• World Rallycross front-runner Reinis Nitiss joins British RX entry list 
• Enthralling Bank Holiday Monday action at sport’s spiritual home
• High-octane thrills, flame-spitting cars and local heroes complete the bill

One of the leading lights from the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy will make his debut in the MSA British Rallycross Championship in association with the Shannon Group at Lydden Hill on Bank Holiday Monday (31 August), as Reinis Nitiss revs up for a blast in a buggy.

With the 2015 campaign racing towards a nail-biting conclusion across British Rallycross’ various classes, Nitiss’ appearance will inject further excitement into a sport that is already grabbing headlines on an international scale.

The Latvian – a World RX event-winner – will not be behind the wheel of his usual OlsbergsMSE Ford Fiesta ST Supercar, but rather will take to the track in an RX Racing RX150 Buggy for the first time. Nitiss has previous experience of competing at Lydden Hill in both World and European RX, and he is palpably pumped-up for the opportunity.

“I’m really looking forward to racing at Lydden Hill, but it won’t be easy because I have never driven a buggy and there will be no time for me to test before the event,” he reflected. “I’m sure the British guys are really fast, but I hope I can get up-to-speed quickly. I’m really pleased to have been invited to race.”
 
Nitiss will find himself pitched against no fewer than ten RX150 rivals as he prepares to go wheel-to-wheel around rallycross’ spiritual birthplace. BARC General Manager Ian Watson reflects that the 19-year-old’s participation is a real coup.
 
“It’s great that Reinis will be joining British Rallycross at Lydden Hill,” he affirmed. “RX Racing has worked hard to make this happen, and a lot of thanks must go to [RX150 championship co-ordinator] Ollie O’Donovan for his help in this too.
 
“To have someone from the World Rallycross Championship compete in British Rallycross shows the progress that we are making in the promotion of the sport, and I am sure that Reinis’ appearance will be a treat for everyone on Monday.”
 
Indeed, there will be action aplenty throughout race day at Lydden Hill, with battles brewing in every class as competitors face off in the seventh round of the 2015 campaign. With fast-and-furious racing guaranteed, the tension will be palpable as the season speeds towards a dramatic climax.
 
Nowhere is it more competitive than in MSA Supercar in association with Odyssey Battery, where five drivers are duking it out for title glory. World Rallycross wildcard Andy Scott triumphed in Kent back in April as he went on an early-season rampage in his Peugeot 208, but the Albatec Racing ace has since been overhauled by defending British Champion Julian Godfrey in his Ford Fiesta off the back of three victories from the last four outings.
 
Just 13 points separate the pair arriving at Lydden Hill, with O’Donovan – fresh from contesting the Norwegian round of World RX in Hell – Andy Grant and Kevin Procter all waiting eagerly in the wings and poised to pounce on even the slightest of slip-ups. There will also undoubtedly be a rapturous reception for former British and European Rallycross Champion Pat Doran in his Citroën DS3.
 
There is a similar bumper entry in MSA Supernational, with Daniel Rooke, Gareth Wood and Allan Tapscott embroiled in a tight tussle at the top of the standings and local heroes Stuart Emery (Faversham) and Vince Bristow (Hastings) eager to crash their party on home turf.
 
Craig Lomax is the man to catch in Super 1600, but the returning Mark Gamble will look to keep the runaway pace-setter firmly on his toes, whilst there is a tremendous entry in the Swift Sport category.
 
Canterbury’s Tristan Ovenden, Darren Scott from Sittingbourne and Deal’s Rob Maynard occupy three of the top four spots in the championship classification – with Jack Brown the sole interloper in the internecine Kent battle in second. MSA General Secretary Simon Blunt – more accustomed to racing a Jaguar XJS in the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club Championship – will also enter the fray as he makes his rallycross debut.

Sittingbourne’s Paul Maybourne is another local star in the BMW Mini / Hot Hatch class, whilst there will be further thrills ‘n’ spills from the MSA Junior Swifts, RX150 Buggies – boosted by the additions of Nitiss and World RX commentator Andrew Coley – and the ever-popular Retro Rallycross, bringing together some of the sport’s most iconic cars in the shape of an MG Metro 6R4, Porsche 911, VW Beetle and Escort BDA amongst other evocative machinery.
 
What’s more, throughout the day on Saturday (29 August), British Rallycross cars will be on display in Canterbury High Street. Tickets will be available for Monday's racing priced at just £15, or can alternatively be purchased either online or on the gate. Accompanied children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge. See www.lyddenhill.co.uk for further details.
 
Live streaming for the event can be found here
 
For more information on the BARC, visit www.barc.net

Further details about British Rallycross can be found at www.rallycrossbrx.com

Godfrey extends advantage with Pembrey victory
 

• Reigning champion maintains mid-season MSA Supercar momentum
• Wild cards Kristian Sohlberg and Jann Mardenborough put on a show
• Fans treated to wheel-to-wheel racing on sunny south Wales day

Defending title-holder Julian Godfrey extended his narrow advantage in the MSA British Rallycross Championship in association with the Shannon Group by triumphing in the sixth round of the 2015 campaign at Pembrey – with spectators treated to non-stop, nail-biting action throughout.

Early morning rain gave way to a day of brilliant sunshine in south Wales, and following the conclusion of the heat races, the tension truly mounted ahead of the all-important finals.

In the MSA Supercar class in association with Odyssey Battery, it was Godfrey on pole position in his Ford Fiesta, courtesy of a hat-trick of good heat times. Alongside him was the Peugeot 208 of Albatec Racing team boss Andy Scott, with Ollie O’Donovan rounding out the front row in his Ford Fiesta. Andy Grant lined up on row two in his Ford Focus, with the Mitsubishi Evo 10 of Steve Hill completing the grid.

From the off, it was Godfrey in command, getting the jump to lead into the first corner. He was pursued by Scott and O’Donovan – both of whom, along with Grant, took their jokers immediately – with Hill in fifth.

By the end of the opening lap, Hill had overhauled Grant for fourth, but up front, Godfrey and Scott were already locked into a battle for victory of their own.

Of the leading duo, it was Scott who took his joker first, managing to rejoin still in second whereupon he set off in pursuit of Godfrey. Although on occasion he closed him down, Godfrey had a big enough margin to be able to joker on the fifth lap and stay in front right the way to the flag.
 
“Today was all about making sure we got a good finish, and that we did,” reflected a delighted Godfrey once the chequered flag had fallen. “It helps our title challenge.”
 
“It was always going to be tough to beat Julian here when he was on pole,” mused Scott, content with the runner-up spoils. “Pembrey is a difficult circuit but I drove well, and the team did a great job running the two cars we had.”
 
O’Donovan dropped back to fourth when he picked up another puncture in his Fiesta – having suffered a similar issue in an earlier heat – allowing Grant into third place, while mechanical issues meant Hill did not finish the race.
 
Engine dramas thwarted Kevin Procter, who was a non-starter for the final, as was Kristian Sohlberg in the second Albatec Peugeot 208. The Finn had impressed spectators with his style and speed, but issues with the car during some of the heats and fumes entering the cockpit spelled an early bath. Steve Mundy in the Ford Focus was another to non-start.
 
In the MSA SuperNational class, Gareth Wood in the Ford Ka cut the deficit to championship leader Daniel Rooke by winning the final ahead of local hero Mike Howlin in his Ford Fiesta. Steve Cozens drove well to take the glorious-sounding Renault Clio into third place.
 
Rooke had been on the front row of the grid for the final, but gearbox woes stymied his progress and restricted him to fifth at the flag, having managed to hold the car in third gear to ensure a finish. Todd Crooks had been on the front row along with Wood and Rooke and finished fourth, while Stuart Emery endured various engine problems throughout the day, and a morning engine failure in her Lotus Exige ended Paige Bellerby’s hopes for any kind of result.
 
The MSA Juniors saw Bradley Durdin head home Drew Bellerby after a closely-fought final, with Sam Jones taking third. Bellerby held onto her championship lead by just four points as the next round at Lydden Hill in August beckons.
 
In the Swift Sports, it was Aidan Hills who took another win, this time heading home championship leader Tristan Ovenden. Hills made a good start from the front row as did Ovenden, and they battled for the lead to the end of the race.
 
Jack Brown pushed Ovenden all the way through the final before settling for third, while Rob Maynard finished fourth with Darren Scott fifth. Although Ovenden holds a 25-point lead, the next four places are blanketed by just 24 points, ensuring that the fight is far from over.
 
Craig Lomax won the Super 1600 class, while in Hot Hatch it was Tomasz Weilgosz that prevailed in his Peugeot 106. He headed home the Citroën Saxo of Tomasz Marciniak, with the similar car of Robert Potyra placing third.
 
In the RX150 Buggies, there was a late entry in the form of Tony Bardy, who joined Nissan star Jann Mardenborough in a great final. Mardenborough impressed all day, and led the final for several laps. However, a series of spins by several of the front-runners allowed championship leader Chrissy Palmer to come through to assume control, which he retained to the flag. Stephen Jones finished second, as Mardenborough recovered to take third.
 
Retro Rallycross also provided some superb heats during the course of the day, and in the final it was the Porsche 911 of Barry Stewart that triumphed from the MG Metro 6R4 of veteran Rob Gibson. Ian Shelley took third overall in his Mini after a great tussle with Stewart Bowes, with Paul Smith winding up fifth. 

Championship title race heats up ahead of summer spectacular at Pembrey

• Title battles poised to reach fever pitch in south Wales
• Former WRC star makes British Rallycross debut at Pembrey
• Flame-spitting Supercars headline action-packed programme

The MSA British Rallycross Championship in association with the Shannon Group will travel to south Wales this weekend (19 July), as competitors prepare to race around the fast and challenging Pembrey Circuit for the second time this season.

In an action-packed double-header at Mondello Park in Ireland last time out, the resurgent British Rallycross Championship produced some thrilling battles across every class. There is little doubt that the mantle will be picked up at Pembrey in round six of the championship this weekend.
 
Following the trip across the Irish Sea, reigning champion Julian Godfrey leads the way in the MSA Supercar contest after edging ahead of World Rallycross wildcard Andy Scott, who had a torrid time by his impeccably high standards. Scott will be looking to reclaim supremacy before he leaves Wales and at Pembrey he will add further artillery to the Albatec Racing armoury. Former Mitsubishi works driver and World Rally star Kristian Sohlberg will gain his first taste of British Rallycross as he gets to grips with his Peugeot 208 ahead of European outings later this year.
 
After claiming his first win of the season in his new Ford Fiesta, series sponsor Ollie O’Donovan is back in the title hunt and will be eager to add to his victory tally at the Carmarthenshire venue this weekend. As well as the top three in the championship, other protagonists in the marauding pack of 600bhp monster machines will include Andy Grant (Ford Focus), Kevin Procter (Ford Fiesta), Steve Hill (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10), ‘Mad’ Mark Watson (Citroën Xsara T16) and Steve Mundy (Ford Focus). 

In the bumper MSA SuperNational field, the season-long ding-dong duel between Daniel Rooke (Citroën AX) and Allan Tapscott (Vauxhall Corsa) is set to enter another chapter at Pembrey while Gareth Wood (Ford Ka) and Paige Bellerby (Lotus Exige) sit in third and fourth respectively and continue to rein in the duo in front. One driver who will be looking for the support of the home crowd is Haverfordwest’s Mike Howlin (Ford Fiesta), who will hope to use local knowledge to climb the table from his current seventh place.

Craig Lomax is the runaway leader in the Super 1600 category in his ‘pocket rocket’ Citroën C2, while Tristan Ovenden remains on top in Suzuki Swifts with Darren Scott, Jack Brown and Rob Maynard in hot pursuit.

And if those series are not enough, the British Rallycross Championship round at Pembrey will be topped off with Hot Hatch / BMW Minis, Swift Juniors, single-make RX150 Buggies and the always entertaining Retro Rallycross legends. All will do battle on the gravel and asphalt of the Llanelli venue.

Pembrey Circuit Manager Phil Davies is excited to be welcoming the British Rallycross Championship back to south Wales.

“The British Rallycross Championship has seen a genuine rejuvenation in 2015 and it is a real coup for Pembrey to host this short, sharp and thrilling racing spectacle," he enthused. "This weekend certainly promises to be a real classic.

“Rallycross cars are incredible, especially the 600-horsepower Supercars – they make light work of the gravel and are blisteringly quick on the Tarmac. They are phenomenal. For any petrol head, they have to been seen to be believed!”