National Court-Adam Sharpe appeal

National Court - 26th November 2008

The National Court was convened at Motor Sports House on Wednesday 26th November 2008 to consider an appeal by Adam Sharpe against the decision of the Stewards of the Meeting at Silverstone on 20th September 2008 who upheld the decision of the Clerk of the Course to exclude him from the meeting for driving in a manner incompatible with general safety or departing from the standard of a reasonably competent driver under MSA General Regulation C(d)1(e). 

The Court heard that Adam Sharpe had been driving a Mosler GT3 in the Britcar 24 hour race.  He had qualified second but the pole position car had not taken the start, leaving Adam Sharpe as the leading car at the rolling start. 

When the safety car pulled off the circuit and the cars accelerated towards the start line, the Mosler driven by Adam Sharpe was seen to move from side to side before veering to the right of the track and making slight contact with the pit wall. Mr Sharpe made no contact with any other vehicle but a collision occurred between two other competitors further down the track. 

The Clerk of the Course on the day had decided, and this had been upheld by the Stewards, that Adam Sharpe had "(lost) control under acceleration immediately after the red lights were extinguished at the start of the race."

The Stewards of the meeting did not have the benefit of seeing data logged information which was made available to the National Court and the Court also had the benefit of hearing from an expert witness for the Appellant, namely Mr. Craig Dawson. 

On the basis of that information, the National Court was satisfied that a transmission problem with the Mosler was the sole cause of Adam Sharpe, who is an experienced driver, losing control of the car.

In the circumstances the Appeal is allowed and it is ordered that the Appeal fee be refunded.


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