NATIONAL COURT
Sitting on 3rd September 2025 David Munro( Chair), Adrienne Watson, Ian Watson Case no. J2025 / 29
Ms Sian Woolley and Mr Nick Bamber appeared on behalf of Motorsport UK. DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS – Danny Griffin
1. This is a disciplinary case in which Mr Griffin has failed to respond to a summons issued on 22nd July 2025. He has, in fact, failed to respond to any correspondence and had absented himself from the Sewards Meeting held at Larkhall on 6th July 2025.
2. In view of his failure to respond the Court determined that it was appropriate to proceed in his absence.
3. The facts of the case are that following a report of assault on 5th July 2025 at Larkhill Kart Circuit where Mr Griffin’ s son was competing in a round of the British Kart Championships the Stewards of the Event convened a hearing the following morning.
4. During that meeting they received evidence from Daniel Holland, the team owner of DHR, and from a Safeguarding Official, Michelle Doran and also viewed CCTV evidence. Following the hearing, Mr Griffin, who had not been present, was found guilty of contravening NCR Ch. 2. App1 Art. 1.1 in that he had used abusive language, behaviour or assault.
5. His PG licence was suspended for 30 days, and the case was referred to the National Court under NCR Ch. 2 App2. Art. 7.12 for the consideration of further penalty. He was then summoned to appear for the consideration of further penalty and for breaches of the following provisions of Motorsport UK’ s National Competition Rules: 5.1. NCR Ch. 2 App. 1 Art. 1.5 – acting prejudicially to the interests of the ASN and / or motorsport generally, and NCR Ch. 2 App. 2 Art. 6 – bringing motorsport into disrepute. The National Court finds as follows: 6. There had been a dispute between Mr Holland and Mr Griffin which appears to have arisen during the period when Mr Griffin’ s son had raced with DHR. Mr Griffin had apparently become unhappy with the results that had been obtained in early 2024. Thereafter he had made threats of violence towards Mr Holland and on one occasion had said“ I’ ll finish you when you get home, I know where you live”.
7. During the afternoon of 5th July 2025 Griffin had entered the scrutineering bay at Larkhall where he picked up a screwdriver and, accompanied by his 12-year-old son, had gone to the DHR awning where he had threatened Mr Holland, brandishing the screwdriver as a weapon.
8. He was aggressive and used abusive language, saying“ You know you have had this coming to you since Italy”,“ I warned you this would happen to you” and“ why are you being a ****, be a man and walk round the **** ing side” He continued by saying“ Come round the side now or I will be waiting at your hotel tonight. The Premier Inn, right?”
9. The DHR Team Manager, Russell Carter, was standing nearby and attempted to intervene. Griffin’ s response was to threaten him with the screwdriver and to attempt to grab him by the throat. He said“ You can shut up also as I’ ll stab you up too”
10. This incident took place in front of both adults and children and only ended when other people intervened to calm Griffin down. He then walked away telling Mr Holland that he’ d see him at the hotel later.
11. The incident was reported to officials of the meeting and Mr Holland went to the Motorsport UK awning where Griffin was present. The police had been called but by the time they arrived he had disappeared and could not be found.
12. This is a particularly grave offence. Threats of violence were made towards Mr Holland on several occasions over a period of time and were clearly designed to frighten and intimidate him. It was a premeditated offence insofar that Griffin had picked up a screwdriver to use as a weapon, and had taken it with him, either to cause injury to or to frighten Mr Holland. He threatened Mr Holland and when Mr Carter tried to intervene, he assaulted him and threatened to stab him. When persuaded to leave, Griffin made threats to continue violence later at Mr Holland’ s hotel.
13. A further, and significant aggravating factor is that on 4th March 2024 he had appeared before this Court for a similar( but less serious) offence involving violent behaviour which had occurred at Kimbolton Kart Circuit. For that offence he had received a partly suspended period of suspension which had only expired on 31st December 2024.
14. In these circumstances the Court concludes that the only appropriate penalty is to permanently exclude Danny Griffin from attending all motorsports events and from holding any competition licence, nationally and internationally, for life, pursuant to NCR Ch2. App2. Art. 1( g) 15. He is further ordered to pay costs in the sum of £ 2000.
David Munro, Chair 3rd September 2025
Revolution- September 2025
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