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Simon Harrison

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Simon Harrison (born 6 September 1969 in Northampton) is a British racing driver who most notably won two National Saloon Car Championships in 1994 and 1999, as well as the Production Class of the British Touring Car Championship in 2001.

His career spanned 23 years and saw Harrison progress from winning his local karting championship at his first attempt, right the way through to being a professional driver in the World Touring Car Championship.[1][2]

Harrison is best known for his time as a Peugeot factory driver in the 1995 British Touring Car Championship driving a 405 Mi16. He secured this high-profile drive after a very successful first season in saloons, winning the National Saloon Car Championship as part of the Team Castrol Honda scholarship squad. Prior to making the switch to saloons, Harrison had enjoyed considerable success in single seaters and had even been nominated for the prestigious McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award.

Karting career

  • 1982 Regional karting champion.
  • 1985 Winner of karting’s Golden Streering Wheel Award.
  • 1986 Sixth in the Junior British Championships.

Single seater career

  • 1987 Winner of the Jim Russell Racing Driver’s School 30th Anniversary Scholarship.
  • 1988 Winner the First Time Racing Driver’s Scholarship.
  • 1989 Formula First Championship, third place.
  • 1990 Formula Ford Championship, fifth place.
  • 1991 Formula Ford Championship, third place.
  • 1993 Formula Vauxhall Junior Championship, third place.[3]

A difficulty in securing the backing to make the progression into Formula 3 encouraged Harrison to try out of the Team Castol Honda scholarship, a successful manufacturer backed scheme which aimed to find young touring car stars. Harrison secured a place in the three car team, won the first round of the championship and subsequently lead the championship from start to finish.

Saloon car career

  • 1994 National Saloon Car Championship with Team Castrol Honda. Championship win, 6 race wins, 8 pole positions, 4 lap records.
  • 1995 British Touring Car Championship for Total Team Peugeot, the youngest driver in the series.
  • 1996 Touring car test & reserve driver for Honda Europe.
  • 1998 Spa 24 Hours for Honda.
  • 1999 National Saloon Car Championship driving a Honda Integra Type-R for GR Motorsport. Championship win, 5 race wins, 6 pole positions, 4 lap records.
  • 2000 National Saloon Car Championship driving a Ford Focus for GR Motorsport, fourth place.
  • 2001 British Touring Car Championship Production Class driving a Peugeot 306 GTi6. Championship win, 8 race wins, 8 pole positions, 3 lap records.
  • 2002 Macau Grand Prix driving a Honda Integra Type-R, setting a new lap record.
  • 2004 European Touring Car Championship driving a Honda Civic Type-R for GR Motorsport.
  • 2004 Macau Grand Prix driving a Honda Accord Type-R for JAS Motorsport.
  • 2005 World Touring Car Championship driving a Honda Accord Euro R for JAS Motorsport. Raced in last round at Macau.

Personal life

Harrison made the decision to retire at the end of the 2004 season in order to concentrate on a new passion, motor sport filming. He is now the Managing Director of Circuit Pro Ltd, a specialist motor manufacturer and motor sport filming company.

References

  1. ^ "Simon Harrison". newsle.com. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  2. ^ "Simon Harrison". motorsportworld.tv. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  3. ^ "Simon Harrison". brdc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
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