Consistency brings points lead for “Mad Mark”

There is everything to play for in the third round of the Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship at Lydden Circuit on Monday (May 28). There has been a different winner in each of the two events run to date, Dave Bellerby (Northallerton) winning in round one at Lydden on Easter Monday and Andrew Jordan (Lichfield) taking round two at Pembrey on May 7. The championship lead, however, is held by “Mad Mark” who, with third and fifth place finishes in the first two events has been the championship’s most consistent driver.

The mixed fortunes endured by Jordan, who was forced out of round one after gearbox failure halted his Ford Focus Supercar, and Bellerby who was a retirement in round two after a driveshaft failure on his Lotus Exige, mean that it is close at the top of the championship, “Mad Mark” a single point ahead of Bellerby and Jordan who share second place. Having come so close to winning at Lydden in round one – and with this being a local event for Will Gollop’s G-Tech team which prepares his Ford Focus – Jordan is out to repeat his round two victory on Monday. Fourth place is held by Dermot Carnegie (Dublin) who is two points further behind and quickly getting to grips with his new Ford Fiesta ST Supercar.

Local favourite Pat Doran (Milstead) finished fifth in the first round of the championship but withdrew from round two following the sudden death of one of his team members, Les Stroud, on the eve of the event. Seven points scores from the eight event championship are considered towards the end of year totals, so Doran can still feature in the title race, but is currently in 13th place and with ground to make up. The task in front of Doran, Jordan and “Mad Mark” is slightly simplified at Lydden as Bellerby, whose speed in the SuperModified (two-wheel drive) Lotus has enabled him to challenge for overall places, is missing this event in favour of taking part in the Barbados Rally Carnival.