The eighth and final round of the MSA British Rallycross Championship in association with ODYSSEY Battery and the Procters Coaches MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix take place at Croft this weekend [October 22 – 23] as part of a double-header weekend of intense rallycross action at the North Yorkshire venue.

19-year old sensation Dan Rooke (Holsworthy) has already secured the British Championship title. In his first season at the wheel of a rallycross Supercar, Rooke has won three events so far and wrapped up the Championship by finishing second at Pembrey Circuit last month.

But, while Rooke will arrive at the final round of British RX focused only on adding another win to his maiden campaign’s tally, with the same goal in Sunday’s prestigious Grand Prix, a fierce battle is set to take place over second position in the standings.

Before dropped scores are taken into account (each driver can drop their lowest score of the campaign), five-time champion Julian Godfrey (Heathfield) is second in the points table, eight points ahead of Dave Bellerby (Northallerton), who will complete his inaugural Supercar season at his home circuit. 2007 British RX champion Ollie O’Donovan (Iver) finished on the podium at the series’ last visit to Croft Circuit in March and is also in the fight for second.

Kevin Procter (Northallerton) won the opening round of the season at Croft, and was a title contender in the early stages of the year by scoring a second victory in round three at Pembrey, but has since suffered a run of accidents and technical problems and is fifth in the standings. A former winner of the Grand Prix, Procter knows Croft arguably better than any of his rivals and will be a serious contender for victories this weekend.

Multiple European Rallycross Championship event winner and double X Games gold medalist Liam Doran (Dolton) will race the Citroen DS3 he campaigned in the FIA World Rallycross Championship last season in both the final round of British RX and the Grand Prix. Doran won the Grand Prix at Croft in 2011 and will be targeting a repeat performance this weekend.

Steve Harris (Hillbridge) is fifth in the points aboard his Citroen DS3, but will vacate his regular seat for son Jake Harris (Canewdon) to make his Supercar debut in the Grand Prix. Harris Junior graduates from the RX150 Rallycross Championship with a view to racing at the highest level full time next season. Running alongside Harris and Liam Doran in the LD Motorsports team will be multiple British RX champion Pat Doran (Dolton), driving his Citroen C4 originally built by Hansen Motorsport, and will be hoping to be the season’s fifth different winner on Saturday.

Driving his unique Mitsubishi Evo X, Steve Hill (Thame) was struck by mechanical problems at round one of the 2016 campaign at Croft but has increased his pace through the year and will be a podium contender this weekend, while Andy Grant (Barnstable) also has the pace to cause an upset in his Ford Focus.

Former rally driver James Grint (Kimpton) made his circuit racing debut in the Clio Cup at Brands Hatch recently but returns to rallycross action at Croft for both days of competition in his regular Albatec Racing Peugeot 208.

Hotelier Mad Mark Watson (Barnard Castle) is one of the most local drivers on the entry list and always has a large amount of supporters cheering him on at his home round of the year, the experienced driver campaigning his distinctive Citroen Xsara. Simon Horton (Clitheroe) also competes in his iconic Subaru Impreza.

Ford KA driver Tony Lynch (Wigan) heads to Croft on the back of an impressive season, but the MSA Supernational Rallycross Championship leader failed to finish the final at Pembrey last month with driveline issues. A solid result at Croft on Saturday will confirm Lynch as champion, while Paige Bellerby (Northallerton) is currently second in the points table, hoping to make it three home victories in a row. Bellerby is involved in a close battle for second in the points with another local driver, Guy Corner (Northallerton), racing his self-built Peugeot 206. Former Junior and Hot Hatch racer Joe Cunningham (Bedale) will make his return to rallycross this weekend in a Vauxhall VX220, while Gary Simpson (York) has tasted victory champagne at his most local circuit before and will hoping for the same this weekend. Other local drivers include Brian Jukes (Barnard Castle) in his ex-Michael Boak Audi TT TDi and Darren Grimston (Northallerton), racing his Vauxhall Nova.

The title fight in the MSA Junior Rallycross Championship is set to go down to a last round decider, with Sam Jones (Bexley) and Croft local Tom Constantine (Richmond) separated by just six points. While Jones leads the order, Constantine won at Croft in March. The pair won’t only have to beat each other this weekend but a host of other Junior racers, including third placed Tom Middleton (Maldon) and Tom Llewellin (Haverfordwest), who is so far unbeaten in the three events he has started. Matt Rainbow (Stafford) and Morgan Wroot (Doncaster) will also compete.

In the supporting rallycross cast, the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship has an entry of both strength and depth heading into the final round, as Nathan Heathcote (Ashford) closes on his first rallycross championship title. Simon Ovenden (Canterbury), Aidan Hills (Worthing) and Jack Brown (Barnsley) are also in title contention and fighting for the positions on the overall podium. Drew Bellerby (Northallerton) and Andrew Hawkes (Stockton on Tees) head the list of local drivers in the class, joined by Fraser Roberston (Richmond), who will make his series debut at his home round. Paul Prest and Emily Glanvill (Penicuik) will also make their Swift Sport debuts.

British F4 race winner Jamie Caroline (Warlingham) will make his rallycross debut in the RX150 Rallycross Championship this weekend, in which Chrissy Palmer (Chichester) is so far unbeaten and has already been crowned champion. Caroline will race the ODYSSEY Battery celebrity buggy, while Stephen Jones (Havant) and Jake Harris (Canewdon) will take the fight for second in the points down to the wire.

Brothers Kris and Keifer Hudson (Harrogate) will conclude their season-long fight in a final round decider for the BMW Mini Rallycoss Championship, while Bradley Durdin (Nazing) will be looking to score his second victory since joining the category in August. Reigning champion David Bell (Ferryhill) will share the ‘most local driver’ status at the event with father and daughter pairing Martin and Jennie Hawkes (Stockton on Tees). In the Hot Hatch Rallycross Championship, the title will be decided between Tomasz Wielgosz (London), Graham Rumsey (Tunbridge Wells) and Robert Potyra (Hounslow). Local driver Jason Bowes (Middlesbrough) will make his rallycross debut at the wheel of a Citroen Saxo.

The three most local drivers in the Super1600 Rallycross Championship are Michael Boak (Jarrow), Phil Chicken (Barnsley) and Craig Lomax (Knottingley), but it’s Tristan Ovenden (Canterbury) and Paul Coney (Dartford) who will fight for title honours at Croft. 2015 champion Lomax holds an outside chance of retaining his crown.

The final round of the Retro Rallycross Championship will support the MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix on Sunday (October 23), where two-time John Button Memorial Trophy winner Ray Morgan (Ford Escort) will almost certainly be crowned as the first Retro Rallycross Champion, among the strongest entry of the season. Barry Stewart (Barcombe) will race the Porsche 911 that won the first British Rallycross Grand Prix in 1982 at Brands Hatch and will challenge Morgan at Croft. The class will welcome a number of local drivers; father and son duo Terry Maynard (Stokesley) and Neil Maynard (Great Broughton) will race pair of Triumph TR8s, while another father and son pairing, Stewart and Jordan Bowes (Middlesbrough) will race their respective Mini Clubman and Volkswagen Golf. Mark Flaherty (Wokingham) will race his MG Metro 6R4.

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

Practice gets underway at Croft Circuit on both days (October 22 - 23) at 09.00, before the qualification races take place. The finals will conclude each day. Admission to Croft Circuit is £15 per day or £20 for a weekend ticket. Children 15 and under (accompanied) are admitted free of charge to the circuit.

Details of how to find Croft 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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