Seven days in rallycross, January 2

Super1600 champion in the French Rallycross Championship Jean-Baptiste Dubourg will race a Supercar this year after acquiring the Citroen C4 raced by Davy Jeanney over the last three years. Dubourg raced a Renault Clio run by DA Racing and Deslandes Sport and won five of the nine events in 2013, taking the Super1600 title ahead of David Olivier and Adeline Sangnier. Dubourg, currently taking part in the Andros Trophy, will tackle a full French championship season and selected FIA World Rallycross Championship events in the C4. “To take the wheel of a Supercar has always been my number one goal and I am very pleased with the agreement between the JSA [Jeanney’s team] and DA Racing. The Citroen C4 is a very good car, just look at the performance of Davy Jeanney driving it. Supercar is the future class with the arrival of [World championship promoter] IMG internationally. Last year my program Rallycross was finalised only a few weeks before the first race so I’m very happy to be ready so early for 2014 and can’t wait to get started in the C4,” said Dubourg.

Toomas Heikkinen is among the nominees in the Sports Personality award organised by Finnish TV channel MTV. The rallycross driver is one of 16 athletes listed for the awards, F1 star Kimi Raikkonen also nominated. The award is open to public vote and you can take part by clicking here.

The Swift Sport Championship is running one of its popular try-out days this weekend. For as little as £39 anyone can sample one of the championship’s Suzuki Swifts at a test venue near Silverstone. In a new move for 2014, the series has reached agreement with the English Rally Championship and the BRSCC to allow Swift drivers to use their cars in rallies and races as well as rallycross, offering maximum use out of a single competition car.

We are sorry to report the death on December 29 of Anita Wadge (50) who had been ill for some time and succumbed to pneumonia having suffered another stroke. Well known within British rallycross, Wadge had been a marshal for many years and was chief marshal for a large number of events, including those at her home track of Blyton. The funeral takes place at Scunthorpe Crematorium on January 8, family flowers only, donations can be made to the BRDC Benevolent Fund via J Naylor Funeral Directors in Scunthorpe or through the BRDC. To her family and many friends, we offer our sympathies.

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