The Yorkshire-man Kevin Procter claims victory in the first round of MSA British Rallycross Championship held at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire, with victory taken after a hard fought battle with Supercar debutant Dan Rooke.
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.”
Procter: “The final was spot-on. This is a great start”. © QBA/ERC24
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.
Albatec Racing’s James Grint. © Rallycrossbrx/ERC24
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)
Find the Full Supercar Results here.
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)
Top Photo: Procter claims victory in the first round of the British Rallycross Championship. © Rallycrossbrx/ERC24