Albatec Racing secured its first podium of the season in round two of the 2016 MSA British Rallycross Championship in association with Odyssey Battery at Lydden Hill, Kent over the weekend. Briton James Grint in the team’s #27 Peugeot 208 RX Supercar easily progressed through three qualifying races and the semi finals, to finish third in an action-packed, six-lap Final at the spiritual home of rallycross.

The two-day event got underway with practice on Easter Sunday, where the Dumfries outfit was keen to put behind it the disappointment of Croft’s opening round. Lining up in the second of the day’s opening three Supercar qualifying races, 25 year-old James suffered a hit from another car at the start, which brought out the red flag and forced a race restart. Finishing second in his race placed him third overall, however a faster final race meant he dropped to sixth overall in the overnight standings.

In the second qualifying race on Monday he finished eighth fastest overall, and in the third and final qualifier, ninth to guarantee a place in the semi finals. In that he made a great getaway to trail first round winner Kevin Procter into the first corner. Electing to take his joker at the mid-point, he subsequently dropped to third which he held to the flag.

Amid a quality eight-car field in the Final, a commanding performance from the Hertfordshire racer saw him catapult into second place from the inside of the back row, passing three cars around the outside into Chessons Drift. An error on lap two saw the young charger hit a kerb, pitching him into a spin, and dropping him down the order. However, a sterling recovery moved him back up to third to take his first podium of the season and elevate him to fourth in the standings.

Rounds three and four of the MSA British Rallycross Championship take place at Pembrey, Wales over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend Sunday 1 May/Monday 2 May.

MSA British Rallycross Championship points after two rounds:

1. Dan Rooke 572. Kevin Procter 533. Ollie O'Donovan 484. James Grint 415. Mark Flaherty 406. Dave Bellerby 40

Andy Scott, Team Principal Albatec Racing :

“I’m delighted for James to secure his first podium finish after all his efforts this weekend. He drove very well, he was fast and committed, and I’m sure it won’t be long before he takes his first win. We overcame many challenges at Lydden, and it’s great to see the car handling so well. During a relatively quiet April, we embark on a testing programme ahead of the next round at Pembrey, and the opening rounds of French and Euro RX, where we remain committed to producing a car capable of challenging for outright victory.”

James Grint, driver Albatec Racing :

“It’s great to make the final this weekend after disappointingly missing out in Croft, and nice to have a decent result on the board for my championship bid. In the Final, the 208 was an absolute pleasure to drive, it had so much grip, it was awesome. I’m incredibly happy with the set-up of the car, and very excited about testing this week, so hopefully we can return to Pembrey next month in peak performance.”