Paige secures podium place at Lydden Hill
Paige secures podium place at Lydden Hill
Oversteer was a bugbear throughout the morning heats for FUCHS-backed Paige Bellerby at the Lydden Hill rallycross, but she nevertheless managed to handle it well enough to line up second on the grid for the Supernational final alongside Renault Clio driver Tristan Ovenden.
Her drive to second on the podium in the less powerful Lotus Exige was a model of restraint and car control.
Superbikes are go
There were mixed fortunes for our sponsored riders in the first round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.
It was a frustrating weekend at Silverstone for the Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki with Glenn Irwin and Ben Currie failing to finish race one, followed by an improved showing of 11thand 13threspectively in race two.
Scott Redding of Be Wiser Ducati found the podium in P3 in race one but failed to finish the second race.
Peter Hickman of BMW Smiths Racing recorded back-to-back P14s. Hicky said he was happy to get some points on the board early doors.
Ford takes Mini Challenge honours on Warcop rally
“That was a cracking event,” was the general verdict of the FUCHS Lubricants Classic Mini Challenge crews at the end of the Warcop Stages Rally, held last Sunday on the tarmac roads of the military ranges in eastern Cumbria.
The stages were in top condition in the dry weather, but fast and very difficult, as a retirement rate of more than a third of the total entry showed over the event’s six stages.
First round winners of the Challenge Rick Ford and Neil McDonald (Mini Cooper) led the Classic Mini challengers home, from the well driven standard Austin Mini of Martin Melling and Lewis Griffiths. Jim Brindle and Sam Bould led going into the rally, but had to retire in Service after stage three when they holed the sump.
The fourth round of the Challenge is the Manx National Rally (legs 1 and 2) on May 10thand 11th.
Disappointment for Bogie on Speyside Stages rally
David Bogie / John Rowan led the Speyside Stages rally for the first seven of the eleven stages before disaster struck on the eighth stage when the duo suffered broken steering on their Skoda Fabia R5, leading to, instant retirement.
The car will be repaired in the Carlisle workshops of FUCHS-backed rally team CA1 Sport before their next event, the Pirelli rally on Saturday 27thApril, the second round of the British Rally Championship in Kielder Forest.
Broken bolt scuppers Bellerby challenge at Lydden Hill
Drew Bellerby (BMW Mini) had a perfect start to her weekend at the second round of the British Rallycross Championship taking wins throughout the three heats and the semi-final of her class. She said after the heats: “I feel really comfortable in the car today, and Lydden is a good test of the car’s handling and driveability. This is a circuit that suits me.”
In the final, Drew lined up on pole with David Bell in second place, and Steve Brown on the outside. Going into Cheshunts she held second place, always close to leader Bell, but comfortable ahead of the chasing pack until she took her joker on the third lap, maintaining her second place. Bell took his joker on the next lap, and Drew gained the undercut on him to take the lead. Crossing the line onto the last lap Drew was still ahead until disaster struck on the right hander at Cheshunts when she sheared the bolt on the nearside trailing arm, pushing the wheel back into the arch and bending the sub frame, thus leading to instant retirement from the race.
“Don’t talk to me. Just. Don’t.” was all Drew could say when she got back to the paddock.
The third and fourth rounds of the championship are at Pembrey circuit in South Wales on 22ndand 23rdand May. By Tuesday morning, Drew had posted the following comment on social media
“Massive thanks to all the team for an amazing weekend, I’ll come back stronger.
“Yesterday was a tough day, but today I reflect on how I can get better I’m already mentally ready for Round Three.”
Brown takes heat win at Lydden Hill
Steve Brown returned from Belgium last weekend in time to take part in his second rallycross event at Lydden Hill, after a successful debut at Silverstone in March.
Still getting used to the practicalities of not being in sole charge of his own space on the circuit, he nevertheless held his own throughout first practice and the first two of the three heats and felt he was learning the circuit. In the third heat he took full advantage of his front row position on the grid, and took his first heat win. “
That felt really good,” he said later in the paddock. “I got my elbows out and was able to defend my line through the corners.”
This ensured him a place in the semi-finals where he was fast enough to secure a front row slot on the Final grid, from where he place a creditable fifth.
Elliott heads FUCHS LUBRICANTS BHRC into Pirelli Rally
Nick Elliott and Dave Price will head the FUCHS Lubricants Motorsport UK British Historic Rally Championship into the Pirelli Rally (27 April) after taking maximum points on the opening round, Rally North Wales at the end of March.
Elliott and Price always headed the BHRC contenders, although Joe Price/Chris Brooks were never far adrift as a fine performance from Stanley Orr/Grahame Henderson netted third overall and Category 2 victory. Category 1 went to the evergreen Bob Bean and Malcolm Smithson (Lotus Cortina).
Historic cars spanning the 1960s and 1970s will tackle the Kielder forest stages in the second of the seven-round calendar, which includes five gravel rallies and two asphalt events. As well as an on-going TV package, the championship will make extensive use of social media channels with a particular focus on Facebook and YouTube.
All edits will be published through the championship and Special Stage Facebook pages. In addition, the championship will feature regularly on Special Stage Weekly, the TV programme available on Front Runner, Sky Channel 468 and Freesat Channel 250.
(credit Paul Lawrence BHRC press officer)
Holden Racing take podium finish
Holden Racing UK managed a second place finish at Brands Hatch in the Classic Thunder & Blue Oval Touring Car Championship.
Alex Sidwell started in third but managed to sneak into second into the first corner, which is where he stayed until the chequered flag.
Richard Wood in his BJR VE had the edge throughout and took P1.
Excellent weekend for Bridgwater & Taunton College Motorsport
The FUCHS-backed Bridgwater & Taunton College Motorsport team enjoyed a successful opening weekend to the 750MC - Bikesports Championship at Donington Park.
Two race wins and a lap record sent the students home more than happy with their day’s work.
Easter Hot Rod action for M&M Motorsport
After a disappointing National Hot Rods Good Friday round at Skegness Raceway, M&M Motorsport had better luck at their home track, the Foxhall Stadium, on Easter Monday.
Gavin Murray’s 10th and seventh in the heats secured a sixth place starting place in the 35 lap final.
Grass can stop RB Motorsport
RB Motorsport continued their CNC Heads Saloons campaign at Cadwell Park.
The team finished first in class and recorded the fastest lap, despite a trip across the grass. That was good enough for sixth overall.
It was the same again in race two with first in class and P6 overall. The team had to work for this one, though, as the car directly in front nearly stalled on the grid, meaning a diversion across the grass to avoid a big shunt. A few places were lost, but the team eventually got them back.
Harrison takes debut win
Kawasaki Team Green’s Harrison Greenough took his debut race win in the MX Nationals UK in the MXN Gaerne Small Wheel 85cc Championship.
That was enough to give him a podium finish overall on his KX85 small wheel.
