2014 MSA British Rallycross – On Your Marks, Get Set… Go! In less than a week the 2014 British Rallycross season will get underway at Lydden Hill in Kent.
The published entry list looks very strong. The opening round is traditionally shared with the Belgian Championship so there are 123 entries! Spread across 13 classes.
In the Supercar class there is a welcome return for Steve Hill who last raced his Mitsubisi Evo 10 in 2012 at the first round in March of that year. Where he famously drove 2 laps of the final with the bonnet up!
2014 MSA British Rallycross – Steve Hill during his last outing in a Supercar at the first round in March 2012
Kevin Proctor will also be racing although sadly not in his new Mark 8 Fiesta as the build is not quite complete. Notable absences at the time of writing are last years second and third placed drivers Pat Doran and Andy Grant. Also missing is last years crowd pleasing Icelandic sensation Jon B Hrolfsson.
2014 MSA British Rallycross – 2013’s crowd pleasing Icelandic sensation Jon B Hrolfsson
In the Super National class last years runaway Champion Ash Simpson appears to be absent. However there will be plenty of action with a raft of new drivers entering the class for the first time. Polish driver Slawomir Woloch making the step up from Hot Hatch driving an ex Liam Doran Fiesta. With other Super National new comers Guy Corner and Kevin McCann. Martin Hawkes will be hoping for a far better year this year in his completely re-engineered Peugeot 206. Michael Boak will also be returning in his diesel Audi TT. So there’s a lot of action to look forward to.
2014 MSA British Rallycross – Micheal Boak will be making a return to the Super National grid this year. Here pictured at the Grand Prix at Croft last year.
In the Suzuki Swift Sport category there are a raft of new drivers Four in total. Chris Mullen is returning after his brief stint in S1600 last year. So a strong grid of ten cars is sure to deliver some trademark racing. It will make it hard for reigning Champion Graham Rodemark to maintain his crown.
Super 1600 is looking to be exciting as it popularity in the UK gathers momentum. S1600 stallwort Andy Knowles makes a return after an absence last year.
2014 MSA British Rallycross – Andy Knowles in action at Lydden in August 2012
Phil Chicken looks set to unleash his European bought Citroën C2 for the first time. Kent based Darren Scott however will miss the first round due to gearbox woes. There are also some new faces which will make this class one to watch for sure.
One of the big surprises is that last years RX150 runaway Champion Marc Scott wont be piloting the famous ‘Will Gollop’ Peugeot 306 Supercar as he did at the Grand Prix. Instead he back to defend his RX150 title.
2014 MSA British Rallycross – Marc Scott back in an RX150. Pictured here at Pembrey in round 7 where he secured the 2013 title.
With a new organizing committee at the helm of British Rallycross for this year the Future is looking bright. Yes there are only 6 rounds this year. But that means there are no throw away rounds for the drivers, which will mean that the racing will be hotly contested at all the rounds.
From the first round at Lydden Hill the championship heads for the first time to Valkenswaard in Holland on 13th April for round 2. Round 3 is north of the boarder at Knockhill on 11th May. Pembrey for round 4 on 27th July. Back to Lydden Hill for the customary August bank holiday for round 5. With the final round at Croft on 18th October.
