Successful outing at Pembrey for Bellerby Motorsport

FUCHS-backed rallycross driver Drew Bellerby scored her first win of the season at Pembrey on the second day of a scorching double header at the Welsh circuit.

Drew got off to a flying start on the first day with an assertive but controlled drive to second place in her first heat and followed it up with steady, learning-the-lines drives in her second and third heats to progress safely to a front row grid slot in the first semi-final.  A slowish take off from the start line saw her drop briefly down the order but then she upped her pace to pick off Durdin and Hawkes on the next three laps.  She took her joker on lap five then on the last lap had a titanic battle with eventual winner Kris Hudson to finish less than half a second behind him.

For the Saturday Final, Drew found herself fourth on the grid, behind the Hudson brothers Kris and Keifer, and David Bell, with Durdin and the Hawkes duo behind her. A stunning joker run on the second lap brought her back onto the track in front of Keifer Hudson, and she then set about a fascinating duel with Bell, which ended after six laps with him in second behind Hudson, but a mere 0.3 sec in front of Drew.

After the podium Drew said: “I’m pleased with the way I’ve improved today, and I’m driving with more confidence, the car feels fantastic. Thanks to Dad, Kev, and Thomas for their hard work!”

Sister Paige meanwhile, was returned to her Lotus Exige (Pictured) after its engine upgrade and she started the learning curve from Supercharged to normally aspirated with the new Honda engine.  Her confidence (and speed) improved throughout the three qualifying heats, and she started the Super National Final in fourth place on the second row of the grid.  Unfortunately, a small off on the second lap dropped her down the order, and she finished in sixth.

On Sunday, the track was reversed to run anti-clockwise, which is a unique feature within the British Rallycross Championship.

Both Drew and Paige like the circuit in this configuration, and it was obvious throughout the day as first Drew, then Paige, stormed through the heats to their respective Finals, and took podium places.

Drew took her place on the front row of the grid, sandwiched between Keifer Hudson on pole and David Bell making up the third place, but Drew got a blistering start straight off the line, and was able to put Hudson immediately onto his joker lap.  From there, Drew took the lead and drove a controlled race to the winning line.

Afterwards, Drew could hardly contain her excitement; “Overwhelmed, on cloud nine and thankful are a few emotions which come to mind as I finish 1st in BMW Mini class, Round 5 at Pembrey circuit. I’m so grateful to my crew, and to my sponsors FUCHS Titan Race, Procter’s Coaches, Mad4Mini, 710, Yokohama, Ripla. This would not happen without you!!” 

In her final, Paige was fifth on the grid, but another assertive race saw her take both Coney and Corner because of her superb lines out of the corners, and she was satisfied with her drive to a well-deserved third on the podium.