NOVEMBER 9, 2007

Sport affects politics!

Britain's Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support Lord Drayson has taken a "leave of absence" from the Labour government in order to take part in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2008.

Britain's Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support Lord Drayson has taken a leave of absence from the Labour government in order to take part in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2008. The 47-year-old has quit his job because he wants to take part in the American Le Mans Series, in order to qualify for Le Mans.

Lord Drayson, who has been a minister since 2005, came second in the British GT championship this year, driving a bio-ethanol-fuelled car.

In a letter to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Lord Drayson said: "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. I have 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. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase British motorsport technology for environmentally friendly racing. Unfortunately it cannot be combined with the challenge of full-time government office."

Lord Drayson has been replaced by Baroness Ann Taylor and opposition politicians say that the whole motor racing story is simply a ruse to avoid a resignation so early in Prime Minister Gordon Brown's administration.