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Cartridge World Racing out of the BTCC?

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Strong rumours have surfaced ahead of this weekend’s round at Silverstone that Cartridge World Racing will take no further part in the 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship. This is believed to be due to the withdrawal of the race team, Clyde Valley Racing.

Clyde Valley Racing have threatened for many seasons to enter the championship, having previously planned to run the ex-WTCC Chevrolet Lacetti – but finally made it to the grid after a few unrealised promises this season with a surprise switch to the SEAT Leon.

The team has had an impressive debut, although Dan Eaves struggled with reliability issues earlier in the season, Adam Jones has strung together a series of strong results.

New driver Gordon Shedden in only his second race for the squad, took the team’s best result during the Knockhill race weekend, finishing second to 2001 champion Jason Plato, but it remains to be seen if Knockhill was now their last event.

An unconfirmed statement from Cartridge World Racing reads:

“Cartridge World is disappointed to confirm that Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing is unable to line up on the grid for the final three weekends of the 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), following the withdrawal of Team CVR (Clyde Valley Racing), the original outfit behind the carbon-zero racing team.

Cartridge World and both team drivers, Adam Jones and Gordon Shedden, have investigated various options to enable them to compete in the last three weekends’ races. However, they have concluded that this will not be possible, and therefore Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing will no longer appear in the championship.

Cartridge World has expressed its disappointment that Team CVR has had to withdraw. As well as ensuring it always met its contractual obligations with Team CVR, Cartridge World offered the team access to specialists on its management team, aiming to create as beneficial a relationship as possible for both parties.”

There has been no official comment as yet from Team Clyde Valley Racing or the BTCC confirming or denying these rumours.

If Cartridge World Racing are absent from the grid at Silverstone, and with Maxtreme Racing still expected be absent – it will be the first time since Oulton Park, 2003 that SEAT haven’t been present on the field of the BTCC.