James Davison has been suspended for the first of two Pirelli World Challenge races this weekend at Utah Motorsports Campus (the former Miller Motorsports Park) following an incident at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course two weeks ago.
Here’s the release from PWC explaining the how and why:
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WC Vision, producers of the Pirelli World Challenge GT Production-based series, today announced that GT Class driver JD Davison has been suspended for Round 16 scheduled for Saturday at the Utah Motorsports Campus due to rule violation PWCR 1.11.3 – making avoidable contact while on probation.
Davison’s suspension, established by Pirelli World Challenge race director Dorsey Schroeder, was a result of avoidable contact on lap 1 in GT Round 14 two weeks ago at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Per the SCCA Pro Racing rulebook, a driver receives a suspension from participation in Race 1 at the next round that the competitor participates, a $5,000 fine and an additional three-race probation.
Davison was put on probation for three event weekends (six races and through the Mid-Ohio event) following an on-track incident at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in May.
“According to the rulebook, any driver who is on probation and violates the term of the probation is automatically suspended for one race – the next round,” said Schroeder. “The Davison violation at Mid-Ohio occurred at the start of Race 1 before the start/finish line that included contact with Colin Thompson.”
Craig Dolby, a 28-year-old veteran driver from Mleton Mowbray, England, will now drive the No. 33 Always Evolving/Replay XD/Nissan GT Academy Nissan GT3 GT-R in the opening race of the Pirelli World Challenge Utah Motorsports Campus Grand Prix presented by Energy Solutions in Round 16 set for Saturday, Aug. 13, at 4 p.m. MDT.
Dolby drove the Always Evolving Motorsports Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 last year in the SRO Blancpain Sprint Series in six races with a best finish of fifth. Dolby was the 2006 Formula Renault 2.0 series champion and placed second in points in the 2009 and 2010 Superleague Formula series.
Rounds 16 and 17 of the PWC GT division will be held Saturday (Aug. 13) and Sunday (Aug. 14) at Utah Motorsports Campus.
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In a team release, Always Evolving confirmed Davison will be out of the cockpit both races this weekend as the team prepares for a potential car addition in 2017.
From the release posted to Facebook:
“It feels mega to be back with the Always Evolving team and crew from AIM Autosport,” Dolby said.
“This is an amazing opportunity to be part of, I’m really looking forward to the weekend of racing in the US it’s been a life long dream to come over here. We had quick success with the Blancpain program last season and it’s great to be back in the NISMO GT-R.”
James Davison, a longtime Always Evolving athlete, switches roles this weekend to provide coaching and expertise while the team gets Craig Dolby acclimated to the PWC sprint weekend format.
“We’d love to have James and Bryan back with us next year but Craig is certainly one of the guys on our radar for the expanded program,” Always Evolving team owner, Erik Davis said.
“With the 2017 schedules now revealed, we’re investigating running both the existing Championship Sprint format plus the new Sprint X Series which will obviously require us to add to our driver talent pool.
“The new partnership between the Pirelli World Challenge and the SRO organization is proving to be a positive step forward for GT3 racing in the US.”