When the Swift Rallycross Championships descended on South Wales for their annual visit to Pembrey, everybody knew the racing was going to be fierce.

Coming into the weekend, Chis Mullen was the man to watch having previously secured back-to-back victories in Holland and Scotland. Tristan Ovenden still headed the standings but reigning champion Graham Rodemark was hungry for his first win of year.

With a full line up, each of the three heats would be run over two separate races. Rodemark was quick to gain the early advantage, winning his first heat but the chasing pack was not going to let him have it all his own way. Although Rodemark, Ovenden and Mullen were favourites, series returnee Darren Scott was straight back on the pace in his Suzuki Swift too.

For newcomer Nathan Heathcote, his day looked to be over by heat one when his Swift developed engine problems, however, reigning Champion Rodemark who was running Heathcote on the day, risked his championship chase by special arrangement allowing Heathcote to share his car in the second grid of heats in order for him to not miss out on his first experience of Rallycross.

The 17 year old did not waste this unforeseen opportunity and giving the most impressive performance of the day, in only his third start, Heathcote took the lead from chasing Rob Maynard and kept his cool to cross the line first. Revelling at seeing his first chequered flag in a Swift Rallycross event, Heathcote was on the side lines for the final as Rodemark had to defend his title. Ovenden used the heats to his advantage, winning two of the three to put him on pole position for the final, ahead of Rodemark and Mullen.

Spectators were spoilt for choice with who to watch in the Swift final. All eyes were on the front row as the lights went green for the five lap final. Into the first corner, as all eight swifts fought for the same line it was Rodemark that emerged, although somewhat sideways in the lead. Ovenden and Mullen were all over him followed by Scott, as great battles formed between Maynard and Jack Brown and new Swift Racer Dave Ellis found his way past Mark Dodsworth.

As the field started their second lap, Mullen was threatening Rodemark while trying to keeping an eye on Ovenden chasing at his heels. As the Yorkshireman tackled the latter loose section, an uncharacteristic mistake caused him to take to the grass allowing Ovenden past and dropping him back into the clutches of Scott. Just as Rodemark thought he could sit back and take it to the line, a sudden loss of power concertinaed the surprised chasing Swifts. Revs restored, Rodemark was back on the pace and managed to retain the lead to see his first chequered flag of the season.

Ovenden’s remains at the top with his second place, while Mullen’s third keeps the championship standings tight at the top with just six points separating them.

Can the Canterbury Racer stay at the top of the table as the British Rallycross Championship heads back to his home track at Lydden Hill on August bank holiday Monday? Join us there to find out.



Current Standings

Tristan Ovenden - 71

Graham Rodemark - 68

Chris Mullen - 65

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