The ‘Home of Rallycross’ Lydden Hill was hit by a range of weather conditions for the second round of the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy, the rain-hit extreme wet circuit turning to sunny and dry later in proceedings, and it was reigning champion Patrick O’Donovan who prevailed to extend his championship lead (April 10).

Ollie O’Donovan (Proton Iriz) started on pole position for the Supercar final, the former title-winner having won semi-final two ahead of Jack Thorne (Peugeot 208), while Patrick O’Donovan (Peugeot 208) was beaten to semi-final one victory by Belgian visitor Viktor Vranckx (RX2e) with his all-electric machine.

As the lights went green in the final, Ollie O’Donovan led the charge into turn one, but was half-spun across the pack to the outside of the loose-surface corner, Vranckx taking the lead ahead of Thorne and Patrick O’Donovan.

After the circuit’s jump on lap one, Patrick O’Donovan overtook Thorne in Devil’s Elbow, then Vranckx up Hairy Hill to seize a lead he would never relinquish, while Thorne and then Ollie O’Donovan also overtook Vranckx, both at the hairpin on successive laps, the pair joining Patrick O’Donovan on the final podium. Tristan Ovenden (Citroen DS3) got the better of both Roberts Vitols (Citroen C4) and an ailing Vranckx to finish fourth.

Motorsport UK Supernational Rallycross Championship

Slawomir Woloch (BMW M3) scored a second successive victory in the Supernational final, leading the class throughout the day. Belgian racer Dave Van Beers finished second with his Renault Clio and netted top front-wheel-drive honours in the process, while Phil Chicken (Citroen C2) completed the podium.

Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship

Tyler Mcalpin claimed a second Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship career victory, following his round one win on Saturday, but it was a close-fought final with local driver Will Ovenden on Easter Monday. Ovenden jokered first, then pushed hard to close the gap on the race leader, Mcalpin taking his extra-route on the final lap and just edging ahead at the line to win. Corey Padgett finished third after an intense battle with Ryan Smith.

Swift Sport Rallycross Championship

Kirk Twyman made a brilliant start in the Swift Sport final, but it was reigning champion Max Weatherly who led from the outset and was never headed en route to a repeat of his round one win. Former Junior and Supernational Rallycross Champion Paige Bellerby challenged Weatherly early on and finished second, while Chris O’Hara was third, the latter pair having taken their jokers on the opening lap of the final.

RX150 Championship

Nick Priddy made the best start in the RX150 Rallycross final to lead the way in the opening laps, as pole-starter Stephen Jones had a poor getaway, but when Priddy retired mid race, and Jones overtook rallycross commentator Andrew Coley with his joker lap strategy it was former champion Jones who took the race win. Coley finished second – his first rallycross podium – while reigning champion Ben Hardy was third.

BMW Mini Rallycross Championship

Ben Sayer ran second on the opening lap of the BMW Mini final to round one winner Dave Bellerby and was the first of a pack of cars to take an opening-lap joker. Sayer was soon back onto the rear of leader Bellerby, then on the third lap moved into the lead when Bellerby also jokered. Behind the battle for the win, James Constantine ran third early on as David Ellis overtook Charley Moroney in the joker lap section on lap one, but then retired. In the latter stages Leigh-Anne Sedgwick held third, until a puncture handed Moroney the final podium spot.

Edward Stallard won the All4 Mini final for the second round in a row, as reigning title-winner David Bell overtook reigning Junior RX Champion Max Langmaid for second but lost out to Stallard for the win having led the race early on.

Retro Rallycross Championship

Jos Sterkens led an amalgamated Super Retro and Retro Rallycross Championship final from the front of the order on the opening lap, but would retire on the third tour with technical problems. That handed the advantage to Super Retro round one winner Lee Wood, who drove to victory. John Cross (Lancia Stratos) finished second of the Super Retro runners, while Gary Simpson (BMW M3) recovered from a half-spin in the final to be third. Tony Lynch (Toyota MR2) took top honours in the Retro Rallycross class ahead of Ford Escort driver Dan Swayland.

The third and fourth rounds of 5 Nations BRX take place at Mondello Park, Ireland (June 3 – 4).

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