The 2024 5 Nations British Rallycross Championship begins this weekend on the birthplace of the game, Lydden Hill. 14 Supercars are entered for the double header occasion that may kick off a condensed calendar.
Sequence organisers have listened to suggestions that 2 abroad journeys per 12 months was too burdensome. To fight this the championship will host 6 weekends of competitors with every class racing 5 occasions. For the Supercar class this implies 3 conferences at Lydden Hill with an occasion at Mondello Park and Pembrey every. In an additional bid to attract in bigger entries at each spherical, dropped scores might be eliminated. This can forestall drivers from having the ability to freely skip an occasion with out consequence.
After Cooper Tires ceased manufacturing at their UK plant they have been unable to proceed supplying the paddock. MRF have been introduced in as a part of a multi-year deal. With restricted testing for almost all of entries it stays to be seen who can become familiar with the brand new rubber.
Supercar Calendar
Drivers
Patrick O’Donovan – Ford Fiesta
The reigning double British Rallycross champion will return to his 2022 title profitable Fiesta for the opening 2 weekends of the season. {The teenager} took a clear sweep of occasion wins that he contested final 12 months within the staff’s European occasion profitable Peugeot 208.
“I’ve lots of good recollections from racing the Fiesta two years in the past. It’s removed from essentially the most fashionable automobile on the grid. It’s going to be aggressive. I at all times goal to win although, so we are going to embrace the problem. The automobile is completely different to drive in comparison with the 208, which is at the moment being rebuilt at SCM.” instructed 5 Nations BRX.
Since lifting the crown final 12 months he took a podium on his World Rallycross debut earlier than racing within the Nitrocross finale. The entire staff stays uncommitted as to which collection they are going to race on this 12 months.
Ollie O’Donovan – Proton Iriz
The 2007 champion and father of Patrick has set his sights on one other title. The Proton he’ll race has skilled teething troubles all through its 2 12 months lifespan. Nevertheless, after being re-shelled final summer time and with some testing the automobile has begun to indicate its true potential. It helped safe the Irishman second place within the standings final 12 months after selecting up 3 class podiums within the ultimate 3 rounds.
“We’re getting on high of the Proton now. Racing alongside Patrick is at all times particular. I don’t know the way for much longer it is going to simply be me and him collectively, so I’ll get pleasure from these occasions. We’re 100% confirmed for the primary two weekends, after that is a bit more unsure. I definitely wish to take the combat for the title.”
Tristan Ovenden – Citroen DS3
The Kent native will embark on his fifth season with the staff’s DS3. He suffered a number of setbacks final 12 months however fought on to be tied on factors for third place. Ovenden has received at Mondello every of the final 2 years and hopes to hold that efficiency to Lydden Hill and Pembrey.
“Much like final 12 months there are a couple of small developments primarily round automobile dealing with. It’s nonetheless a reasonably difficult factor to drive simply due to its [transmission] structure. Towards [Irish drivers] we’ve been there and overwhelmed them a few occasions, we haven’t been truthful off the Proton. We’ll see what different new vehicles there are. You’ve at all times received an opportunity”
Julian Godfrey – Citroen DS3
Final 12 months Godfrey took possession of the LD Motorsport DS3. Reliability proved to be a difficulty however flashes of velocity got here by means of, the spotlight being a win in Eire. Now with extra time poured into the automobile the engine builder and tuner is trying to be persistently difficult for wins.
“The plan is to do all of the rounds. It’s a must to be a bit extra aggressive with the DS3 [compared to the Fiesta]. It took a short while to study that fashion. Hopefully have much less time repairing the automobile and focus on driving it.”
Steve Harris – Mini Countryman
Final 12 months it was Harris’ son Jake who campaigned the electrical Countryman on the majority of rounds. With the youthful Harris taking a step again to deal with his household this 12 months it leaves Steve Harris to drive the automobile as soon as once more.
“I’m attempting to do the entire season. I’ve solely completed the primary spherical [of 2023] and we’ve modified various suspension and diff set-up. That’s what I’m attempting to do [score podiums] however I’m older, my reactions are slower [than Jake] so I’m simply going out for the enjoyable issue.”
Michael Sellar – Volkswagen Polo
Since 2020 the Kent driver has raced an ex-Hvaal Citroen DS3. Now for 2024 he has bought an ex-Kristofferson Volkswagen Polo from Ales Fucik. For Sellar he will certainly be aiming for an elusive first podium having completed 4th twice since his return to the 5 Nations paddock. A full season marketing campaign is predicted.
Steve Hill – Mitsubishi Evo10
Hill enters the automobile he has pushed for over a decade now. Final season he competed on the trio of Lydden Hill occasions. Over the previous 2 years he has additionally returned to rallying. With newer time behind the wheel you’ll be able to count on to see the skilled racer decide up the items ought to any points befall his rivals.
Dom Flitney – Volvo C30
After buying the automobile in 2021 Flitney has continued to realize expertise with the distinctive automobile. Nevertheless, in that point the automobile’s potential has been held again because of an older drivetrain being put in. Now the automobile might be at full energy whereas the driving force is healthier ready for every occasion.
Flitney mentioned to five Nations BRX “Since I received the Volvo not all the pieces has actually been in place for issues to go how I would love. This 12 months it’s completely different. I’m getting outdoors assist with making ready the automobile, which can make an enormous distinction. For myself I’ve made modifications too, a part of that’s racing a Cross Automotive. Simply to get me seat time, to be sharper than I used to be coming to occasions.”
Flitney will miss this weekend however is predicted to attend the remaining occasions.
Oliver Bennett – BMW Mini
A double British occasion winner in 2022, Bennett will look to repeat that success on the opening weekend of the 12 months. Xite Vitality’s Mini which was beforehand raced in World Rallycross and Nitrocross has seen sporadic entries domestically since. Now the automobile has had a full engine rebuild he must be one to look at throughout the Easter weekend.
Colin Anson – Mitsubishi Mirage
Anson has taken massive steps in a bid to problem the entrance runners within the Supercar class. He drove a Ford KA and Opel Astra final 12 months however each have been bought and changed. The automobile was initially developed by Spencer Sport in 2017.
“It’s a really particular automobile, all the suitable stuff, gearbox, suspension, and engine. Godfrey had a large roll within the automobile in 2018. They re-shelled it and it’s solely completed 1 or 2 conferences since. It hasn’t been run since 2019. Contact wooden it’s going to be pretty able to go. I’ll construct up myself within the automobile, right away I’ll know the way far I can push it.”
He has dedicated to all 4 rounds on the UK mainland with hopes of racing in Eire, although provided that there’s minimal work to do after the opening weekend.
Michael Leonard – Ford Fiesta
The Irish driver stepped as much as Supercar for the primary time final 12 months competing within the Irish championship. He took a number of wins en-route to second within the collection whereas additionally competing at Lydden and Pembrey as soon as every.
“It was my first 12 months in a Supercar final season so it was heaps to get my head round and we received so near profitable the Irish Championship, in order that was nice. I’m wanting ahead to going again at Easter the place hopefully we are able to have a clear weekend and be there within the combine. My plan is to race within the full 5 Nations BRX and Irish Championships, and a few European occasions too,” he mentioned to five Nations BRX
John McCluskey – Ford Fiesta
McCluskey is one other driver set to compete on each side of the Irish sea. Nevertheless, this marks a return to the collection during which he has 5 victories, the final of which got here in 2005. He’ll compete in an ex-OMSE Ford Fiesta that gave him his return to rallycross final 12 months. He has already taken occasion wins within the automobile and the affable driver is properly positioned to problem for wins within the UK.
“I really feel much more assured within the automobile now, in all probability driving the automobile to 90% of its means. Actually enthusiastic about our return to Lydden, the place I received my 1st UK outright win. We received’t relaxation till we’re competing for the outright win. Our first ambition is to win the Irish or British title.”
Gary Donoghue – Ford Fiesta
Finishing the trio of Irish Fiesta drivers is Donoghue. The New York based mostly competitor entered rallycross final 12 months and now he’s trying to compete within the opening 3 occasions of the season. Sadly he’ll miss spherical 2 on Monday because of a household occasion.
“I’m going to compete in Mondello and Lydden for the July spherical. Then I’m truly going to go over and do 2 Nordic rounds in Denmark and Germany. I’m simply trying to have enjoyable. If I’m going fairly good in 5 Nations I would try to do the August spherical [at Pembrey] on the best way again. I’ve been to Lydden twice, about twenty years however by no means pushed.”
Ian Barrett – Volkswagen Polo
Irish circuit and rally driver Barrett will debut in Rallycross this weekend. He has purchased one other KMS Polo that was raced by Johan Kristoffereson in final 12 months’s RallyX collection en-route to the title. The 6-time World champion affectionately named the automobile “Killer Pig” because it proved a worthy car. He has been tipped by fellow Irish drivers to be on the entrance come the tip of this occasion. He might be assisted by some KMS staff members this weekend.
Talking to five Nations BRX, “We received the automobile from Sweden final week, it’s been absolutely rebuilt and I’m excited for Lydden Hill. We’ve no time for testing in any respect, will do the perfect we are able to and most significantly, get pleasure from it! We’ll do the primary weekend at Lydden, then go to Mondello and return to Lydden in July, and see how we’re getting on.”
He’s trying to compete in Europe as properly.
Nick Priddy – Citroen DS3
The RX150 race winner will step as much as the Supercar class after buying Sellar’s Citroen DS3. MAS Motorsport will proceed to run the automobile for Priddy alongside Sellar’s new Polo. Nevertheless, because of the automobile needing new components Priddy received’t compete till Lydden Hill in July.
“We’ve received automobile, it wants some primary tidying and we’re engaged on some updates to the engine. I’ve had a good time racing the RX150 however I’m positive Supercar might be a complete new expertise. I want I’d completed this years in the past.” he instructed 5 Nations BRX.
Further Entrants
Presently double digit entries are anticipated at each spherical this 12 months. Different drivers could compete later within the 12 months although it stays to be seen who and when these drivers enter. The efficiency degree has been stepped up and with Patrick O’Donovan returning to the staff’s older Fiesta it leaves victory realistically open to over half the grid.
Motion kicks off with Observe on Saturday morning earlier than a full day’s racing with the identical once more on Monday 1st April.
