Clarke made his circuit racing debut in 2006 in the one-make Formula BMW UK series, driving for Nexa Racing. It was a tough rookie season, as he only scored two points all season en route to 22nd place in the championship, and sixth place in the Rookie Cup. He also finished 25th in the end of season World Final in Valencia. During the season, he achieved his A levels at the City of London Freemen's School in Ashtead, Surrey.
Clarke moved up to the Formula Palmer Audi series for the 2007 season. Clarke suffered a poor start to the championship, amassing 76 points from the first seven races. Seven podiums in the last thirteen races, including two wins at Brands Hatch and Croft, progressed Clarke up the championship table to fourth, holding off Jason Moore by two points. Clarke also committed to an Autumn Trophy campaign, and he ended up third in the championship, sixteen points behind champion Richard Keen. Clarke continued in the series in 2008, and this time finished fifth in the championship. Clarke won races at Oulton Park and Brands Hatch and also set a fastest lap during one of the races at Snetterton. A second Autumn Trophy campaign followed, and Clarke finished fourth, with a win, two poles and a fastest lap, all coming at Brands Hatch.
saw Clarke move up to the FIA Formula Two Championship, driving car number eleven. Clarke was involved in a racing accident during the second race of the Brands Hatch weekend. On lap nine, Clarke lost control of his car on the exit of Westfield bend, spinning into the tyre wall. Upon impact, one of the wheels detached from the car and bounced back towards the circuit. Pietro Gandolfi and Jolyon Palmer both avoided the tyre, but the tyre impacted with the head of Henry Surtees. His car, with its now unconscious driver, continued straight ahead into the barrier on the approach to Sheene Curve, also losing a wheel, and came to rest at the end of the curve with its remaining rear wheel still spinning. Surtees later succumbed to injuries inflicted by the tyre. Clarke paid tribute to Surtees, describing him as a "quality driver" and a "hard racer". He scored six points over the course of the season, finishing eighteenth in the championship. In 2010, Clarke continued in Formula Two. He scored 81 points over the season, achieving two podiums and finishing 9th. He remained in the championship for 2011.
In 2014, Clarke entered the BTCC with Crabbie's Racing in a Ford Focus. His best result was 2nd at the Brands Hatch final. He retired from racing at the end of that season and set up driver management company Veloce Sport with another former racing driverRupert Svendsen-Cook, and his step-sister Mariella Bailey.
Racing record
Career summary
† As Clarke was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.
Complete Formula Two results
Year
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Pos
Points
2009
VAL 1 13
VAL 2 19
BRN 1 Ret
BRN 2 15
SPA 1 5
SPA 2 Ret
BRH 1 Ret
BRH 2 Ret
DON 1 9
DON 2 14
OSC 1 7
OSC 2 Ret
IMO 1 14
IMO 2 14
CAT 1 17
CAT 2 14
18th
6
2010
SIL 1 Ret
SIL 2 4
MAR 1 Ret
MAR 2 Ret
MON 1 Ret
MON 2 12
ZOL 1 Ret
ZOL 2 4
ALG 1 3
ALG 2 Ret
BRH 1 2
BRH 2 8
BRN 1 Ret
BRN 2 9
OSC 1 12
OSC 2 DNS
VAL 1 16
VAL 2 2
9th
81
2011
SIL 1 8
SIL 2 6
MAG 1 13
MAG 2 10
SPA 1 19
SPA 2 6
NÜR 1 3
NÜR 2 7
BRH 1 1
BRH 2 3
RBR 1 5
RBR 2 Ret
MON 1 8
MON 2 7
CAT 1 7
CAT 2 9
8th
110
Complete British Touring Car Championship results
Races in bold indicate pole position Races in italics indicate fastest lap * signifies that driver lead race for at least one lap
