Walters Arena set to host final BCCC round in Wales

2008 BRITPART MSA BRITISH CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP
Walters Arena – round 6: November 7th-8th, 2008

The Walters Arena complex in South Wales will host the sixth and final round of the 2008 Britpart MSA British Cross-Country Championship (BCCC) on Friday, November 7th and Saturday, November 8th.

Officials at Marches 4x4 Motorsport Management will run a near eight-mile safari stage over mixed terrain at the venue, where Huddersfield’s Richard Kershaw will be aiming to seal the coveted title and Ambaston’s Steve Lloyd will be looking for yet another victory in the Trophy category.

Kershaw has all but won the title when dropped scores are added into the equation and currently has a provisional 42-point lead over Bamber Bridge driver Dan Lofthouse in the championship, with Holywell’s Tim Dilworth, Broadbottom’s Martin Gould and Deeside’s Neil Davey in close contention.

Walters Arena has a reputation as a car-breaker but, according to clerk of the course Selwyn Kendrick, the stage has been regraded and the particularly rough sections have been avoided. It is owned by Walters Mining Limited and was established in 1983, initially as a site for open cast mining operations.

"We have a challenging, mixed surface stage and a great venue to host the final round of our championship," said Kendrick. "We were last here two years ago. The action will be on Friday and Saturday so competitors can enjoy a party at the finish and make their way home on Sunday."

The Walters Arena complex is situated in the middle of a triangle between Resolven, Hirwaun and Caehopkin in South Wales, near the village of Glyn-neath.

The service and camping area is on site, although competitors will need to bring their own water supplies to the venue. The arena has been used by both the Wales Rally GB and the Red Dragon Rally in the past and is a popular motor sporting location in Wales.

The final round of Britain’s premier off-road series will also take place without the presence of Chris and Wendy Tomley, two founding committee members of Marches 4x4 Motorsport Management and the driving force behind Britain’s Baja GB. They both resigned from the club after the last round of the series in Radnor.

"The announcement of the retirement of both Chris and Wendy Tomley from Marches 4x4 is obviously a big loss to Cross-Country Motorsport in this country," admitted BCCC clerk of the course Selwyn Kendrick.

"I wish them both every success in their retirement from Marches. Chris has made a major contribution to this form of motor sport in the UK and his sterling work was the key to us running the Baja GB and gaining FIA Championship status in 2007."

1. Richard Kershaw (Huddersfield) 410 pts

2. Dan Lofthouse (Bamber Bridge) 368 pts

3. Tim Dilworth (Holywell) 367 pts

4. Martin Gould (Broadbottom, Hyde) 356 pts

5. Neil Davey (Deeside) 352 pts

6. Alan Kirkland (Chesterfield) 307 pts

7. Stephen Smith (Hatton) 302 pts

8. Graham Porter (Darlington) 300 pts

9. Ben Gott (Farnham) 282 pts

10. Paul Garner (Brampton) 281 pts, etc 

www.marches4x4.com  

- Neil Perkins-