MSA British Rallycross Champion Dermot Carnegie will seek to extend his amazing winning streak by looking for his seventh event win when he tackles rounds eight and nine of the championship at his home Mondello Park circuit next weekend (October 9/10).
After bering forced to retire from the opening round of the championship when the engine in his Ford Focus Supercar failed,Carnegie (Dublin) has fought back into contention by winning the following six events. Carnegie is now just 20 points behind championship leader Lawrence Gibson who has scored points in all seven events held to date. Gibson (Banbridge) has finished second to Carnegie five times this year but has yet to score an event win.
As the ten round championship moves into its closing stages, Carnegie and Gibson are on their own in the title battle but both will have to work hard for glory in the two Mondello Park events where Pat Doran, John McCluskey and Mike Manning also start as potential winners.After missing three rounds, Doran (Milstead) returned to the championship in round seven at Lydden on August Bank Holiday Monday and took third place in his first event with his new Ford Escort Supercar.
McCluskey (Dublin) has missed the last two events in the championship but will be keen to make up lost ground and regain a place in the top three with his Peugeot 306 Supercar.Manning (Carmarthen) is the current Irish Champion, having pipped Carnegie in the Mondello-based championship last winter. Technical problems with his Escort Supercar have kept Manning out of action for much of the British Championship season, but having posted strong results in rounds six and seven, the Wales-based Englishman is anxious to continue his good run at his favourite track.The two-wheel drive only SuperModified cars are also eligible for British Championship points and with five Supercar and five SuperModified drivers featuring the championship top ten is equally split. Dave Bellerby (Northallerton) is third overall and best of the SuperModified racers.
BRDA Rallycross ChampionshipThe concurrent BRDA Rallycross Championship, which is open to drivers in all four main classes, is led by Adrian Horsley who has already put his name to the Stock Hatch class title.Horsley (Redcar) has driven his Citroen Saxo VTR to victory in the Stock Hatch A Final in all seven events run so far. As the BRDA series counts a driver's best seven scores from ten events, he cannot be beaten to the class award. Horsley can, however, be pipped in the overall BRDA title race as Minicross champion-elect John Binks (Gosforth) is only 20 points behind and already has five wins to his credit.Gibson is best of the Supercar runners and holds third place overall, ahead Minicrosser Matt Roach (Thundersley). In eighth place overall, Allan Tapscott (Umberleigh) leads the SuperModified category.
Junior Rallycross ChampionshipThe Junior Rallycross Championship also features on the British Championship programme. Catering for 14 to 16-year-olds driving controlled specification 1.0-litre Minis, the championship's first seven events have produced three different winners.The championship leader is Ash Davies (Cwmbran) who has won twice and holds a 60 point lead over second placed Jonny Greer (Belfast), the winner of round three.The most successful driver of the year has been Joe Powis (Hereford) who has scored four wins but is placed third in the championship as he failed to score points in round two. While the top three fight for championship honours over the last three rounds, Andrew Jordan (Sutton Coldfield) is intent on retaining his position as best newcomer in the championship. Currently placed fourth, Jordan is ahead of more experienced rivals including Jason Pritchard (Builth Wells) and Ashley Simpson (York).
Event detailsMSA British Rallycross Championship, rounds eight and nine, Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 OctoberMondello Park (Naas, County Kildare)Practice 0900, racing from 1030Admission: Adults _15 each day (weekend pass _20) children up to 16 free
