British Rallycross driver Dan Rooke returns to Lydden Hill this weekend - the venue of his first ever victory in the MSA British Rallycross Championship and is targeting a repeat performance [31 August].

In his maiden season in the sport, Citroen AX driver Rooke currently leads the highly competitive SuperNational championship by 14 points, having claimed three podium finishes. A strong points haul at the penultimate round of the series this weekend would strengthen his chances of leaving the final round at Croft in October as champion.

“I've been looking forward to returning to Lydden Hill ever since I took my first win there. I really enjoy the track; it’s great fun to drive with some very fast corners that make for some exciting racing. This is the track that everyone wants to win at - if I could get my second win there it would be great. But, if that is looking out of reach, I will focus on gaining as many points as possible for the championship,” said Rooke. “We have solved the gearbox problems we had at the last round and I am certainly thinking of the championship now. You always go into an event wanting to win but it would be very easy to throw it all away by making a silly mistake. I need to keep focused!”

Driving the Dan Rooke Racing Citroen AX, Rooke thinks experience gained by reaching the final of the RX Lites Talent Search in May will assist him this weekend. “I think driving the RX Lites car will have helped for sure. Any seat time at the track will always help, but after having some tutoring from the OlsbergsMSE drivers I feel more ready to take on the challenge.”

Rooke recently became a member of the coveted MSA Academy scheme in the UK, a programme designed to help young drivers develop as they progress their way up the motorsport ladder into a full time career. In his first day with the programme, Rooke was guided though a series of exercises at Porsche Human Performance and joined sessions led by MSA Performance Coaches on the marketing aspects of motorsport. “Being part of the academy has really helped me to develop already. I have an exciting opportunity to drive a different car later in the year if I can put the finances together. I’m really looking forward to my next day with the MSA to help increase my knowledge,” he concluded.

The MSA British Rallycross Championship is aired live on Livestream and broadcast following the event on British Eurosport. Find out full details on the MSA British Rallycross Championship website, here.

British SuperNational Rallycross Championship Standings (after 6/8 rounds)

1 Dan Rooke – Citroen AX - 181
2 Gareth Wood – Ford KA - 167
3 Allan Tapscott – Vauxhall Corsa - 161
4 Tony Lynch – BMW Mini - 148
5 Stuart Emery – Peugeot 206 - 140
6 Paige Bellerby – Lotus Exige - 135
7 Mike Howlin – Ford Fiesta - 134
8 Todd Crooks – BMW Mini - 114
9 Gary Simpson – BMW 325 - 92
10 Slawomir Woloch – Ford Fiesta - 88

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