Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship
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The Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship moves to Pembrey in South Wales next weekend (May 3-4) for a crucial double-header that forms the second and third rounds of the championship. Title holder Ollie O'Donovan (London) won the first round of the championship and holds a three-point lead at the head of the championship tables entering rounds two and three. Last year Pembrey was a bit of a bogey track for O'Donovan, technical problems costing him places in both of the championship's visits to the fast Welsh track.
"I think I had quite an easy run in the first round but I'm not expecting it to be like that at Pembrey as there's a long run from the start to the first corner and that doesn't really suit my car as much as some others," said O'Donovan who added that his plan is to race hard right from the start. "I think everyone will be conscious that there's a need to get the cars through two full days, but I'd rather go for it right from the start and take my win on Saturday than hang back and take a place and then perhaps miss out on Sunday too. The two drivers I'd be most concerned about are Steve Hill and Liam Doran, but I'll take each day as it comes."
O'Donovan's closest rival after the first event of the year is Steve Hill (Aylesbury) who finished second in round one, but had to work hard to achieve his result after his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo was plagued by problems during the qualifying heats. Refusing to be put off by the troubles, Hill and his team fought back from the problems and were eventually rewarded with second place.
While Hill was able to set early problems behind him and score championship points, others were less fortunate and hit problems in the finals. Pat Doran (Winkleigh) was fast in the qualifying heats but ended his day with a crash while his son, Liam, was also out of luck in the finals where a broken gear lever meant that he was unable to repeat the pace he'd shown in the early stages of the event at which he'd also celebrated his 21st birthday.
A feature of this year's British championship is the renaissance of the spectacular Group B cars and Doran Jnr's outstanding speed in his Ford RS200 was closely matched by the performance of Lawrence Gibson (Banbridge) who finished the event in fourth place with his MG Metro 6R4.
On the track, this weekend's racing will be split into two separate events, round two of the championship taking place on Saturday with round three being run on Sunday, an arrangement that offers fans and competitors an action packed weekend.
Carmarthen star says "I will win at Pembrey"
Mike Manning will make the short journey from his Carmarthen home to race at Pembrey and after being frustrated by technical problems in round one at Lydden, is aiming to win at least one of the events at his local track. "I had a clutch problem at Lydden and eventually the car lost drive, it was a shame because we were fast and I think I could have come away with a good result.
I want to win this weekend, I'm not really interested in just getting a finish, although I think tactics will come into it because there are two days of racing," said Manning who missed most of the 2007 season while updating his Ford Puma Supercar. "The car is much faster this year than it was before and I hope it will be better again at Pembrey as I have some new engine electronics arriving before then. Pembrey's my favourite track and as it's also my local venue I'm aiming to win."
Haverfordwest-based car dealer Mike Howlin is another driver hoping for a top result on home ground. Howlin, who races a 2.4-litre, rear-wheel drive Ford Fiesta ST finished third in the SuperModified class in round one of the championship. Rising star of the SuperModified category Ben Power (Welshpool) also starts in his home event at Pembrey and has some ground to make up after a crash in the first corner of the final ended his run in round one.
There is a full supporting programme alongside the British championship with the Bill Gwynne Rally School Junior Rallycross Championship and the BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship also on the schedule, the former showcasing the stars of the future as the best 14-16-year-old racers lay the foundations for racing and rallying careers.
Motors TV will feature 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.
Event details
Racing starts at 1000 each day
Adult admission 12, accompanied children up to 14-years-old free
Pembrey Motor Racing Circuit, Pembrey, Llanelli, SA16 0HX
2008 Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship
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)
2008 Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship on Motors TV
Round one 10pm Friday April 4
Rounds two/three 10pm Friday May 16
Round four 10pm Friday July 18
Round five 10pm Friday September 5
Round six 10pm Friday October 10
Round seven 10pm Friday October 24
www.RallycrossUK.com
- Tim Whittington- also photos
More reports from this category all copyright automobilsport.com.
