Sean Huyton is furious after being denied the G40 Championship

Nov 10 2011 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

WEST Lancashire racing driver Sean Huyton has been left ‘frustrated and disappointed’ after he was denied the 2011 Ginetta G40 championship.

The Aughton-based driver had won the championship on the track but a series of appeals and counter appeals had led to him awaiting a final decision from the MSA (Motor Sport Association).

Now the verdict has left the 21-year-old perplexed as to why he is not champion.

He said: “To say I’m frustrated and disappointed is an understatement. I’m bewildered as to how this decision can have been reached as the incident it has resulted from was something I couldn’t avoid.

“I respect the MSA and the final judgement but can’t help feeling it’s the wrong decision and it could have a major impact on my racing for 2012.”

The incident involved the now champion Mark Davies during the first race of the final meeting of the season at Silverstone.

As Huyton made a move to challenge Davies for the lead, the latter braked early as Huyton was still accelerating, as he took a different line into the final corner of the first lap.

The resulting collision sent Davies into a gravel trap, but Huyton managed to control his car and continue.

An appeal by Davies’ team, Optimum Racing, meant Huyton was given a points penalty, but Optimum appealed against that decision and this time the race stewards excluded Huyton.

Following that appeal Huyton and his Academy Motorsport team decided to appeal any decision to penalise him, which led to the recent verdict by the MSA.

If Huyton had won the Ginetta G40 championship he would have received a drive in the G50 championship in 2012 and lifted his profile with regular live races on ITV4 on the same race weekend as the British Touring Car championship

Huyton added: “I’m mainly disappointed because the decision has left me having to find my own route to fund racing in the G50 championship.

“It’s also infuriating that double standards appeared to be applied to this one incident as Mark Davies received outside assistance to be pushed out of the gravel trap and continue in the race. This isn’t allowed under the regulations, but it received no punishment.

“It’s going to be a long winter finding the funding to race but I’m hoping a few individuals and companies in West Lancashire, Merseyside and beyond can support and benefit from the next level of my motor racing career.”

Anyone wishing to support Sean can contact him on twitter (@seanhuyton) or through his website www.seanhuyton.co.uk