With the fight for supremacy raging at the head of the order in the MSA British Rallycross Championship in association with ODYSSEY Battery, the series returns to Pembrey Circuit in South Wales this weekend [September 25] for its penultimate round. 

Points leader Dan Rooke (Holsworthy) has only once failed to finish on the podium in the first six rounds of the Championship this season. That was in round four at Pembrey in May, when engine problems put him out of contention for victory in the second day of action, at the double-header event.

However, in the five other rounds, 19-year old Rooke has scored three victories, two at Lydden Hill and one at Maasmechelen in Belgium in his impressive maiden Supercar campaign, and leads five-time British RX champion Julian Godfrey (Heathfeild) heading into the final two rounds of the year. Citroen DS3 driver Rooke is 24 points clear of Ford Fiesta campaigner Godfrey as they arrive at Pembrey this weekend. When dropped scores are taken into account, the gap is 19 points. With a maximum of 32 points available at each British RX event, the Championship is likely to go down to the final round at Croft in October.

Supercar newcomer Dave Bellerby (Northallerton) and former British RX champion Ollie O’Donovan (Iver) are third and fourth in the standings, with either well placed to climb to second should Godfrey have problems. Like the overall title, the fight for the final place on the championship rostrum is almost certainly going to go all the way to Croft, but a strong points haul this weekend will be important for all concerned. Former European Rallycross Championship event winner Kevin Procter (Northallerton) retook the lead of the championship from Rooke by winning round three at Pembrey in May, his second victory of the season, but since, the Ford Fiesta driver has been hampered by problems. Engine issues put the Yorkshire man out of round four, before a crash in round five meant another non-score. Sensor problems on his Ford Fiesta ended Procter’s chances of victory at Lydden Hill last time out and he is now sixth in the points race.

Steve Harris (Hillbridge) has had a consistent year in his ex-Pat Doran Citroen DS3 and is one point ahead of Procter in the standings, while Steve Hill (Thame) has enjoyed a return to front-running pace in recent events and could be a podium contender this weekend in his unique Mitsubishi Evo X Supercar. Andy Grant (Barnstaple) will race his ex-Will Gollop / Andrew Jordan Ford Focus Supercar in the event closest to his Devon home, while former Stock Hatch racer Simon Horton (Clitheroe) returns for another outing with his self-built Subaru Impreza, following technical problems at Lydden Hill last month. Mad Mark also ran into technical dramas at Lydden Hill but has worked hard to repair his ex-French Rallycross Championship winning Citroen Xsara and will return to action this weekend.

Tony Lynch (Wigan) scored maximum points at each of the previous two rounds of the MSA Supernational Rallycross Championship in Belgium and at Lydden Hill, and has a margin of 21 points over Paige Bellerby (Northallerton) in the standings. Victory at Pembrey would edge Lynch closer to his first Supernational title, in a maiden campaign with a Ford KA that has been part of the series for many years with an array of drivers. Bellerby tested her Lotus Exige in the North East this week and will be looking to add another victory to her tally this weekend, while Guy Corner (Northallerton) is third in the points in an impressive season. Rallycross stalwart Allan Tapscott (Umberleigh) claimed his first podium of the year last time out at Lydden Hill, racing his unique rear-wheel drive Vauxhall Corsa. Pembrey is effectively Tapscott’s home event and the Devon racer will be hoping for more of the same this weekend. Mike Howlin (Haverfordwest) races at his home circuit this weekend hopeful of a podium finish.

Just three points separate MSA Junior Rallycross Championship title rivals Sam Jones (Bexley) and Tom Constantine (Richmond) at the head of the standings. Both drivers are competing in their first full Junior RX campaigns this season and are likely to enter the final round at Croft vying for the title. Should either of the pair suffer problems this weekend at Pembrey, it could prove to be a pivotal moment in the title race. Tom Llewellin (Haverfordwest) made his rallycross debut at Pembrey in May and won twice. He claimed victory again at the next round at Lydden Hill, but will miss this weekend’s event due to clashing Junior rally commitments. Tom Middleton (Maldon) is third overall in his maiden campaign and pushed Jones hard at Lydden Hill for a podium position, while former kart racer Matt Rainbow (Stafford) is fifth in the points race. Cameron Hawkes (Stockton on Tees) missed the May double-header at Pembrey but will race this weekend, as will Morgan Wroot (Doncaster) who made his debut at Lydden last month.

In the supporting rallycross championships, Nathan Heathcote (Ashford) extended his margin at the head of the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship  with victory at Lydden last month. Aidan Hills (Worthing) is second in the points. The former Junior RX winner rolled his car in the championship’s last visit to Pembrey and will be hoping for better luck this weekend. Simon Ovenden (Canterbury) is competing in his debut rallycross season and is third overall, still in contention should Heathcote run into dramas, while Jack Brown (Barnsley) has already dropped a score this season and is in the fight for a top-three in the championship. Monster Energy Athlete Luke Woodham (Loudwater) made his Swift Sport debut at Lydden Hill and will return to action at Pembrey.

Tomasz Wielgosz (London) continues to lead the Hot Hatch Rallycross Championship from Graham Rumsey (Tunbridge Wells), the latter driver being forced into a big accident in the final at Lydden Hill a month ago while Wielgosz extended his margin. Currently third in the points, when dropped scores are taken into account Robert Potyra (Hounslow) is right in the mix in the fight for the title.

In the RX150 Rallycross Championship, Welsh rally star Osian Pryce (Machynlleth) will make his rallycross debut this weekend at Pembrey, racing the ODYSSEY Battery celebrity buggy. The Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy Championship leader will test an RX150 for the first time this week ahead of the event. Defending champion Chrissy Palmer (Chichester) has all but secured the 2016 title, but the battle for second place is set to go down to the wire between Jake Harris (Canewdon) and Stephen Jones (Havant).

Reigning Swift Sport Champion Tristan Ovenden (Canterbury) will bring updates on his Super1600 Rallycross Championship version of Suzuki’s hatchback to Pembrey this weekend as he targets the title in his first season in the class. 2015 Super1600 champion Craig Lomax (Knottingley) has had a year struck by reliability issues and is second overall, while Paul Coney (Dartford) missed round one and when dropped scores are accounted for, is right in the title fight. In the BMW Mini Rallycross Championship, brothers Keifer Hudson (Harrogate) and Kris Hudson (Harrogate) continue to battle at the top of the table, but reigning Junior RX champion Bradley Durdin (Nazing) claimed victory on his category debut at Lydden Hill and could upset the established order in the class again at Pembrey.

The full event entry list can be found of the MSA British Rallycross Championship website here.

Practice gets underway at Pembrey on Sunday September 25 at 09.00, before Q1, Q2 and Q3. Semi-finals and finals will take place in the afternoon. Admission to Pembrey Circuit starts from £15. Children 14 and under (accompanied) are admitted free of charge.

Details of how to find Pembrey Circuit are available on the circuit’s website here.

Highlights of the MSA British Rallycross Championship will be broadcast on BT Sport in 2016.

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