In doing so, Rodin acknowledged that the penalty was one imposed by Motorsport UK, not the National Court, but in the belief that this was the correct procedure.
SUSPENSION OF RECOGNITION – THE JURISDICTION OF THE NATIONAL COURT
8. There is a distinction between the powers exercised by Motorsport UK, even those of a quasi-judicial nature, and the jurisdiction of the National Court. We have therefore considered whether, in these circumstances, the National Court has jurisdiction over a suspension of recognition imposed in the discretion of Motorsport UK, and not from a referral by it to the National Court, pursuant to NCR Ch. 2, App. 1( e).
9. NCR Ch. 2 App. 2 Art. 1( e) refers to suspension of competition licence as a penalty“ under the NCR”.
10. NCR Ch. 2 App. 4 Art. 1.11 provides,( our emphasis)“ The National Court has the authority in its entire discretion to remit the unexpired term of any Suspension or Exclusion.” In addition, NCR Ch. 2 App. 7 Art 8.14 provides,“ Remission of Penalty. The National Court has the right to remit any unexpired term of a suspension or exclusion, as it may think fit.”
11.“ Suspension” is defined by NCR Ch. 2 App. 4 Art 7.8( as relevant) as,“ a penalty imposed in writing by the relevant Judicial body or the ASN forbidding a person body or Vehicle from taking part in any Competition for a stated period.”
12. We have considered whether a decision to suspend recognition of a licence should be distinguished from a“ a penalty … forbidding a person from taking part in a competition.” Since the practical effect is the same, and the regulations afford this Court the widest discretion to remit any suspension, we have concluded that in these circumstances, the application is admissible.
REMISSION OF PENALTIES
13. To remit, in this context, means to cancel or lessen a penalty. The language of both NCR Ch. 2 App. 4 Art. 1.11 and App. 7 Art 8.14 expressly refers to remission of the unexpired term of suspension. complete the ARDS instruction, while remitting or varying the suspension so that he is permitted to compete this weekend.”
15. In our experience, where disciplinary proceedings are commenced for consideration of further penalty following the accumulation of 12 penalty points, the interim suspension of licence imposed pending the decision invariably prevents the competitor from entering at least one event, sometimes more. Despite accumulating 12 points on 19 April 2026, X has enjoyed the benefit of being able to compete in the championship rounds on 9th – 10th May, 23rd – 24th May, 30th-31st May 2026( accumulating a further 3 points, taking his total to 15), 11th – 12th July and 25th – 26th July without any interim suspension.
16. We recognise that three of the penalties imposed on X date back to 2025 and accept what we are told about his improvement as a driver since the end of the 2025 championship. However, in our judgment, the accumulation of these breaches was serious, and it was a reasonable exercise of Motorsport UK’ s discretion to impose a penal element as well as directing further training. Accordingly, we were not persuaded that any remission of the suspension was appropriate.
CONCLUSIONS
17. For these reasons this application is therefore refused.
18. For the avoidance of doubt, recognition of X’ s competition licence remains suspended until 31 August 2026, or until his satisfactory completion of the required instruction / driver coaching to Motorsport UK’ s satisfaction, whichever is the later date.
19. In all the circumstances we make no order as to costs.
Mark Heywood KC, Chair 23rd August 2026
14. On behalf of X, it was submitted that immediate suspension, which would prevent his competing the following weekend, 22nd – 23rd August 2026, would not be proportionate, and that“ the same safety and education objectives could be achieved by requiring X to
Revolution Magazine 45