Lawrence Gibson wins and takes points lead

Ulsterman Lawrence Gibson (Banbridge) produced an unbeatable mix of speed and reliability to win the fourth round of the Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship at Croft today (July 6). Gibson's win with his MG Metro 6R4 was the first for a driver of a Group B car since June 2003 [when Pat Doran won at Anglesey's Trac Mon], and allowed Gibson to take a five point lead at the head of the championship with three events left to run.

In an event run in mixed weather conditions that made track conditions difficult, Gibson's path to victory was perfectly measured. With third fastest time in the first qualifying heat, behind Steve Hill and Ollie O'Donovan, and second fastest to O'Donovan in the second heat, Gibson chose to sit out the third heat and preserve his car for the A final.

London-based Irishman and championship leader O'Donovan was fastest again in the third heat and secured pole position, in front of Gibson and Tommy Graham (Prosperous) in an all Irish front row of the grid. Hill (Aylesbury) went out of the event in the second heat with engine failure in his Mitsubishi Lancer E9. It was Gibson who moved ahead in the A final, recording a clear win over Graham and David Binks (Newcastle upon Tyne) while O'Donovan nursed his Peugeot 306 home in a distant fourth place after a front differential problem left him with only rear-wheel drive.

The A final win gave Gibson pole position for the Superfinal, the grid for the fastest eight cars from the class finals also containing SuperModified drivers Dave Bellerby (Northallerton) and Michael Boak (Newcastle upon Tyne) and Stock Hatch runners Phil Chicken (Barnsley) and Ryan Lawford (Canterbury).

Again Gibson proved the class of the field, mastering the tricky conditions to take a clear victory over Chris Langley (Hastings) who collected a personal best second place in his Escort WRC, and Binks who was overjoyed with his podium finish after his day started with a crash in the first heat. Driveline problems dropped Graham to last place and O'Donovan was prevented from starting by the problems that hit his car in the A final.

Superfinal (5 laps) 1 Lawrence Gibson (MG Metro 6R4) 4m28.398s; 2 Chris Langley (Ford Escort WRC) 4m41.633; 3 David Binks (Mitsubishi Lancer E7) 4m50.115s; 4 Michael Boak (Audi TT) 4m52.745s; 5 Dave Bellerby (Lotus Exige) 4m54.186s; 6 Phil Chicken (VW Lupo GTi) 4m54.186s; 7 Ryan Lawford (Peugeot 205 GTi); 8 Tommy Graham (Ford Escort WRC) 4 laps.

Championship 1 Gibson 101; 2 O'Donovan 96; 3 Steve Hill (Mitsubishi Lancer E9) 78; 4 Dermot Carnegie (Ford Fiesta ST) 77; 5 Tony Lynch (Peugeot 205 GTi) 60; 6 James Bird (Renault ClioSport V6) 59.  

- This event will be broadcast by Motors TV at 10pm on Friday July 18 and will be repeated several times in following weeks.

- The British Rallycross Drivers Association has organised the British Rallycross Championship on behalf of the governing body of British motor sport (the MSA) since 2003.

- The Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship has seven rounds which will be run over six weekends at venues in England, Wales and Ireland. Its events are listed on the International calendar and are open to foreign drivers.

Sun-Mon Mar 23-24 Lydden

Sat May 3 Pembrey

Sun May 4 Pembrey

Sun Jul 6 Croft

Mon Aug 25 Lydden

Sun Sep 28 Pembrey

Sun Oct 12 Mondello Park (IRL)

Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship website: www.RallycrossUK.com   

-Tim Whittington- photos