formula Ford Champion.
Of course this is not the way I wanted the championship to be decided. However there was unfortunately no alternative and I owed it to all the people that have helped me this year to pursue justice. I have no personal animosity towards Rory Butcher of whom I have said on a number of occasions I have enjoyed battling against this season. I sincerely hope that both he and I can now put this episode behind us and get on with our respective motorsport careers whatever they may be.
I would very much like to record my thanks to everyone who has helped me with this matter not least the whole of the Cliff Dempsey Race Team and all of my fantastic sponsors. Special mentions must go to Motorsport Ireland, Tom O?Neil, Brian Grogan and my brother Jon for supporting me.
My focus now turns towards 2010 and I very much hope that I will be able to continue racing although I realise this in itself will be an achievement! I hope to be testing a Duratec Formula Ford car at Snetterton next week and if it happens I?ll be telling you how it went in my next blog.
All the best for now
Scott
