The National Court is the UK Disciplinary , Investigatory and Appeal Court as required by the Statutes of the FIA and the International Sporting Code . The Court is independent of Motorsport UK and administered by an external lawyer and the judges are drawn from a panel of experienced motorsport lawyers and suitably qualified motorsport professionals

Sitting on 16th February 2025 Case No . J2025 / 2 Mark Heywood KC ( Chair ), David Scott , Peter Roberts

Mr Jones and Mr Bamber appeared for Motorsport UK Mr Graham appeared in person with Mr Thompson and Mr Hall

Appeal – Mr Charles Graham

1 . Mr Graham , with his team Daytona Motorsport with RJ , was a competitor in the 750 Motor Club Birkett 6-Hour Relay Race at Silverstone circuit on Saturday 26th October 2024 .

2 . The appeal concerns the determination of 1st and 2nd places in the general classification , colloquially known as the “ scratch ” classification , not the results calculated according to the handicapping system for which the race is well known . After 6 hours of racing , Daytona Motorsport with RJ ( Car 26 ) and RSR ( Car 17 ) were the only two cars on the lead lap and separated by less than a second .

The Applicable Regulations

3 . It is important to note that this race was run under a trial of Motorsport UK ’ s 2025 National Competition Rules . Appeals concerning the results of a competition are governed by NCR Ch2 , App4 , art 1.23 ( e ) which provides , in these circumstances , that any appeal shall be brought within 30 minutes from the publication of provisional results .

4 . Under the 2024 General Regulations , the Stewards of the Event could extend time within which to appeal if it was established that it had been physically impossible to lodge the appeal within the time limit . The 2025 National Competition Rules , Ch2 , App4 , art 1.6 now provides ( as relevant ): “ The Stewards of the Event have authority in their entire discretion ( but acting reasonably ) to extend the time limit for delivery of a Notice of Appeal against a decision of the Clerk or other Official in such circumstances as they deem to be merited in the interests of justice .”

The Race Results

5 . Mr Graham submitted an extensive bundle including careful analysis of timings and on-track position at the end of 6 hours , and Mr Thompson spoke to their findings . In summary , Mr Graham and his team submitted that at the end of lap 145 , in a time of 5 hours 58 minutes 58.522 seconds , their car was ahead of RSR ’ s on track by 0.34 seconds .

6 . The supplementary regulations for the race provided ( Paragraph 8 . ii ) “ GENERAL CLASSIFICATION : based on the total laps completed within the 6 hours .” However , the published “ Race – Scratch Classification ” showed the results at the end of 146 laps , with RSR in 1st place , in 6 hours 1 minute 7.505 seconds and Daytona Motorsport with RJ in 2nd place , in 6 hours 1 minute 8.455 seconds . 7 . We were told , and the live race video we were shown confirmed , that at the end of the race there was considerable confusion about who had actually won . The video also contained the opinions of very experienced commentators as to who , in their opinion , were the winners , but the only weight we can attach to such comments is to confirm that opinion was divided . Similarly , we attach no weight to the movement of the 1st , 2nd and 3rd marker boards in pit lane by the organisers at the end of the race , other than that it too suggested the debate was not resolved at that point .

8 . The evidence before us was that after approximately 40 minutes , Mr Winstanley , of the 750 Motor Club announced in the pit lane that the awards ceremony would take place at 18.00 hours in the BRDC clubhouse , and the race results would be announced then . It is timely to note that the published “ Scratch ” Classification was printed at 18.02 hours and the Handicap Classification at 18.07 hours .

The Course of Appeals

9 . When the results were announced , Mr Thompson and another team member went directly to Race Control , a 10-minute walk from the BRDC Clubhouse . They intended to appeal , but found the office locked and no officials anywhere to be found . Eventually , they found Mr Groombridge , the Competitions Manager and a director of the 750MC , and Mr Thompson advised him that the team wished to appeal . At Mr Thompson ’ s request , Mr Groombridge replied that the team had a right of review for 7 days and confirmed that he would make a note of their wish to appeal .

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