2003 East Coast Honda Challenge H3 Champion

2003 East Coast Honda Challenge Driver of the Year

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Alex Ratcliffe

Alex Ratcliffe began racing in 2000, participating in SCCA's ITS race class competing in a Porsche 944. After attending the SCCA race schools and obtaining a novice permit, Alex participated in his first race at Pocono International Raceway in the pouring rain, finishing 4th.

After some more club races at Summit, Alex moved to professional racing participating in the Grand-Am Cup (formerly the Motorola Cup) road racing series in 2001 with 3 top five finishes from 6 starts. During the winter season of 2001, Alex participated in the EMRA four hour at Summit Point (finishing 4th) and the 24 hours of Moroso (finishing 3rd). Alex returned to SCCA club racing for the remainder of the 2001 season, running the Porsche 944.

Alex competed in the East Coast Honda Challenge (ECHC) race series in 2002 in the H2 Class running an Acura Integra GSR against Type Rs and Honda Preludes. He recorded four wins and three second place finishes from seven starts and finished second in the championship by only 3 points (missing 3 races).

In 2003, Alex returned the to Honda Challenge in a freshly rebuilt H3 Acura Integra GSR. Alex had his most victorious season to date recording 8 wins and 8 poles from 8 starts to win the H3 class. Alex was also selected by the ECHC as the Driver of the Year for 2003.

Alex returned to the professional road racing circuit in 2004, teaming up with Payton Wilson to compete in the SCCA Pro Racing MazdaSpeed Miata Cup. Competing against a highly talented group of drivers, most notably team mate Wilson - who went on to win the Atlantic Tour Championship, Alex posted consistent top 20 results with his best finish a 9th place at Lime Rock Park.

Off the track, Alex co-founded the 944 Cup Race series in 2002 which continues to be very successful. Alex served as co-director of the East Coast Honda Challenge in 2004 in addition to his King Rat duties. As team owner, for 2005 Alex focused on building a successful and professional team to compete at the highest levels of motorsports in the United States.

In 2006, Alex turned his focus to NASA Mid Atlantic's Spec Miata Challenge as Series Director and title sponsor. He collected his first MARRS series race win in the SSM class from pole and got back to his first love - endurance racing with seats in the 12 Hours at Nelson Ledges, the Charge of the Headlight Brigade 13 Hour at VIR and EMRA's 4-Hour enduro at Summit Point. Employing his racing strategy experience, Alex guided Payton Wilson and Bill Armstrong to an overal victory at the 12 Hours at the Point.

For 2007 Saw the team Win both the MARRS SM championship and the NASA-MA Championship as well as a class win and 4th place overall in the Summit Point 12 Hour race. 

2008 Alex continued to focus on his teams efforts and building a World Challenge program with our best result being a 9th Place at VIR. Alex did manage a Race win in the NASA PTB class at VIR in March.

2009 Alex will return to driving full time. Car/class TBD.

Fast Facts

Best Finish: 1st place (SSM class) - Summit Pt, 2006 MARRS 1

1st place (H2 class & Overall) - VIR,

2002 Honda Challenge
Best Professional Racing Finish - 4th place Phoenix Grand-Am Cup (2001); 9th place MazdaSpeed Miata Cup (2004)
Favorite Race Car: Acura Integra GSR
Current Race Car: Mazda Spec Miata
Favorite Drivers: Graham Hill, Aryton Senna, Payton Wilson
Favorite Tracks: Summit Point, Virginia Int'l Raceway
Favorite Car Movie: Bullit

Daily Driver: 1999 Mazda Miata
Dream Car: GT40

Alex was born in England in 1970 and moved to the USA in 1996. He married wife Kim in June 2000 and currently lives in Berryville, Virginia.