Ben Jenkins and James Harrison return alongside new drivers Hadley Simpson and Maurice Henry in High Row Motorsport.
Following a highly successful 2023 season High Row Motorsport will field two cars in Britcar Trophy’s busy and highly competitive Clio Cup class in 2024. On the back of race victories at Oulton Park, Brands Hatch and Snetterton they arrive back in the series with a driver pairing that finished third in class last year and new drivers with their eyes on the championship trophy.
James Harrison and Ben Jenkins celebrate a 2nd in Class last season
Car 89 will again be piloted by James Harrison and Ben Jenkins who took 3rd place in the Clio Cup class in 2023 who scored podiums at Silverstone and Donington Park. The duo will be hoping to take a first win together this season in the highly competitive class that saw both drivers develop significantly last season.
Although new to the team, Maurice Henry has experience racing in the Britcar Endurance Championship last year and comes from a Ginetta Junior background having won their scholarship in 2020. He will be partnered by Hadley Simpson who was a front-runner in the Fiesta Junior Championship in 2023 picking up podium finishes during the year having graduated from national championship karting previously. They will partner for the season in the team’s number 88 car that came so close to winning the championship last season and will be aiming to be in the battle for race wins from the off.
The High Row Motorsport team run by experience Clio Cup campaigner Max Coates expected to grow into a three-car outfit in 2024 and had Andy Tucker, who took multiple race wins for the team in 2023, at the heart of those plans. When three drivers were vying over two seats in the second High Row car Andy kindly stepped aside to allow the driver pairing of Hadley and Maurice to develop, Andy will continue to work with the team on a return to racing throughout the season with the aim to compete at each round.
James Harrison said, “I am buzzing to be back with the High Row Motorsport team for my third year in the Clio class. The guys at High Row are a professional, highly driven outfit that I enjoy spending time with so it was a no brainer to carry on for another year. Myself and Ben are looking to build on the success of last season and bring home some trophies – with plenty of laughs along the way!”
Ben Jenkins added, “I’m delighted to be competing in the Britcar Trophy championship in 2024 with High Row Motorsport and alongside James. After a successful rookie campaign last year coming 3rd, it made sense for me to come back to the championship and High Row Motorsport to fight for class honours and I’m really excited to see what me and James can do this season. James showed fantastic progression throughout last year and was consistently right on the pace so I feel like we will make a good partnership again in 2024.”
Hadley Simpson with one of the High Row Clios at a recent test day
Hadley Simpson said, “I am really excited to get this new journey started. I have worked with Max in 2023 during my junior career and he has helped me come on leaps and bounds. Pre-season testing has been really positive and I feel very comfortable in my new team alongside Maurice who will also help me develop and we are hoping to bring each other some great success in 2024! I have a lot to prove this year but have never felt more ready for it coming into Donington.”
Maurice added, “I am really excited to be entering the Renault Clio Cup championship in Britcar Trophy with High Row Motorsport. It’s a very competitive class and I’m looking forward to working with my team mate, Hadley Simpson. I have known Max Coates a long time and wanted to work with him, so it’s great to have been able to put the deal together to race for his team. Bring it on!”
An enthused Max Coates summarized “We thoroughly enjoyed our racing in Britcar last season and have a great line up of drivers who I am sure will deliver some exciting racing on track as well as fun times off it. Personally, I am relishing working with each of them to help them develop throughout and hopefully come back with some strong results throughout the season. I’d like to extend my thanks to Andy who has made a sacrifice to benefit the careers of two young drivers and we as a team are working with Andy to make a plan for him to remain on the grid, with news to follow.”
Photos kindly supplied by High Row Motorsport.