Three-way for British title at Mondello

Three drivers will start Sunday's final round of the Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship at Mondello Park with a chance of leaving the event as champion. With six of the championship's seven rounds complete the 2007 champion Ollie O'Donovan (London) leads the scoring, but is far from certain to retain the title.

O'Donovan, originally from Limerick, is just one point ahead of Lawrence Gibson (Banbridge) while Englishman Steve Hill (Aylesbury) is a further 16 points behind the leader in third place.

Competition during the season has been very close and each of the three has won twice so far this year. If prior form is any indicator to the possible outcome at Mondello, then it is Hill who may hold a small advantage as he won when the British championship visited the Irish circuit last year.

Among the championship's supporting classes, James Bird (Midhurst) has already secured the SuperModified title for two-wheel drive cars, but the Stock Hatch and Junior championship both remain to be won and lost at Mondello.

In the Stock Hatch category there is a straight head-to-head battle between defending champion Tony Lynch (Wigan) and former title holder Julian Godfrey (Heathfield). The Bill Gwynne Rallyschool Junior Rallycross Championship is led by Dan O'Brien (Milton Keynes) but there is very little between the top handful.

Jess Gwynne (Brackley) took her second win of the year in round six at Pembrey ten days ago and holds second place in the championship with Matt Thompson (Darlington) currently placed third ahead of Samantha Thom (Cookstown) and Keifer Hudson (Harrogate).

The Mondello Park event also forms the second round of the 2008-2009 Motorsport Ireland Rallycross Championship. The Irish series had its first event in conjunction with the British championship at Pembrey in South Wales ten days ago and will now move to Mondello for six further events running through the winter.

Englishman Kevin Procter was the top points scorer in the first round, but does not plan to drive his Ford Focus ST in round two, although he hopes to take in events at Mondello early in 2009. Having spent the summer racing in the British championship, Tommy Graham (Prosperous) is heading into this weekend's event on his home track hoping for Irish championship success in the winter season.

Irish championship class winners at Pembrey were Michael Coyne (Naas) who won the SuperModified category with his two-litre Vauxhall Nova and Michael Duke who was best of the Stock Hatch drivers with his Peugeot 205 GTi.

Motors TV features the Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship in a regular Friday night broadcast slot in 2008. The standalone shows will air at 10pm on second Friday after each round and will be repeated in the Motors TV schedule after the first airing, the Mondello Park event will be screened at 10pm on October 24.

Sunday October 12

Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship (last of seven events)

Mondello Park, Naas, County Kildare

Racing starts at 1000

Adult admission 15, accompanied up to 16s free.

Further information: - 00353 (0)45 860 200. Mondello.ie

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 14 Mondello Park (IRL)

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

- Tim Whittington-