Pauwels takes the spoils at Lydden Hill
The opening round of the 2014 MSA British Rallycross in association with The Shannon Group, took place this weekend at Lydden Hill in Kent.
In the MSA Supercar class in association with Enersys, the heats provided some terrific action, over the two days but it was Koen Pauwels that took victory in his Ford Focus from the VW Sirocco of Joochen Coox. Julian Godfrey claimed third in his Ford Fiesta, while last years winner Kevin Procter was fourth, with Steve Harris fifth and LD Motorsport entrant Krystof Skorupski sixth. Jos Jasen had been running well, but brushed the inside of the track, which ended his run in the final.
In the Suzuki Swifts, the crowd were entertained by eventual winner Tristan Ovenden and Graham Rodemark who battled all the way through, with the former doing enough, under pressure from Rodemark to take the victory. Rob Maynard who drove well all weekend, finished a fine third, with Richard Dolan back in Rallycross once again taking fourth. Dale Cousins took fifth, and Jack Brown sixth.
In the RX150, Marc Scott took the win, but throughout the whole weekend was kept on his toes by James Grint, who finished second, and if this pair continue at this pace, there is set to be some very good races ahead this year. Kevin Feeney once again showed his guile by taking third, with Richard Moore fourth and Adam Sargant fifth.
In the MSA junior Swifts, it was Charlie Bean that took the win, but both he and Drew Bellerby battled all weekend, and there is no doubt that Bellerby will push him hard this year. Jake Taylor and Jennie Hawkes, impressed all weekend and ended up third and fourth respectively.
The Super 1600’s this year have more entries, and it was good to see both Andy Knowles and Jack Thorne finish well, along with the likes of Phil Chicken. Mike Jones and Paul Allerts were also in action at Lydden this weekend.
In the MSA Supernational class, the results are provisional, but it was Stuart Emery that took the win, after a fraught weekend in his Peugeot 206. Alan Tapscott took second with Gary Dixon this in his Vauxhall Astra GTE.
Once again the cars of Retro Rallycross entertained as well, and at the event Team Principal Shirley Gibson launched the John Button Trophy, recently featured in Motorsport News and the British Rallycross website.
In the Hot Hatch, Criag Lomax was the winner, in his Citroen Saxo, with Tomasz Marciniak second and Tomasz Weilgosz third.
The BMW Mini’s saw David Bell win from Rebecca Ryder.
Full Report to follow…….