Three-car Ovenden line-up targets success in 2023 5 Nations BRX effort 27.03.2023: Father-son pairing Tristan and Will Ovenden will embark on a dual challenge on the Supercar and Junior titles in the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy this year, within a three-car effort from the Ovenden Motorsport team.

Father-son pairing Tristan and Will Ovenden will embark on a dual challenge on the Supercar and Junior titles in the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy this year, within a three-car effort from the Ovenden Motorsport team.
 


A three-time Supernational Rallycross Champion, Tristan Ovenden graduated to the headline Supercar category for the 2020 season with a Citroen DS3 and has since been developing both his own driving and the setup of the car.
 


Having previously visited the Supercar podium, at Mondello Park in Ireland last season Ovenden’s potential was realised as he stormed to a maiden overall event win in emphatic style, achieving one of the most unanimously popular results in recent memory.


 
Having then pipped outgoing champion Derek Tohill to the final step on the overall rostrum at the end of the 2022 campaign, Ovenden is the latest driver to sign up for the competitive Supercar division in 5 Nations BRX for 2023, and having taken a step forward last year, will have eyes on further success in the 10-round schedule this season, taking in events in England, Wales, Ireland and France.
 


“We’re running the same car that we have done for the last couple of years, with a few small changes, mainly focused on continuing to pursue gains in setup and driveability like we have done before, but nothing drastic,” explained Ovenden, who is also a former champion in the Swift Sport category.



“There’s a bit more to find in the car, and from myself. I’m really looking forward to the season, the entry’s looking strong this year, the championship is in a good place and we can’t wait to get to Lydden for Easter Weekend. Hopefully the weather will be good and it will be a great event for competitors and spectators.”


 
Will Ovenden meanwhile followed his older brother Tom’s footsteps last season by racing in the Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship for a full programme, in which he claimed back-to-back wins in a double header at Pembrey Circuit and finished third overall in the standings.
 


With the top two from the 2022 season, Max Langmaid and Owen Robbins moving on for 2023, Ovenden Jnr becomes the de facto championship favourite, but the 16-year-old is taking everything in his stride.
 


“We’ve been testing at Lydden a few times on the tarmac circuit and everything has been going well so far,” he said. “The car feels good, it will have a new livery for this season and I’m really looking forward getting started. I’m going to throw everything at this year using what I learned last season, and see where that takes us.”
 



Joining the father-son pairing will be the Ovenden team’s Suzuki Swift in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship, set to be campaigned by different drivers during the season. In the opening rounds at Lydden Hill, local driver Damian Constable will graduate from track days at the venue to a competitive environment in the close-fought single-specification category.
 




Lydden Hill Race Circuit-also photos