North Yorkshire driver Kevin Procter is set to challenge on three fronts as the 2016 international Rallycross season roars into life next weekend at his local Croft Circuit.
Having not contested a full season in 2015 due to acquiring and subsequently developing the latest Ford Fiesta S2000 purchased from World Rally Championship team M-Sport, the businessman from Leeming Bar near Northallerton now plans to use the ex-Nasser Al-Attiyah ATM-prepared car in both selected rounds of the MSA Odyssey Batteries British Rallycross Championship, starting at Croft on March 6th, as well as the FIA European Rallycross Championship which kicks off at Mettet in Belgium on 14/15th May.
In addition, Procter will contest two rounds of the prestigious FIA World Rallycross Championship at both Lydden Hill in Kent on May 28/29th as well as at Lohéac in France on September 3/4th.
Briton Kevin Procter debuting his all-new Ford Fiesta Mk7 with at Lohéac last season. © JKR/ERC24
Despite not contesting all the rounds last year, Procter still managed to claim third place in the 2015 MSA British Rallycross Championship following a dominant display in the final round at Croft last October so is hoping for a repeat at his local track.
In the European Rallycross Championship, which he has contested for a number of seasons, Procter is best remembered for his astounding performance at Dreux in France back in 2012 when he became only the third driver in history to win the ‘A’ Final after winning the preceding ‘C’ and ‘B’ finals in his Ford Focus.
With Procters Luxury Coaches and Coach2.com backing the Procters Motorsport Team’s bid for glory in 2016, it promises to be a busy year, especially with a trip to SOL Rally Barbados also planned in the summer whereby Procter will be wheeling out the recently acquired ex-Euan Thorburn Ford Fiesta S2000 for the annual Caribbean event.
Kevin Procter – “With swapping cars at the end of 2014, last year was always planned as a bit of a development season and we knew we would have to spend some time getting the new WRC-specification Fiesta competitive in Rallycross. Neil and the team at ATM Engineering have done a great job and we are ready for a full season so thanks to them and our sponsors, Procters Luxury Coaches, for the opportunity to compete this year. We will do as many of the British rounds as possible, which don’t clash with the ERC and am looking for a good result at our home round of the World Championship at Lydden Hill in May also. A good performance at Croft next weekend would be the perfect start to our British Championship, but there’s an awful lot more competition this year so it won’t be easy.”
Top Photo: Procter (right) pictured here in hot discussion with Guttorm Lindefjell. © JKR/ERC24