Bakkerud gets gold. Tohill ahead in BRX. Karai in Hungary.

7 November / Two days of British Championship action concludes at Lydden. Roberts Vitols (Citroen C4) won the first day of the event double-header, the young Latvian winning the day-night race that formed round six of the 5 Nations BRX Championship. Vitols led home Jack Thorne, who had a good weekend in his recently acquired ex-Albatec Peugeot 208, and Derek Tohill (Ford Fiesta). The same three formed the top three in the second day of racing, but this time it was Thorne who won the event while second placed propelled Tohill into the lead of championship. Vitols paired third place in round seven with his Saturday victory.

The supporting championships ran a single event across the two days of the weekend, Jason Bleasdale (Vauxhall VX220) taking a narrow win over Paige Bellerby (Lotus Exige) in the Supernational championship in which Karl Jarvis was third in his Renault Megane. Max Langmaid was again best of the Junior Rallycross field, Will Ovenden placing second ahead of Max Watt. Max Weatherley got the better of top qualifier Luke Constantine to win the Swift Sport final. Jos Sterkens claimed the Retro Rallycross win in his highly modified Ford Escort MkI while Steve Cozens (Citroen AX) was the 1600cc class winner and Andy Grant (Ford Focus) held off Steve Harris’ Ford RS200 to win the Group B and 4WD final. Patrick O’Donovan was again best of the RX150 field and Dave Bellerby topped the BMW Mini final.

7 November / Tamas Karai wins the final round of the Hungarian Rallycross Championship at Nyirad to become champion again. Karai was fastest in all three qualifiers, Laszlo Kiss (Peugeot 208) qualifying second but dropping out of the event in semi final two as Mate Benyo took the win and went on to challenge Karai in the final. Zoltan Vass (Audi A1) completed the top three finishers. The SuperTouringCar category’s three capacity classes were won by Karl Schadenhofer (VW Golf IV) who topped the over 2000cc section, Janos Robert Repasi (Skoda Fabia) who was best of the 2000cc section and Gergo Kormoczi (Suzuki Swift) who dominated in the 1600cc class. Damian Litwinowicz (Audi A1) took the win in the slender Super1600 class and Levente Kaczor led home Adam Kelo Gere and Moric Csermely to top the Junior order. The Astra Cup was won by Kisharsanyi, the Swift-based Hankook Racer Cup was won by Kristof Csuti. Dominik Vasko was best of the Swift Hybrid RX Cup field, Csanad Szabo won in the 1400 Cup final and Konrad Neveri topped the order in the MX5 Cup class.

7 November / The Norwegian ASN, the NBF, honours Andreas Bakkerud by awarding him its Gold Medal of Merit. The award was presented during the 100th anniversary dinner of NMK Bergen, Bakkerud’s local motor club. the newly crowned FIA European Rallycross Champion, Bakkerud was present to celebrate the club of which he remains an active member and was surprised by his personal award. “This was big and very surprising. I am incredibly grateful and proud to have received such an award from the association, said a moved Andreas Bakkerud from the stage during the anniversary party,” said Bakkerud who regularly trains and coaches young drivers at the local Eikas Motorsenter, “I am incredibly proud of my club, the environment and all the fantastic volunteers who show up. So I am happy to be able to give something back,” said the three-time European Rallycross Champion.

7 November / The RACB announces on its website that the 20-21 November event at Mettet will form the final round of the Belgian Rallycross Championship because the event planned for Spa-Francorchamps on 4-5 December has been cancelled. The Spa event was also scheduled to form the final round of the 5 Nations British Rallycross Championship.

This weekend / Nitro RX reconvenes at Wild Horse Pass for it’s third event of the year and the Irish Rallycross Championship contnues at Mondello Park on Sunday.

For our full guide of where to watch rallycross this year see the link below. This is updated regularly but remember to check with event organisers before travelling, even if events are on there may be restrictions on public access.

Pics: 5 Nations BRX, MNASZ, NBF, RACB