Defence Minister Steps Down to Drive in Le Mans 24 Hour Race
Lord Drayson, the defence procurement minister, has stepped down from his post to pursue motor racing full time. Uniquely, the 47-year-old peer's decision has been prompted not by scandal or political expediency but the private ambition to win the Le Mans 24 hour race.
His letter of resignation, details of which were published yesterday on the 7th November, read: 'As you know I have a passion for motor racing and over the past year have competed in the British GT championship racing a unique bio-ethanol fuelled race car, achieving a 'historic first' win for a green-fuelled car and coming second overall in the championship.'
'A number of special circumstances have now presented me with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take my racing to the next level. Ihave the opportunity to race next year in the American Le Mans series in the US, a key step towards my eventual dream of success in the Le Mans 24-hours endurance race.'
Lord Drayson's commitment to ecologically sound motor racing is well known - He came second in the British GT championship this year, driving
a 'unique bio-ethanol fuelled' Aston Martin DBRS9.
To read more of Michael Moran's article click on:
www.timesonline.co.uk
Holdcroft Groups own boy-racer, Neil Sellers, who competes in the Fiat Racing Challenge said 'Good luck to him, who wouldn't want to race at Le Mans if they had the opportunity?'
Quizzed on the issue of ecologically sound racing he said 'I don't use much petrol in my race car because it only has a pokey motor producing with not much more power than a washing machine!' he went on 'in fact if I lost a bit of my middle-aged spread I'd probably get more miles per gallon than my lawn mower - even when I'm giving it death!'
Asked about the about the impact of Lord Draysons resignation on the Government he said 'No comment'
To find out more about the Fiat Racing Challenge click on:
www.fiatracing.com
To discover more about Le Mans in 2008 click on:
www.lemans.org
