Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship –
There is everything to play for in the third round of the Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship at Lydden Circuit on Monday (May 28). There has been a different winner in each of the two events run to date, Dave Bellerby (Northallerton) winning in round one at Lydden on Easter Monday and Andrew Jordan (Lichfield) taking round two at Pembrey on May 7.
The championship lead, however, is held by "Mad Mark" who, with third and fifth place finishes in the first two events has been the championship’s most consistent driver.
The mixed fortunes endured by Jordan, who was forced out of round one after gearbox failure halted his Ford Focus Supercar, and Bellerby who was a retirement in round two after a driveshaft failure on his Lotus Exige, mean that it is close at the top of the championship, "Mad Mark" a single point ahead of Bellerby and Jordan who share second place.
Having come so close to winning at Lydden in round one – and with this being a local event for Will Gollop’s G-Tech team which prepares his Ford Focus – Jordan is out to repeat his round two victory on Monday. Fourth place is held by Dermot Carnegie (Dublin) who is two points further behind and quickly getting to grips with his new Ford Fiesta ST Supercar.
Local favourite Pat Doran (Milstead) finished fifth in the first round of the championship but withdrew from round two following the sudden death of one of his team members, Les Stroud, on the eve of the event. Seven points scores from the eight event championship are considered towards the end of year totals, so Doran can still feature in the title race, but is currently in 13th place and with ground to make up.
The task in front of Doran, Jordan and "Mad Mark" is slightly simplified at Lydden as Bellerby, whose speed in the SuperModified (two-wheel drive) Lotus has enabled him to challenge for overall places, is missing this event in favour of taking part in the Barbados Rally Carnival.
Southern racers aiming high
While Bellerby is away his closest rivals in the SuperModified category are aiming to move ahead in the championship class battle. Bill Harbour (Tunbridge Wells) is enjoying his best season in the British championship and holds second place in the SuperModified class having followed Bellerby home in rounds one and two with his Escort Cosworth. Also showing improved form this year is James Bird (Midhurst) who was fourth in round one and third in round two with his Renault ClioSport V6.
The Stock Hatch category is led by Julian Godfrey (Heathfield) who won in round one at Lydden but non-finished in round two after rolling his Peugeot 205. The incident means that Godfrey’s lead in the class has been slashed to just one point and the Sussex-based racer now has round two winner Ash Simpson (York) and Tony Lynch (Wigan), who are equal in second place, breathing down his neck. The championship’s furthest travelled driver, Wozciech Bialowas holds fifth place in the Stock Hatch class and will again travel from Poland to race his Citroën Saxo VTR at Lydden.
The supporting programme for the Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship features the Bill Gwynne Rallyschool Junior Rallycross Championship and the BTRDA Clubmans Championship.
Ben Rennison (Richmond) leads the Junior Rallycross contenders having finished second in round one and taken the win in round two. Championship newcomer Samantha Thom (Cookstown) holds second place and made a spectacular debut at Lydden on Easter Monday where she became the first girl to win a Junior Rallycross event.
The BTRDA Clubmans championship uses a different schedule of events and has completed three rounds. The overall championship leader is Junior racer Ben Rennison (Richmond) who has won his class in all three events and is three points ahead of closest rival Dave Baines (Tarporley) who has scored two wins and a second place in the Stock Hatch class.
Event details
Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship
round three, Monday May 28
Lydden Circuit, on the A2 between Canterbury and Dover
Practice starts at 0900, racing from 1000
Admission: Adults £12, children under 15 free
Info: 01304 830557, www.RallycrossUK.com
Notes
- Motors TV will show round two of the championship on Wednesday May 23 at 7pm with repeats over the following six days.
- The Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship runs over eight events at venues in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Its events are listed on the International calendar and are open to foreign drivers.
- The championship is organised by the British Rallycross Drivers Association which was recently awarded a new three year contract by the governing body of British motor sport (the MSA) covering the 2007, ’08 and ’09 seasons.
- All events in the championship will be televised. A one-hour programme from each event will be broadcast in the UK, Ireland and across Europe by Motors TV, Men & Motors, Setanta Sports, Chorus Sport and TV3. More than 380 hours of programming will allow the championship events to be seen in 34 countries.
2007 Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship
Mon. Apr 9 Lydden
Mon. May 7 Pembrey
Mon. May 28 Lydden
Sun. Jul 1 Pembrey
Sun. Aug 5 Knockhill
Mon. Aug 27 Lydden
Sun. Oct 14 Mondello Park (IRL)
Sun. Oct 21 Croft
www.RallycrossUK.com
- Tim Whittington- also photos
More reports from this category all copyright automobilsport.com.
