Foreign drivers add spice to British championship opener

The first round of the Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship takes place at Lydden on Easter Monday (April 9) with a starting list that includes 16 Supercars, including two entries from foreign drivers.

Norwegian driver Ole Kristian Nøttveit has chosen the Lydden event for the first outing with his Ford Focus WRC as he builds up to the start of the European Rallycross Championship in May.

Patrick Van Mechelen gave his new Subaru Impreza its first run in the first round of the Belgian championship last month and, after a fine run that resulted in a last gasp second place, is hoping for another strong result at Lydden, where the competition will be significantly stiffer. Neither, however, will be the furthest travelled driver in the event, that distinction falling to Mark Williams , the Englishman commuting from his Toronto home to tackle British championship events this year.

British championship contenders start their eight-event season at Lydden. Local favourite Pat Doran (Milstead) won the corresponding event last year but then endured a host of mechanical problems that left him unable to mount an effective defence of his 2005 championship title. With his Duo Racing team reinvigorated and his Ford Fiesta ST-based Supercar rebuilt in preparation for the new season, Doran is aiming to return to the top: “With the historic stuff going on and some foreign drivers coming, Lydden is going to be a great event and I can’t wait to get started,” said Doran. “Last year was very frustrating but I’ve got a good new engineer in the team and some new parts in the car. We’re all ready and will have a test before the championship starts and I’m ready for anything.”

Andrew Jordan (Sutton Coldfield) won two events in 2006, his first year driving a Supercar. This year the 17-year-old returns for a second year with the Canterbury-based G-Tech team that is run by former champion Will Gollop. The Ford Focus that Jordan will drive has been subject to a host of detail improvements and updates over the winter that Gollop hopes will allow his young charge to win again.

Four-time British champion Dermot Carnegie (Dublin) returns to try and add another title and, after finishing second in 2006, has replaced his Ford Focus WRC with a new Fiesta ST Supercar similar to the one driven by Doran. Also set to debut a new car at Lydden is Steve Hill (Aylesbury) who, after two years learning the Rallycross ropes with his old Mitsubishi Lancer E3 rally car, will switch to a new Lancer E9 that has been specifically built for Rallycross by his eponymous Steve Hill Motorsport company.

Alongside all the British championship classes, the supporting Bill Gwynne Rallyschool Junior Rallycross Championship and the BTRDA Clubmans Championship, the event incorporates the Tonhire.com 40th Anniversary Rallycross. The first Rallycross event took place at Lydden on February 4 1967 and, as well as a display of historic competition cars, there will be a Classic Rallycross section in the event. Among the eight drivers taking part is Roy Edwards (Paddock Wood) who was a competitor in that first event. Tony Fall (Cambridge) who will drive his Datsun 240Z while “Jumping” Jeff Williamson (Retford) will give his ex-works Mini Cooper S an airing and current British Historic Rally Champion Patrick Watts (Tonbridge) will drive his Sunbeam Tiger.
Star drivers and celebrities from the first 40 years of Rallycross have also been invited to the event and help celebrate the ruby anniversary.

The Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship runs over eight events at venues in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Its events are listed on the International calendar and are open foreign drivers.
The championship organised by the British Rallycross Drivers Association which was recently awarded a new three contract by the governing body of British motor sport (the MSA) covering the 2007, ’08 and ’09 seasons.
All events in the championship will be televised. A one-hour programme from each event will be broadcast in the UK, Ireland and across Europe by Motors TV, Men & Motors, Setanta Sports, Chorus Sport and TV3. More than 380 hours of programming will allow the championship events to be seen in 34 countries.

Event details:
Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship
round one, Monday April 9
Lydden Circuit, on the A2 between Canterbury and Dover
Practice starts at 0900, racing from 1000
Admission: Adults £12, children under 15 free
Info: 01304 830557,
RallycrossUK.com

2007 Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship
Mon. Apr 9 Lydden
Mon. May 7 Pembrey
Mon. May 28 Lydden
Sun. Jul 1 Pembrey
Sun. Aug 5 Knockhill
Mon. Aug 27 Lydden
Sun. Oct 14 Mondello Park (IRL)
Sun. Oct 21 Croft