Before he was chasing tenths in an Evo, Ben spent 20 years in the motor trade — a background that shaped not only his mechanical understanding, but also his appetite for performance.
“I’ve worked in the trade for 20 years and had my car for the last six,” he explains. “I decided to turn it into a more track-spec car because I couldn’t use it to its full potential on the road. I started off doing a few track days, then wanted something a bit more competitive.”
It didn’t take long for the competitive itch to grow. The Evo, already potent in standard form, became a platform for progression. With each track day came more confidence, more tweaks, and more willingness to push. But the real turning point came through his connection with Clive, forged half a decade ago in the tuning world.
“I first met Clive through the motor trade and tuning side of things,” Ben says. “Helped out running the first few years of TimeAttack with the Mini and Scirocco, and now I’m sponsored by Clive through MMT for the full 2025 Javelin Sprint season.” The partnership isn’t just business. It’s built on mutual respect — one driver recognising the graft and potential in another.
Why Javelin?
To Ben, the appeal of sprinting is simple but powerful. “It’s a relaxed atmosphere, and I like being on track on my own with no risk of crashing into another car.” It’s a playground for precision: you, the car, and the stopwatch. No traffic. No elbows out. Just that fine line between bravery and over-driving. And as the season progressed, so did his pace. Ben’s lap times fell from 2:19 to 2:13, a huge margin in sprinting terms.
“Definitely feel like there’s room for improvement next year,” he says. And with a full MMT-backed season ahead in 2025, he’s hungry to find those seconds.
His confidence was tested recently at Oulton Park — a track he’d never driven before. “Initially I was nervous having never driven Oulton Park, but after some top tips from Clive, I felt more and more confident throughout the day.”
Guidance, knowledge sharing, mentoring — the relationship works in both directions.
Clive – Pressure, Precision, and the Kerb That Changed Everything
Clive’s race day began far from calmly. New backing from DIRENZA, whispers in the paddock questioning the car’s pace, and the weight of expectation made the build-up feel different, sharper. “The build-up didn’t feel normal,” he admits. “After the recent rumours about our car, forgetting how much time and effort we’ve put into the build and the tuition… it felt electric — like someone had hooked my nerves straight to a battery.” This wasn’t just another outing. It was a statement run.
The conditions were wet and greasy, perfect for those brave enough to push early. Clive wasted no time, opening the day by planting himself straight into P1 with a 2:08. As the track dried, the field closed in. By the final two sprints he’d slipped to P2 by half a second, turning the last run into an all-or-nothing attempt. Into the opening corners he found something extra, shaving 1.2 seconds off his PB and threading the Golf through the early sections with that rare mix of instinct and calculation. Charging toward Hilltop, he committed to the fast line — late turn-in, eyes already on the exit kerb — balanced right on the razor edge of grip.
Then came the moment. “The car snapped just enough to let me know I was on the limit,” he says. “Perfect. That’s exactly where I wanted to be.” But perfection is a knife-edge. He clipped the kerb harder than planned, the rear stepping out as the tyres clawed for grip that wasn’t quite there. For a breathless second, the Golf slid sideways — the kind of moment where everything hangs in the balance: win it all, or lose it all. He caught it, straightened, punched the throttle, but the damage was done. “As I crossed the line I knew I was off the pace. But was it enough to win? Or did the kerb cost me P1?”
The wait for results felt endless, a quiet stretch of time where every second weighs double. When the numbers finally dropped: P2. “If I hadn’t messed up that corner we could’ve got P1,” Clive says. “But that’s why sprints are so exciting. One tiny mistake can cost you between first and last place.”
Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond
Both drivers leave the season not defeated, but determined. With MMT preparing to support a full championship programme next year, expectations — and motivation — are rising.
Ben is already focused on refining his pace, developing the Evo further, and making the most of his first fully-backed campaign.
Clive, meanwhile, steps forward into 2025 with renewed fire, ready to turn near-misses into victories and carry the DIRENZA support into a season of unfinished business.
The Javelin Sprint Series has a way of exposing everything — strengths, weaknesses, and the smallest imperfections in driver and machine. But it also rewards progress, persistence, and passion.
And for Ben and Clive, the story is still unfolding.
Next year, the stopwatch resets. The pressure returns. The margins shrink again.
And somewhere between the first corner and the last kerb, they’ll chase that perfect lap once more.
