The curtain was raised on the MSA British Rallycross Championship on 6th March at Croft Circuit in Yorkshire. A bumper 72 car entry was assembled at the North Yorkshire circuit on the cold March Sunday.
An astonishing 16 Supercar entry would top the bill. The Supernational, Super 1600, Hot Hatch and BMW Mini’s were run in an amalgamated super class which, from a spectator’s point of view made for great viewing.
The new running format would also prove popular. For 2016 drivers earn points for their times in the heats which in turn will give then their respective place on the grid for the semi-finals.
The super car heats certainly didn’t disappoint and produced some great racing. Newcomer and ex-BTCC favorite Dave Newsham drove well despite the day not going to plan for him, but its early days and once he has got used to the new Power Maxed Racing Ford Fiesta Supercar he will be a force to be reckoned with. Other Super car newcomer Jake Thorne also had an up and down day, but again mainly due to car familiarisation. Kevin Proctor wowed his home crowd all day long and deservedly topped the podium. But it was without a doubt Dan Rooke who stole the show in his first outing in a supercar. Rooke was pushing Procter hard on every lap of the final and brought home his LD Motorsports Citroen DS3 in second place. Ollie O’Donovan picked up the third place slot, driving his Ford Focus Supercar as his EuroRX Fiesta is still undergoing repair work after his spectacular roll in Spain last year. Current Champion Julian Godfrey spun onto the gravel at the first corner which just left him too much ground to make up eventually finishing in seventh place.
Supernational honors were taken by Paige Bellerby in her Fuchs backed Lotus Exige, picking up where she left off at round 8 last year. Gary Dixon in his Astra GTE took second place and Guy Corner drove his Peugeot 206 for third.
Craig Lomax opened his championship account in Super 1600 with Phil Chicken in second and Tristan Ovenden in his first Super 1600 event in third.
In the Suzuki’s Aidan Hills looks to be the man to beat this year with an emphatic win, Jack Brown in second and Nathan Heathcote in third.
Kristofer Hudson took the honor in the BMW Minis with brother Keifer close behind. Jeannie Hawkes made up the podium in her first ever senior event.
Chrissy Palmer seemed to be in a league of his own in the RX150’s winning every heat and the final by some margin. Stephen Jones and Jake Harris claimed the other spots on the podium.
The junior racing was also excellent with local driver Tom Constantine claiming the round win, with Sam Jones and Matt Rainbow in second and third respectively.
Round 2 of the MSA British Rallycross Championship moves to the spiritual home of Rallycross, Lydden Hill in Kent over the Easter weekend.