Croft double header is sting in BRC’s tail

The outcome of the Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship will be decided over the next two weekends as the eight-event series reaches its conclusion with back-to-back events at Mondello Park (October 14) and Croft (October 21).

After six events that have taken them through England, Wales and Scotland, the top seven drivers in the championship remain in with a chance of taking the title. The focus of attention is on the top three where the battle is being fought out between current points leader Andrew Jordan (Lichfield), London-based Irishman Ollie O’Donovan and SuperModified class leader Dave Bellerby (Northallerton).

“I’m going there to win the event,” said Jordan. “We were quick at Mondello last year and my ultimate aim is to win the event. If that’s not possible then I’d like to be in front of Ollie to give myself some margin going to Croft. I really don’t care if it’s wet or dry at Mondello, it doesn’t bother me.”

Originally from Limerick, O’Donovan regards Mondello Park as his home event. “I like Mondello, specially if the weather is wet. I’m doing a rain dance now!” he said. “It’s very close in the championship, I have already dropped a round and if you take Andrew’s lowest score away we’re level. It’s going to be close and I’m up for the fight.”

Bellerby acknowledges that he is very much the third man in the title battle but, with one event win to his credit already this year, knows that anything is possible. “I didn’t expect to be this close to the top, for me it was about the class title and getting the best overall placing I could. It doesn’t favour me, but I’m not giving up. It just needs something to go wrong for the others and everything changes,” said Bellerby.

The Mondello Park event is also a qualifying round of the Motorsport Ireland Rallycross Championship and is likely to attract one of the biggest entries of the year. The Irish championship is currently led by Lawrence Gibson (Banbridge) who won rounds two and three at Mondello earlier this year.

Bellerby leads the SuperModified (two-wheel drive) category from Ben Power (Welshpool). A 17-year-old Junior championship graduate, Power has been one of the most outstanding drivers in the championship this year and has already scored two class victories with his two-litre Ford Ka. James Bird (Midhurst) holds third place in the first full championship season with his Renault Cliosport V6.

The Yokohama Stock Hatch category is also finely poised as the championship enters its closing stages. Tony Lynch (Wigan) has a useful 20-point lead over Ash Simpson (York) but cannot afford to relax yet. Third place is held by the championship’s most travelled driver. Pole Wojciech Bialowas has journeyed from Warsaw for every round of the championship this year. A handful of points ahead of current Stock Hatch champion Julian Godfrey (Heathfield), Bialowas will have yet another new circuit to learn at Mondello Park.

The Bill Gwynne Rallyschool Junior Rallycross Championship also travels to Ireland for the Mondello Park event. Ben Rennison (Richmond) leads the championship and only needs a points scoring finish in the penultimate round in order to secure the title. Rennison’s closest rival is Samantha Thom (Cookstown) who has beaten the boys twice already this year. Third placed George Tracey Jnr. (Mullingar) possibly knows Mondello Park better than any of his rivals as he has also driven in Irish championship events at the track. In his final events as a Junior racer, Tracey Jnr. is preparing to move up to the European Rallycross Championship in 2008.

Event details
Round seven, Sunday October 14
Mondello Park, Naas, County Kildare
Practice starts at 0900, racing from 1000
Admission: Adults €15, children under 15 free
Info: 00353 (0)45 860200, mondello.ie

Round eight, Sunday October 21
Croft Circuit, off A167 near Darlington, County Durham
Practice starts at 0930, racing from 1030
Admission: Adults £10, children under 15 free
Info: 01325 721815, croftcircuit.co.uk