Support our Paras Racing loses licence after Coates withdrawl
Troubled BTCC team Support our Paras Racing will be forced to run as a single car entry for the rest of the season, after one of its TBL licences was withdrawn by championship organisers today.
It came after the team withdrew one of its cars from this weekend's Snetterton event, leaving only the 22 car of Derek Palmer to race. The terms of the TBL licencing system state that the licence will be withdrawn if a car misses a race weekend, or if there is more than one driver change. The car had already broken both rules but been pardoned due to force majeure.
It hasn't been an auspicious start to the season for the car:
It failed to race at Brands Hatch because it hadn't been finished
Driver Richard Hawken was dropped after one event, at Donington Park
Ex-Formula One driver Martin Donnelly, brought in to replace Hawken, only raced once
Manufacturer Infiniti pulled their support for the team after Thruxton
The car missed Oulton Park, as the team couldn't replace Donnelly.
Max Coates raced the car at Croft, and took part in last month's mid-season tyre test, but won't return after the car was withdrawn.
"We fully accept the decision made by TOCA," said team principal Derek Palmer Snr.."For the remaining five rounds of this season's BTCC, we will concentrate on ensuring we maximise the performance of the No22 Infiniti Q50, which will continue to be driven by Derek Palmer."