Scott tops Lydden Hill to take RX150 championship to the wire
Double champion Marc Scott won the RX150 category at the penultimate round of the MSA British Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill to take the title fight down to the wire at Croft next month.
Scott set the fastest time in two of the three qualifying heats to earn pole position for the final, from where he made the best start and led the race from start to finish to close the gap to championship leader Chrissy Palmer to just two points. “I had a lot of fun, the conditions were difficult but I felt more comfortable throughout the day. I’m really happy with the win. It was fun to race with Nitiss and it’s great that the championship will be decided at Croft,” said Scott.
Making a guest appearance in an RX150, FIA World Rallycross Championship star Reinis Nitiss qualified on the front row of the grid and ran Scott close throughout the final to finish second, less than a second behind winner, Scott. “I had a lot of fun racing the buggy, it was something different for me and I’m happy to finish second. Marc was really quick, I think with more laps I could have tired to pass him, but second is good,” said the Latvian star.
While Scott had experienced a difficult day at round six of the championship at Pembrey, Lydden Hill was Palmer’s turn for a challenging run. Third on the grid for the final, Palmer lost time in the first corner but fought back to finish third, second of the championship regulars and will fight for the title with Scott at the final round.
Irishman Kevin Feeney made a return to the series, competing in a 2015 specification buggy for the first time and finished fourth, one place ahead of World RX television commentator, Andrew Coley who drove the Jelf Insurance buggy. It was a baptism of fire for the Englishman in difficult wet conditions, but he rose to the challenge, qualified in tenth for the final and finished fifth. "The weather wasn't very kind but I had an absolute blast and learnt a huge amount, particularly about visibility in the wet; there isn't any! I was over the moon to climb from 10th to 5th in the final,” said Coley. “Massive thank you to Ollie O'Donovan and Jelf Insurance for a brilliant day, and to Reinis Nitiss for coming all this way to thrash me!"
Stephen Jones secured third place in the championship standings with sixth in the final, while Larry and Adam Sargent finished seventh and eighth. “Having Reinis race with us at Lydden was a pleasure, he showed his skill all day and really gave Marc a run for his money in the final. Andrew went well too in very difficult conditions for those with experience, never mind on his debut,” said RX150 championship coordinator, Ollie O’Donovan. “For the championship battle, it’s great that Marc and Chrissy have been so close all year. Marc’s moved very close to Chrissy in the points now, so it will be winner takes all at Croft. That really proves how competitive the championship is.”
RX150 Round Seven: Results
1 – Marc Scott
2 – Reinis Nitiss
3 – Chrissy Palmer
4 – Kevin Feeney
5 – Andrew Coley
6 – Stephen Jones
7 – Larry Sargent
8 – Adam Sargent
9 – Brett Harris
10 – Richard Moore
RX150 Championship Standings
1 – Chrissy Palmer 233
2 – Marc Scott 231
3 – Stephen Jones 188
4 – Mitchell Flaherty 106
5 – Larry Sargent 94
6 – Richard Moore 93
7 – Kevin Feeney 80
8 – Brett Harris 75
9 – Adam Sargent 68
10 – Dave Bellerby 65
