Simon Harrison
Simon Harrison | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 6, 1969 Northampton, England |
| Occupation(s) | Racing driver, motorsport cinematographer, managing director |
| Years active | 1982–2005 (racing) |
| Known for | Twice National Saloon Car Championship winner; 2001 British Touring Car Championship Production Class champion |
Simon Mark Harrison (born 6 September 1969 in Northampton) is a British professional racing driver known for clinching the National Saloon Car Championship titles twice, in 1994 and 1999, as well as winning the Production Class in the British Touring Car Championship during 2001.
Spanning over 23 years, Harrison's motorsport journey commenced with a triumph in his local karting championship on his debut attempt. He is especially recognized for his role as a Peugeot factory driver in the 1995 British Touring Car Championship season, where he piloted a 405 Mi16. This engagement came after his inaugural saloon car season, during which he secured the National Saloon Car Championship driving under the Team Castrol Honda scholarship. Prior to transitioning into saloon cars, Harrison achieved success in single-seater categories and earned a nomination for the esteemed McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award.
Karting career
- 1982: Champion of regional karting competitions
- 1985: Recipient of karting's Golden Steering Wheel Award
- 1986: Finished sixth in the Junior British Championships
Single seater career
- 1987: Winner of the Jim Russell Racing Driver's School 30th Anniversary Scholarship
- 1988: Awarded the First Time Racing Driver's Scholarship
- 1989: Achieved third place in the Formula First Championship
- 1990: Secured fifth position in the Formula Ford Championship
- 1991: Finished third in the Formula Ford Championship
- 1993: Placed third in the Formula Vauxhall Junior Championship
Unable to obtain funding for advancement to Formula 3, Harrison joined the manufacturer-supported Team Castrol Honda scholarship program, where he won the opening round and maintained leadership throughout the championship.
Saloon car career
- 1994: Captured the National Saloon Car Championship title with Team Castrol Honda, registering six victories, eight pole positions, and four lap records
- 1995: Competed in the British Touring Car Championship representing Total Team Peugeot
- 1996: Served as test and reserve driver for Honda Europe’s touring car program
- 1998: Participated in the Spa 24 Hours endurance race driving for Honda
- 1999: Won the National Saloon Car Championship behind the wheel of a Honda Integra Type-R for GR Motorsport, achieving five wins, six poles, and four lap records
- 2000: Finished fourth in the National Saloon Car Championship driving a Ford Focus for GR Motorsport
- 2001: Secured the British Touring Car Championship Production Class title driving a Peugeot 306 GTi6 with eight wins, eight poles, and three lap records
- 2002: Competed at the Macau Grand Prix in a Honda Integra Type-R, setting a new lap record
- 2004: Raced in the European Touring Car Championship piloting a Honda Civic Type-R for GR Motorsport
- 2005: Took part in the World Touring Car Championship driving a Honda Accord Euro R for JAS Motorsport; participated in the final round at Macau
Personal life
Following his retirement from active racing in 2005, Harrison transitioned into motorsport cinematography. He currently serves as Managing Director of Kingdom Creative, a company specializing in services for motor manufacturers and motorsport filming.
Complete 24 Hours of Spa results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Template:Country data BELTemplate:Namespace detect showall Team Honda Sport Belgium | Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall James Kaye Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Stephen Day |
Honda Integra Type R | SP | 470 | 8th | 8th |
Complete British Touring Car Championship results
(key) Races displayed in bold denote pole positions; those in italics represent fastest laps; an asterisk (*) indicates leading at least one lap during the race.
| Year | Team | Vehicle | Category | 1 | 2 | ... | Overall Championship Position |
Points | Class | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Total Team Peugeot | Peugeot 405 Mi16 | DON1 14 |
DON2 17 |
... | 22nd | 9 | |||||||||||||
| 2000 | GR Motorsport | Ford Focus | B |
N/A |
0 | NC | ||||||||||||||
| 2001 | HTML | Peugeot 306 GTi | P | 'BHI1' 1† |
'BHI2' Ret* |
... |
N/A |
227 | 1st |
† Event featuring two separate races for distinct classes.
Complete World Touring Car Championship results
(key) (Races in bold signify pole positions) (Races in italics show fastest laps)
| Year | Team | Vehicle | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Final Standing |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | JAS Motorsport | Honda Accord Euro R | ITA 1 |
ITA 2 |
FRA 1 |
FRA 2 |
GBR 1 |
GBR 2 |
SMR 1 |
SMR 2 |
MEX 1 |
MEX 2 |
BEL 1 |
BEL 2 |
GER 1 |
GER 2 |
TUR 1 |
TUR 2 |
ESP 1 |
ESP 2 |
MAC 1 20† |
MAC 2 DNS |
- | 0 |