Watson and Haug win at Croft as World RX graduates prepare for Argentina

Citroen Xsara driver Mad Mark Watson won the final round of the BTRDA Rallycross Championship at Croft. Watson won all three heats and the final, while Jack Thorne (Ford Focus) made his Supercar debut at the event and finished second. Gary Pusey (Subaru Impreza) finished third and secured the 2015 Supercar category title. Norwegian Herbjorn Haug (Ford Puma) dominated the SuperModified category in a brand new car. He led the race from lights to flag. Belgian Jos Sterkens (Volvo C30) finished second with Guy Corner (Peugeot 206) third. John Ward (Peugeot 106) won the Production category and in the process wrapped up the overall BTRDA Clubmans title. Martin Peters (Citroen Saxo) and Tomasz Marciniak (Citroen Saxo) completed the podium. Kris Hudson won the BMW Mini category, while Jordan Bowes (Mini) won the Historic final.

Kevin Hansen tested an OlsbergsMSE Ford Fiesta at Loheac ahead of his Supercar debut at the Argentine round of World RX next week. The Swede won the prize drive by claiming the RX Lites Cup support category this season. “It’s been great fun and I really enjoyed it. I have driven a few laps before in a Supercar, but this was my first real full test day. It gave us a good start, and I have learnt how this car works,” said Hansen, who completed 40 laps in the car at Loheac. “The Supercar is easier to drive [than an RX Lites car] in many ways, but everything happens SO much faster. It’s an explosion when you hit the throttle, and you need to find a good rhythm to get the gear changes and driving perfect. It will be hard and challenging, but also great fun. My main target is to get as many laps as I can on a consistent level, and try to find the speed to be in a semi-final fight. And from there everything can happen.”

Also competing in the final round of World RX and making his Supercar will be Norwegian Thomas Bryntesson, who will drive a Marklund Motorsport VW Polo at the event. Bryntesson won four rounds of the RX Lites Cup from six starts in his debut season, and impressed regular Marklund driver PG Andersson and Marklund Motorsport. “I’m really thankful to PG Andersson and Marklund Motorsport for giving me this opportunity, it makes me really happy that they believe in me,” said Bryntesson, who tested a Polo at Holjes recently. “My first impression of a Supercar was that they are great to drive and so fast. To start with I need to learn and to get some good experience in a Supercar, then we will see how the speed is.”

Austrian Janis Baumanis will make his first start for the World RX Team Austria squad in Rosario, taking the place of team owner Max Pucher, alongside Manfred Stohl. Baumanis won the Super1600 title in Italy last month, but has also competed in three World RX events in a Peugeot 208 and won the Estonian Rallycross Championship in a Ford Fiesta Supercar. “I think that Manfred and I will have good cooperation and he will help me to understand the car faster. I’m sure that all of the team will help me and I will do my best for them,” said Baumanis.

The annual Race of Champions takes place this weekend – the 2015 edition of the event taking place at the former Olympic Stadium in London. World RX championship leader and reigning champion Petter Solberg returns following his victory as Team Nordic last year with Le Mans star Tom Kristensen, while the British Rallycross Championship RX150 buggies will be in action as one of the vehicles used by the host of stars. An insight into the Race of Champions will be published on rallycrossworld.com in the coming days.

Several rallycross paddock members were present on Wales Rally GB, the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship. Euro RX driver Ole Christian Veiby won the WRC3 and JWRC categories in a Citroen DS3 R3, while World RX championship leader Petter Solberg was present to be awarded the ‘Rally Legend’ title for his success on an event he won four times in his WRC career. The Swedish JC Race Teknik team were in action, running a Ford Fiesta R5 for Fredrik Ahlin, older brother of former RX Lites driver Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky.

Lydden Hill in the UK will host a rallycross event on January 2^nd. The venue previously held rallycross events on New Year’s Day and will revive the tradition for the start of 2016, which will encompass all of the classes run in the MSA British Rallycross Championship. The circuit will use the event to raise money for Cancer Research UK. “Lydden Hill be kicking off the new year in style, and what better way to do it than to raise money for charity,” said circuit Manager Paul Robinson. “The New Year rallycross bash event has been a favorite in previous years, so we wanted to revive it, and use it as an opportunity to give something back at the same time.”

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