Tim Harvey, the 2008 and 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup champion and the most successful driver in the championship’s history, is withdawing from this year’s competititon.

The 49-year-old from Bicester, with 35 race wins and 106 podiums, has stepped down after disappointing results in the first three race meetings.

These were due, he believes, to the revised regulations introduced this season.

So Harvey has decided to create an opportunity for a young competitor to share the driving seat in the Nationwide-sponsored car.

He explained; “Having seen the data from the first six races, I know that I am simply not able to compete at the same level I have over the past seven years.

“I think it better to pass the opportunity to someone who richly deserves to be on the grid and will be able to gain invaluable experience competing in the championship,”

Harvey will however compete in the Carrera World Cup at the Nurburgring later this month in what may be his last Porsche Carrera Cup race.

“I hope to compete again,but, if not, I cannot imagine a better race to end my eight-year association,” he said.

The new driver for the Nationwide/Motorbase car is 21-year-old Kieran Vernon, who said: “I can’t thank Tim, Nationwide and Motorbase enough for giving me this opportunity.

“I aim to do Tim and all his sponsors proud.”