he countdown to the 2004 MSA British Rallycross Championship began with the launch of the new Wildtracks-Newmarket venue.
The 900-metre circuit will host rounds of the championship in July and September and received a positive assessment from British champion Dermot Carnegie: "Wildtracks is very different from most of the tracks in the championship, it's a lot smaller than other circuits and runs anti-clockwise. It's hard work to drive but a lot of fun. A track like this gives the championship some extra variety and it will be a great track for spectators because the whole lap is within their view," said the Dublin-based Ford Focus driver.Runners up in the 2003 championship, Pat Doran (Maidstone) and Will Gollop (Canterbury) were among the other drivers who sampled the Wildtracks circuit and gave the thumbs up to the Suffolk venue.
"It's a good little track, one that is likely to shake up the established order and give some surprise results," said Doran.
Gollop added: "The nature of the track is much like that of the smaller circuits in Europe and I think it will produce some very close action."
Organised by the British Rallycross Drivers Association, the 11-event MSA British Rallycross Championship starts at the StenaLine Ulster Rallycross Festival which comprises events at Kirkistown on Saturday March 27 and Nutts Corner on Sunday March 28.
Although Kirkistown is Northern Ireland¹s oldest Rallycross track, the first event took place in 1970, it has not hosted an event since 1990. Following a complete renovation of the loose-surface sections, Kirkistown is ready to host the prestigious opening round of the British Rallycross Championship.
"The track is quick and flows nicely. There are a couple of good overtaking place so it should produce some good racing," said Supercar Peugeot driver John McCluskey (Dublin) after being the first driver to drive the revamped circuit.
Following events at Lydden, Knockhill, Croft and Mondello Park, the championship will conclude with the high-profile championship finale at Brands Hatch on October 31.
British Rallycross Championship 20041 Saturday March 27 Kirkistown, County Down 2 Sunday March 28 Nutts Corner, County Antrim 3 Monday April 12 Lydden, Kent 4 Sunday May 30 Knockhill, Fife 5 Sunday June 20 Croft, North Yorkshire 6 Sunday July 25 WildTracks-Newmarket, Suffolk 7 Monday August 30 Lydden, Kent8 Sunday September 19 WildTracks-Newmarket, Suffolk9 Saturday October 9 Mondello Park, County Kildare10 Sunday October 10 Mondello Park, County Kildare11 Sunday October 31 Brands Hatch, Kent
- The BRDA Rallycross Championship and the Junior Rallycross Championship run concurrently with the British Rallycross Championship at the above events.
- The British Rallycross Drivers Association also organises the eight-round BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship which is aimed at new racers and those competitors operating on a tight budget.
