Procters Luxury Coaches MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix In Association With Star Radio - Croft Circuit - Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th October 2012
The very best of British drivers will have to contend with a notable foreign challenge when the Procters Luxury Coaches MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix in association with Star Radio takes place at Croft Circuit this weekend as nearly 90 drivers will converge on the North Yorkshire circuit for the two-day extravaganza.
In the SuperCars class, Belgium's Jos Jansen will be in action in his Ford Focus where he will line up against Finnish driver Silvo Viitanen (ERC Fiesta Mk7) but the pair will have to face a very strong British challenge headed by local ace Kevin Procter in his Ford Focus.
Procter, from nearby Leeming, won the Superprix equivalent back in 2009 at Croft but has never lifted the MSA Grand Prix title so where better than this year when his own transportation company is sponsoring the event. Former GP winner Pat Doran will be a major threat in his Citroen DS3 as will 2011 British Champion Julian Godfrey (Ford Fiesta) and both will be looking to run the GB1 plate on Sunday as the destiny of the 2012 crown will be decided at Croft on Saturday.
Welshman Mike Manning makes a welcome return in his Ford Puma looking for victory but will face stiff opposition from the Ford Focuses of Andy Scott and Andy Grant as well as the Citroen C4 of Steve Harris in a quality SuperCar field that also includes Colin Anson (Ford Ka) and the Subarus of Simon Horton and Gary Pusey.
In the 16-car SuperNational category, Belgian Jos Sterkens is one of the favourites for honours in his Volvo C30 ERC Touring Car where he'll take on Yorkshireman Ash Simpson in the Lotus Exige he has just secured the British Championship in. But it's far from a two horse race as the likes of Devonian Alan Tapscott (RWD Corsa), Belgian visitor Dieter Van Gorp (Opel Astra), the mighty Volvo S40 of Ulsterman Don Shannon and Kent driver Stuart Emery (Peugeot 206 Turbo) will all have a say. Poles Witold Starobrat (BMW) and Robert Czarnecki (Citroen Saxo Kit Car) should prove competitive, as will West Country driver Steve Cozens in his Lotus Exige.
Teesside driver Martin Peters will square off with Irishman Andrew Twomey in the Hot Hatch class with fellow Citroen drivers from Yorkshire including Brompton's Darren Grimston and Bedale's Tim Ramsay also in the mix. Polish drivers Slawamir Woloch and Tomasz Weilgosz should go well but the man they will have to beat will be last year's winner Joe Cunningham which has seen the Bedale driver put in a late entry in his Peugeot 106.
The popular Suzuki Swift Series sees Northallerton ace Johny Bean take on Leeds driver Chris Mullen for the title on Saturday so no doubt battle will be resumed on Sunday as 13 cars fight it out including 16-year-old Paige Bellerby from Northallerton and series front runners Graham Rodemark, Tony Lynch and Belgian Kris Fruru. One name to watch is Robert Shield from nearby Cleasby who makes his Rallycross debut and follows in the footsteps of his father Michael who was a former Croft champion.
14-year-old Charlie Bean is one of the favourites for honours in the Suzuki Swift Junior class and will take on Pickhill's Spencer Scaife and in the BMW Mini category, Harrogate's Kris and Kiefer Hudson will be battling with Ferryhill driver David Bell and Dutchman Fons Picavet amongst others.
Double Suzuki Swift champion, Northallerton's Dave Bellerby is favourite for the Super 1600 class and Mark Scott leads the RX150 buggies in what should be some exciting racing. Also in action will be a dozen cars from yesteryear in the Ripla Retro Rallycross class including legend Rob Gibson (MG Metro 6R4), the Lancia Delta Integrale of Greg Kalinecki.
In addition to the Grand Prix on Sunday, most drivers will be contesting Saturday's final round of the Monster MSA British Rallycross Championship to make it an action packed weekend. With sideshows including trade stands and a live band on Saturday evening, it's shaping up to be a weekend not to be missed.
As well as Procters Luxury Coaches, additional sponsorship has come form from Solo Thermal Imaging, Maktrak, Allerton Court Hotel, Oak Tree Garage, SHC, BCS Print & Promotion and RGPS. Fox Motorsport Events are bringing a 'Rally Village' with varying stalls and merchandise and in addition, there will be a selection of car clubs on display including Lancia Stratos Owners, GT4 Owners and RS S ST Owners Club North East. Help for Heroes will have a presence alongside a North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Demonstration and a public bar and catering stalls will be available both days.
Adult ticket prices are 8 on the Saturday and 15 on the Sunday or 18 for a weekend ticket with children aged 15 and under admitted FREE and more information can be found at http://www.croftcircuit.co.uk/
