As the MSA British Rallycross Championship in association with the Shannon Group returns to the famous Irish circuit Mondello Park for the first time since 2011, current MSA British Rally Champion Daniel McKenna will make his rallycross debut at in an RX150, later this month [27 – 28 June].

Taking time out of his Junior World Rally Championship programme, where he competes in a Citroen DS3, the 28-year old Irishman will race at the fifth round of the British series in the single-make RX150 category, driving a Jelf Insurance supported buggy.

“I’m really looking forward to Mondello. Ollie O’Donovan has given me a great opportunity to race the buggy. There are a host of young drivers in Ireland that could have been chosen, so I’m delighted to get the chance. I’ve never done anything like this before rallycross wise, but I did do a bit of racing when I was 10-years old in junior stock car, so I’ve got a bit of experience. I come from mainly a rallying background,” said Mckenna.

“I’ve been watching YouTube clips of the buggies and they look good fun. I’ve experience in rear-wheel drive Mk2 Escorts, so I should be able to adapt. Hopefully I can make a good go of it. I’ve driven the circuit at Mondello in rally sprints and stuff, but I’m sure the rallycross track in a buggy is very different. Hopefully I can get up to speed quite quickly and do as well as I can.”

With two rounds being held in one weekend at the British Championship’s Irish event, RTE Television presenter John Kenny will take the wheel of the Jelf Buggy for the fourth round on the Saturday. Kenny has previous experience in rallycross, having competed in the Stock Hatch category last season.

“I’ve raced before in the Stock Hatch class, but this will be the first time I’ve driven anything like the RX150 in rallycross. I saw Kenny Mckinstry handle one at Mondello once and it looked like a tiger all right. I’ve been watching videos on YouTube and they are quick. I want to get it home in one piece,” said Kenny, who also works as a radio reporter and writer in Ireland.

RX150 championship co-coordinator, Ollie O’Donovan, is looking forward to having McKenna and Kenny as part of the RX150 field at the Irish event. “Having the current British Rally Champion in RX150s is great and Daniel is clearly a very talented driver. I’m sure he will do well and have fun, and John has experience in rallycross so should get up to speed in the buggies well too,” said O’Donovan. “It’s great for the regular drivers in the championship to be able to compare themselves to the reigning British Rally Champion, on a circuit that is new to almost all of them.”

The Jelf Insurance buggy won the opening round of the RX150 championship at Croft Circuit in the hands of multiple rallycross champion Dave Bellerby and was used by British Touring Car Championship star Tom Ingram to set top times at the second round of the series at Lydden Hill. Chrissy Palmer currently leads the series ahead of double champion Marc Scott and Stephen Jones.

RX150 Championship Standings after round 3/8

1 – Chrissy Palmer 99

2 – Marc Scott 95

3 – Stephen Jones 84

4 – Larry Sargent 71

5 – Dave Bellerby 65

6 – Brett Harris 54

7 – Kevin Feeney 52

8 – Richard Moore 49

More information on the MSA British Rallycross Championship on the official championship website : www.rallycrossbrx.com

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