Seven days in rallycross, March 13

The new rallycross track at Blyton Park hosted the delayed first round of the BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship, the first event of the year in Britain. The track, which included part of the original loose section from the previous version of the rallycross layout at the venue, also became the first rallycross track in the UK to include a jump, which was well received by competitors. There were 42 drivers in the event, including many newcomers to the sport. Experienced Vauxhall campaigner Allan Tapscott took the victory with his supercharged rear-wheel drive Supernational Vauxhall Corsa that he spent recent years developing. Local man Gary Dixon (Vauxhall Astra E) chased him home with Gary Cook (MG ZR) completing the podium. John Lyne headed Martin Peters and Chris Harper in the Production category while Keifer Hudson beat brother Kris to BMW Mini honours. Craig Trulove was the sole entrant in the Classic Mini category.

Aspiring rallycross racer Ramona Karlsson was has been placed fourth in a list of the top ten most important women in motor sport. Leading Swedish daily newspaper Aftonbladet published the list which is topped by former WRC event winner Michelle Mouton. Fourth-placed Karlsson is ranked ahead of Claire Williams and Susie Wolff.

The RX Lites control formula that will run on the support package at some rounds of the FIA World Rallycross Championship has confirmed a seven-event calendar and a prize of a fully funded Supercar drive in the final World RX event of the year in Argentina for the winner of the series. Events will take place in Portugal, Britain, Finland, Sweden, Canada, Italy and in Turkey where the RX Lites are built by Avitas Motorsport.

Twice an event winner in last year’s FIA championship and now a Ford driver at OMSE, Andreas Bakkerud has spent the last month getting his eye in ahead of the season. “I ‘ve had one week of testing on ice in northern Sweden, I drove 1000 km with a kart in Italy and we had a week of testing in France. It has been hard, but also important to be prepared in the best possible way,” said Bakkerud.

Talking ahead of a four-event campaign in the FIA World Rallycross Championship new VW recruit Tanner Foust summed up the appeal of World RX, “I’ve raced rally, sports cars, off-road… and rallycross has it all: I love the combination of dirt, asphalt, jumps and door-to-door racing. It’s like a real-life video game and there’s nothing else like it. The cars are insanely fast, and getting more fun to drive every year as the technology steps up. It’s also exciting to be able to race with drivers who come from so many other racing disciplines. It’s a sport where everybody brings a different toolbox of strengths to the race. I’ve lined up beside second-generation rallycross drivers, skateboarders, Formula One drivers, IndyCar pros, WRC champions… and we’re all different, and we’re all capable of winning. You don’t find competition like that anywhere else,” he said.

Cooper Tires has been confirmed as the single supplier of tyres within the FIA World and European Rallycross Championships. The de facto control tyre in the FIA championship for many years through its Avon brand, Cooper Tires will supply its popular bespoke rallycross tyres to drivers in all categories.

Ahead of the British Rallycross Championship getting under way at the end of the month, the Swift Sport Championship is running another of its open test days this weekend. Driving experiences start from as little as £39 and include Junior sessions for drivers from 12-years-old.

Asmund Holten, younger brother of Daniel, will race a Supercar Lite in the Rallycross Supercar Scandinavia series. With Daniel already scheduled to run the series in an OMSE Supercar Fiesta, Asmund will now follow him across the border to Sewden, but also hopes to be able to run his TouringCar Citroen DS3 in a few rounds of the Norwegian national championship at home.

Catherine Chartrain, wife of formidable French championship star Laurent, has acquired a Renault Twingo Cup car and will make her racing debut this year in the new Coupes des Dames (Ladies Cup). “It all started with a joke at the awards ceremony, and finally I said to myself ‘Why him and not me?'” said Mrs Chartrain.  

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