Kevin Procter (Northallerton) won the opening round of the MSA British Rallycross
Championship in association with Odyssey Battery at Croft Circuit (March 6). The Ford
Fiesta driver came out on top of a race long battle with Supercar debutant Dan Rooke
(Holsworthy), who won the MSA Supernational Rallycross Championship in 2015. Procter
qualified second at the Intermediate Classification and won the second semi-final to line up
on the front row of the grid between pole sitter Julian Godfrey (Heathfield) and Rooke.
Procter took the lead on lap one, before Rooke passed the former European Championship
event winner at Croft’s loose-surface hairpin at the end of the first tour. Procter regained the
lead in the same place on lap two and held off the attentions of Rooke’s Citroen DS3 until
the finish line.
“Today’s gone really well, the car’s performed faultlessly even if the driver was a bit rusty,”
said Procter. “Young Dan went really well, we had a great race. The final was spot-on. This
is a great start to my rallycross season.”
Rooke was delighted with second on his Supercar debut. “Wow, this is absolutely
incredible. We really weren’t expecting this at all, but to be on the podium is just fantastic,”
said Rooke. “Driving a Supercar is such an amazing experience, I want to get back in the
car right now.”
Former British Rallycross Champion Ollie O’Donovan (Iver) finished third, ahead of Dave
Bellerby (Northallerton), who made his inaugural start in an ex-Dermot Carnegie Ford
Fiesta. Steve Harris (Hillbridge) finished fifth in a second LD Motorsports Citroen DS3, while
another British Rallycross Supercar debutant, Jack Thorne (Tiverton), finished sixth in a
Ford Fiesta. Reigning British Champion Julian Godfrey suffered from mechanical problems
at the start of the final, he spun into the gravel at the first corner but recovered to finish
seventh, ahead of Simon Horton (Clithero).
Former MSA British Touring Car Championship driver Dave Newsham (Inverness) qualified
for the final on his debut Supercar appearance with the Power Maxed Racing team, but was
unable to start the final due to a misfiring engine. James Grint also made it through the final
before Albatec Racing had to withdraw its Peugeot 208 with technical problems.
MSA Supercar results: 1 Kevin Procter (Ford Fiesta), 2 Dan Rooke (Citroen DS3), 3
Ollie O’Donovan (Ford Focus), 4 Dave Bellerby (Ford Fiesta), 5 Steve Harris (Citroen
DS3), 6 Jack Thorne (Ford Fiesta), 7 Julian Godfrey (Ford Fiesta), 8 Simon Horton
(Subaru Impreza)
Bellerby opens 2016 Supernational account with victory
Lotus Exige driver Paige Bellerby (Northallerton) won the final of the MSA Supernational
Rallycross Championship at Croft, by winning the second semi-final to qualify for the
front row of the final, alongside semi-final one winner, Allan Tapscott (Umerleigh).
Bellerby made the best start and led the final from lights to flag, ahead of Gary Dixon
(Lincoln) and Guy Corner (Northallerton). Tapscott retired on the first lap with a broken
driveshaft.
“Track conditions were tough today, but we got through it. I won the semi-final and the
final, so it couldn’t be better,” said Bellerby. “There was a bit of pressure in the final but
there was no contact, only pressure. I can deal with that. This is a great way to start the
year, I hope it continues like this.”
The Supernational category was amalgamated with the BMW Mini Rallycross
Championship, Hot Hatch Rallycross Championship and Super1600 Rallycross
Championship for the opening round. Kris Hudson (Harrogate) finished fourth in the
final and claimed the BMW Mini honours, ahead of Robert Potyra (Hounslow), who
claimed the Hot Hatch victory. Craig Lomax (Knottingley) finished top of the Super1600
runners and scored maximum points.
MSA Supernational results (Including Hot Hatch / BMW Mini / Super1600): 1 Paige
Bellerby (Lotus Exige), 2 Gary Dixon (Vauxhall Astra), 3 Guy Corner (Peugeot 206), 4
Kris Hudson (BMW Mini), 5 Robert Potyra (Citroen Saxo), 6 Craig Lomax (Citroen C2), 7
Keifer Hudson (BMW Mini), 8 Allan Tapscott (Vauxhall Corsa)
MSA Junior Rallycross Championship
Constantine fights back for home victory
The first round of the MSA Junior Rallycross Championship was won by Tom
Constantine (Richmond), who fought back after suffering a broken gearbox and
steering in two of the three Qualifiers. Sam Jones (Bexley) dominated qualifying to start
on pole position for the final, from where he led until the end of lap five, when
Constantine took the lead to score victory at his home event. Matt Rainbow (Stafford)
finished on the podium after a race-long battle with Tom Middleton (Maldon). Cameron
Hawkes (Stockton-on-Tees) finished fifth on his rallycross debut.
“We had a tough day, the mechanics really made it for me today. I wouldn’t have made
the final if it wasn’t for them,” said Constantine. “I started on the back of the final but
pushed hard and just got Sam round the outside. This will be a competitive season,
there will be some good action I think.”
MSA Junior results: 1 Tom Constantine, 2 Sam Jones, 3 Matt Rainbow, 4 Tom
Middleton, 5 Cameron Hawkes
Hills claims Swift Sport Championship lead at Croft
Aiden Hills (Worthing) won the first final of the year in the Swift Sport Rallycross
Championship. Hills led the race throughout having won the battle to the first corner.
Jake Taylor (Retford) ran second in the opening laps but dropped to fourth by the
finish. Jack Brown (Barnsley) finished second with Nathan Heathcote (Ashford) third.
Reigning RX150 Rallycross Champion Chrissy Palmer (Chichester) dominated the
buggy category in qualifying, and the final. Stephen Jones (Havant) finished second
Jake Harris (Canewdon) completed the podium. In the Retro Rallycross Championship,
Ray Morgan (Hastings) stormed to first round victory in his Ford Escort ahead of
Middlesbrough pairing Terry and Neil Maynard.
Swift Sport results: 1 Aiden Hills, 2 Jack Brown, 3 Nathan Heathcote, 4 Jake Taylor, 5
Simon Ovenden, 6 Christian Hainsworth, 7 Drew Bellerby, 8 Andrew Hawkes
RX150 results: 1 Chrissy Palmer, 2 Stephen Jones, 3 Jake Harris, 4 Geoffery Dolan, 5
Adam Sargent, 6 Larry Sargent, 7 Chris Pretty
Retro Rallycross results: 1 Ray Morgan (Ford Escort), 2 Terry Maynard (Triumph
TR8), 3 Neil Maynard (Triumph TR8), 4 Lance Foster (Mini Clubman), 5 Stewart Bowes
(Mini Clubman), 6 Paul Smith (VW Polo), 7 Darren Grimston (Vauxhall Nova), 8 Ian Biagi
(Mini Clubman), 9 Dave Black (Vauxhall Astra), 10 Jordan Bowes (VW Golf)
Full event results can be found here.
http://www.rallycrossbrx.com/news/procter-wins-british-rx-season-opener-from-rookeand-
odonovan
Photographs available here.
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0
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Highlights of MSA British Rallycross Championship events will be broadcast on BT
Sport. Round one is provisionally scheduled for Saturday March 12, check listings
guides for details.