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Honda Yuasa Racing launches new Driver Development Programme

By MJP Media | 24 June 2015

Jack Clarke is announced as the first member of Honda Yuasa Racing's new Driver Development Programme as the team look to continue their recent BTCC success in forthcoming seasons.

Honda Yuasa Racing's 2015 Civic Type R

Honda Yuasa Racing has launched a new Driver Development Programme and signed Jack Clarke as its first member as the most successful team in recent times in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship looks to the future. Honda has clinched five Drivers' Championships, four Constructors' crowns and six Teams' titles over the past decade and as the manufacturer looks to sustain its superb record of success over the coming years, it is preparing for the next era.

To that end, Honda Yuasa Racing has established its first Driver Development Programme, recruiting Clarke as a test-driver and brand ambassador. The Surrey-based star competed in the BTCC as a rookie in 2014, catching the eye with a podium finish in the final race at Brands Hatch, although budgetary issues have forced him to sit out the current campaign. Clarke will make his public debut as a Honda Yuasa Racing ambassador at this weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed (25-28 June) driving media up the famous hill in the new Civic Type R.

Jack Clarke in his 2014 Crabbie's Racing Ford Focus

"We are delighted to be unveiling the Honda Yuasa Racing Driver Development Programme," said Philip Crossman, Managing Director of Honda UK, "and in Jack Clarke, we are confident we have a real touring car star of the future on our hands. Honda has enjoyed a fantastic run of results in the BTCC over the last decade, and with Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal both absolutely on top of their game and extracting the very maximum out of the exciting new Civic Type R, we are firmly in the fight for more silverware in 2015. That said, we have never been the kind of company to rest on our laurels and as we build for the future, we are keen to invest in young talent to ensure that we continue to be a leading contender in the world's toughest tin-top series for many years to come."

Jack Clarke said: "I'm really looking forward to working alongside Matt and 'Flash', two of the best and most successful drivers in BTCC history, and I'm sure I can learn a great deal from their experience and expertise. I'm also excited about the chance to represent Honda at events like Goodwood and CarFest - not to mention climbing into the driver's seat of the awesome Civic Type R. I can't wait!"

Simon Belcher will miss 3 rounds after Croft

In other BTCC news, Simon Belcher will miss 3 rounds at the start of the second half of the season due to financial difficulties after his crash at Thruxton. Because of the £40,000 bill from that accident, Belcher will compete at Croft but then miss the races at Snetterton, Knockhill and Rockingham. Belcher hopes that if he can secure a substitute paying driver for those 3 rounds, he will then finish the season himself. It has been announced that his main sponsors Kärcher will part subsidise those drives and if they are lucky this strategy might not affect their TOCA licence.

"Stepping aside from racing after Croft hasn't been an easy decision to reach personally, we've discussed this at length as a team and bringing in another driver is definitely the best move for the immediate and long term future of Handy Motorsport." said Belcher, who claimed his first BTCC point earlier this season. "Our plan is to be in the BTCC for the long term and to grow the team, so it makes absolute sense to look at putting another driver - who can bring some budget - in the car for a few races while we rebalance everything."

The action continues this weekend at Croft Circuit and we'll have the best from there for you in these pages.

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