The MSA British Rallycross Championship in association with ODYSSEY Batteries features a 60 car strong entry as the second half of the 2016 season gets underway at Maasmechelen in Belgium this weekend (July 16 – 17).
 
British RX hasn’t visited the former FIA European Rallycross Championship venue since 2013, and returns this weekend with the fight at the head of the championship order closer than it has been for a number of years.
 
The points table is led by 18-year old Dan Rooke (Holsworthy), who has shown both speed an consistency in the opening four rounds of the year, claiming his maiden victory at the second round of the season at Lydden Hill in his LD Motorsports run Citroen DS3, following a debut podium at Croft. Since the third and fourth rounds of British RX at Pembrey, Rooke also raced at the British round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill in the RX Lites Cup category and made the semi-finals.
 
Rooke’s closest challenger in the title race, five-time British RX champion Julian Godfrey (Heathfeild), is just 16 points behind the young driver following victory in round four at Pembrey. The Ford Fiesta driver also raced in the World RX event at Lydden Hill but spectacularly rolled his car in the qualifying races. Godfrey has previous form at Maasmechelen, he won the European Championship Super1600 final at the circuit in 2011. Kevin Procter (Northallerton) is the only double-winner of the season to date with victories at Croft and Pembrey, but is two points behind Godfrey after failing to score in round four with engine failure.
 
Dave Bellerby (Northallerton) and Ollie O’Donovan (Iver) are fourth and fifth in the standings and both need a strong result this weekend to remain in contention for the British Championship crown. Former British Touring Car Championship race-winner Dave Newsham (Inverness) had a challenging event at Pembrey but scored his first qualifying race victory in rallycross and will compete in Belgium, as will multiple British RX Champion Pat Doran (Dolton), racing his ex-Kenneth Hansen Citroen C4 for the LD Motorsports squad alongside Rooke and Steve Harris (Hillbridge), in another Citroen DS3.
 
The Albatec Racing team, which finished on the podium at the latest round of the European Rallycross Championship in Sweden a week ago, will field a Peugeot 208 Supercar for James Grint (Kimpton) hoping for better luck than at Pembrey when the team retired from double-header event in the opening practice session. ‘Mad Mark’ Watson will compete in his Citroen Xsara Supercar, while Steve Hill (Thame) set competitive lap times at rounds three and four driving his unique Mitsubishi Evo X and has his sights set on a podium finish in Belgium. Subaru Impreza driver Simon Horton (Clitheroe) and Ford Focus campaigner Mark Flaherty (Wokingham) will also be in action.
 
Ford KA racer Tony Lynch (Wigan) leads the MSA Supernational Rallycross Championship heading to Belgium, just three points ahead of Lotus Exige driver Paige Bellerby (Northallerton). In a contest that looks set to go down to the wire, Guy Corner (Northallerton) is just three points further behind Bellerby in his first full British RX title challenge. Gary Dixon (Lincoln) also remains in contention for Supernational honours having reverted back to his Vauxhall Astra for 2016, while Michael Howlin (Haverfordwest) will make the trip from South Wales for the event. Rallycross stalwart Allan Tapscott (Umberleigh) has shown front-running pace in 2016 but has so far been denied a podium finish. The ever-flamboyant Vince Bristow (Hastings) will also race in Belgium in his BMW E36, as will Audi TT TDI racer Brian Jukes (Barnard Castle) who starts his second event of the year after retiring from round two at Lydden Hill with technical troubles. Former champion Stuart Emery (Faversham) has been ruled out of the title chase through injury sustained in a cycling accident, and will miss the Belgian round.
 
In the supporting rallycross championships, Nathan Heathcote (Ashford) is just seven points ahead of Simon Ovenden (Canterbury) and a further five points up on Aidan Hills (Worthing) in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship, while Keifer Hudson (Harrogate) holds a 13 point advantage over brother Kris Hudson (Harrogate) in the BMW Mini Rallycross Championship, in which Andrew Hawkes (Stockton on Tees) and Ashley Walton (Stockton on Tees) will make their first appearances of the season this weekend.
 
Swedish driver Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky (Karlstad) will make her British RX debut in the RX150 Rallycross Championship at Maasmechelen, driving the ODYSSEY Batteries-backed celebrity buggy. Ahlin, who is racing in an Audi R8 LMS car in the ADAC GT Masters in Germany this year, previously raced an RX Lites Cup car in rallycross. Former RX150 champion Marc Scott (Dumfries) will return to the category, which is led by 2015 title-holder Chrissy Palmer (Chichester), who is so far unbeaten in 2016.
 
Former Hot Hatch Rallycross Champion Tomasz Wielgosz (London) leads the production-based category by five points after the first four rounds of the year, with Robert Potyra (Hounslow) and Graham Rumsey (Tunbridge Wells) tied in second position five points behind. Super1600 Rallycross Championship leader Phil Chicken (Barnsley) will miss the event leaving the fight for victory between Craig Lomax (Knottingley), Paul Coney (Dartford), Tristan Ovenden (Canterbury) and Michael Boak (Jarrow).
 
Five drivers from the Retro Rallycross Championship will make the trip to Belgium, led by MG Metro 6R4 driver Rob Gibson (Crewe) and over 1600cc championship leader Ray Morgan (Hastings). Stewart Bowes (Middlesbrough) has the opportunity to take the lead in the under 1600cc category, as points leader Lance Foster (Washington) will miss the event.
 
The full event entry list can be found on the here.
 
Action gets underway at Maasmechelen at 16.00 on Saturday July 16 for practice and Q1. On track action on Sunday begins at 0830 for Q2 and Q3. Semi-finals and finals are set to take place from 1400. Admission to the circuit starts from €10. Children 12 and under (accompanied) are admitted free of charge.
 
Details of how to find Maasmechelen Circuit are available on the circuit’s website here.
 
Highlights of the MSA British Rallycross Championship are broadcast on BT Sport and Motors TV in 2016.

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