BRITISH RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
O’donovan limps to a win in the final – just
By Hal Ridge Organiser: British Automobile Racing Club/ Lydden Hill Motor Club When: May 6 Where: Croft Starters: 68
Former British Rallycross champion Ollie O’donovan claimed a dramatic victory in the third round of the series at Croft, crossing the finish line on three wheels to beat Mark Higgins by less than 0.1s.
Starting from the middle of the front row in the final, O’donovan led for the opening two laps until third-placed Steve Hill was forced to slow with an engine problem. Julian Godfrey made contact with Hill’s Mitsubishi Evo, sending Godfrey’s car into a violent crash ( see above).
At the restart, polesitter Andy Scott jumped the lights and was subsequently demoted to the back of the grid. That left O’donovan as the sole remaining front-row starter.
O’donovan maintained his advantage into the first corner. The Irishman then led the final throughout, fending off the attentions of Higgins. In the final corners, contact between the pair resulted in O’donovan being forced wide.
Further side-by-side contact broke the left-rear wheel off O’donovan’s Ford Focus, and he and Higgins crossed the finish line as O’donovan spun onto the infield. Albatec team owner Scott completed the podium.
With Godfrey only being classified in sixth, Higgins’ second place moves him into the points lead, while O’donovan climbed to third overall.
Mad Mark Watson finished in fourth in the final, albeit some way behind the leading trio. Steve Mundy was unable to take the start due to an issue with his Ford Fiesta in pre-grid for the final.
Tristan Ovenden won the Supernational final, leading home local drivers Guy Corner and Paige Bellerby, while Tom Constantine beat younger brother Luke to secure victory in the Junior category. In only his third event, Ben Sayer was top of a battle for third.
Former European Championship event-winner Kevin Procter made a guest appearance in the RX150 buggy category and finished second behind championship leader Chrissy Palmer.
Two-time British Rally champion Jonny Milner, who started his career in rallycross also made a guest appearance in the category and finished third, despite visiting the Turn 1 gravel trap after first corner contact. Morgan Bailey claimed his second Swift Sport victory in a row,
while David Bell took the BMW Mini win. Barry Stewart won the Retro final in his Porsche. Results
British Rallycross (6 laps): 1 Ollie O’donovan (Ford Focus); 2 Mark Higgins (Peugeot 208) +0.061s; 3 Andy Scott (Peugeot 208); 4 Mad Mark Watson (Citroen Xsara); 5 Steve Hill (Mitsubishi Evo); 6 Julian Godfrey (Mitsubishi Mirage).
Supernational (6 laps): 1 Tristan Ovenden (Renault Clio); 2 Guy Corner (Peugeot 206) +2.142s; 3 Paige Bellerby (Vauxhall VX220); 4 Craig Lomax (Citroen C2); 5 Gary Simpson (BMW E30); 6 Darren Scott (Citroen C2). MSA Junior (5 laps) (All Suzuki Swift): 1 Tom Constantine; 2 Luke Constantine +2.150s; 3 Ben Sayer; 4 Morgan Wroot; 5 Patrick O’donovan; 6 Matilda Procter. Suzuki Swift (6 laps): 1 Morgan Bailey; 2 Tom Llewellin +4.083s; 3 Dominic Flitney; 4 Rob Maynard; 5 Christopher Scott; 6 Rob Shield. RX150 (6 laps): 1 Chrissy Palmer; 2 Kevin Procter +15.229s; 3 Jonny Milner; 4 Dave Bellerby; no other finishers. BMW Mini (6 laps): 1 David Bell; 2 Martin Hawkes +1.412s; 3 Bradley Durdin; 4 Drew Bellerby; 5 Leigh-anne Sedgwick; 6 Rob Methold. Retro (4 laps): 1 Barry Stewart (Porsche 911); 2 Ray Morgan (Ford Escort) +0.941s; 3 James Harrold (Volkswagen Beetle); 4 Mark Finch (Ford Fiesta); 5 Ian Biagi (Mini Clubman); 6 Gary Dixon (Vauxhall Astra).