British Rallycross Championship: Round 1, Lydden Hill 16 & 17 March 2013

The new rallycross seasons blasts off in style shortly. I'll be heading to Lydden for Saturday 16th (only ) and wondered if any of you guys were heading there as well? Would be neat to meet up with some of you there.

Doors open at 9 and the last on-track action should be 6pm, possibly earlier. On Sunday, the action starts early afternoon, 12.30ish, so I fugured there will be more action to watch on Saturday and the finals on Sunday will be televised anyway.

Importantly for me, the Ripla Retro Rallycross guys will be there with their classic machinery. Will be interesting to see what new cars have been dusted off over the winter to join in the on-track fun. Rumour has it that an Anglia may be there along with Quattros and Escorts plus the other runners and riders from last year's inaugural season, including Rob Gibson's evergreen (yellow?) MG Metro 6R4. Bring it on!

Cheers, Steve

Can't make it to this opening round, but hope to be at Lydden for opening round of the European Rallycross on April 1st

Hi Simon, sorry to hear you can't be there - strangely enough, I had 'noticed' the Eurpean Round on Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. I'd love to be there for one day (or both!) but, and it's a big but I think my family have expectations that I'll be around then - my daughter is dancing at Sadlers Wells and I don't want to miss that and haven't yet perfected the technicque of being in two places at once. Yet!

Rallycross will be back at Lydden for the August Bank Holiday weekend, so maybe we can meet there again then?

You may have spotted a favourite saying of mine: '.... but, and it's a big but'. At work, I have dared collagues to use the expression first in meetings before I do. Helps keep everyone awake!

Cheers, Steve

I'm not going to be able to make it down to Lydden next weekend either Steve. I've done a little too much recently what with the Group B Rallying Legends day a Curborough AND all three days at Race Retro!

Not to worry, David. I know just what you mean! Cheers, Steve

Well, I've been home for 24 hours now and have finally thawed out and dried out from yesterday's wet and windy rallycross opener at Lydden Hill.

The event was VERY well supported with about 120 cars competing. Quite a lot of these were from European (Benelux) countries - it was a round of the Belgium Rallycross Championship and many fo them were using the weekend as a sighter for the European Championshp round at Lydden at easter, only 2 weeks away!

Very impressively, there were 15 Supercars there including every mark of Focus, two Citoren DS3s, Mad Mark in his Xantia and a fair selection of Fiestas. It's the first time I've ever seen a half-competitive Subaru rallycrossing too!

The day started blustery and cold, with snow still much in evidence around the outskirts of the track. It raned for much of the day too and no surprises, there weren't many of us hardy souls spectating. It may have been better supported today?!

The Retro Rallycross boys were much in evidence. A superb collection of cars: Rob Gibson's 6R4, two Minis, a Mk1 Fiesta, a Mk3 Escort, a 911, a Delta Integrale and an Anglia! Oh yes!

Amongst the European contingent was an immaculate Mk1 Escort, a multitude of Volvo 242s (think 1970s 'snow ploughs' and no curves and you're there!) and even a Volvo T5 AWD estate!

The racing was fast and furious, very many spins due to the standing water, one huge engine fire (a brand new Scirocco supercar) and the promise of a great season ahead!

I've got pics if anyone wants to see them! Let me know about any I've mentioned and I'll get them sorted, perhaps through Paul McM's picture-hosting services?!

Cheers, Steve

saw on liam doran twitter page prodrive where there testing with the mini wrc???

Yes indeedy! There was a Mini WRC spit and farting around Lydden on its own.

It looked pretty quick, but sounded AWFUL, as do quite a few of the modern generation of WRC metal!

I have some photos of the car in the paddock. Did look a bit odd zipping around the caircuit on its own with two chrome door handles on each side!

Cheers, Steve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1thm5kcGEM

Great spot! Thanks for posting the video link, Cardy. Much appreciated!

Helps explain why the MINI was buzzing and farting its way around on its own, with no race number/ roundel and why Liam was wandering around in his race overalls, but not out in his DS3, unlike his Dad, Pat.

As an added bonus, I appear in the video too! OK, even my own mother wouldn't recognise me, but at 2.13, I'm there in a yellow jacket and black trousers, standing at the open boot of my bright red Seat Altea Freetrack (behind the red estate in the foreground, on the inside of the Elbow), trying to get my ski jacket zipped up having put another jumper on underneath it! Boy was it cold?!

Thanks again for finding the link and posting it. The next thing to do will be to find the results from Sunday's third round of heats and the finals! Maybe I'll wait for Autosport to be published!!

Cheers, Steve

Check out this weeks Autosport 21/3. It contains a 12 page Rallycross supplement!!!

12 pages blimey, first time I have ever seen Autopsort carry a Rallycross supplement.

..I must have missed the one on the WRC???....not...!!!

Chris

Hey, thanks for this, Chris. I had no idea about the supplement.... but I do now!! I'll pop into the newsagents later today.

Whilst I'm there, I'll try to get 'Classic Car Buyer' magazine, as that has photos from 'Austin and Morris Day' at Brooklnds Museum two weeks ago, which I attended in my Mk 1 Austin Metro Vanden Plas. Apparently there are shots on pages 8 and 9 of that esteemed publication taken of some of the Metros assembled in front of the Wellington Bomber hanger - which may include my Cashmere Gold Metro.

An expensive day at the newasgents for me! Thanks again, Chris, Steve

Steve

Its a good to be a good supplement too.

I guess is paid for by the sponsors.

So my point is where was the WRC Supplenmt for the new season? Oh yes there wasnt one.

Pathetic that Autosport cant take a lead in trying to bring up the profile of rallying. But there again if Bernie is paying for all the F1 coverage what would we expect.

Autosport should be covering all World motor sport series in preview, report, review and behind the scenes. It might do for F1 but all rallying coverage is lost.

I love it when they ring up and ask if I want to take out an Autosport subscription. I say it never covers rallying so why should? The poor girl at the other end hasnt the faintest idea what I am talking about!!

Phew I went all light headed there, just jumped off my soapbox!!!

Cheers
Chris

Hi Chris,

I guess you have't taken your tablet today, then?

I take your point, Chris, and totally agree with you. When there's a goodly amount of rally activity across the UK at various levels, makes me wonder why, apart from commercial reasons, Autosport would turn a blind eye?! After all, there are more people in the UK involved with rallying (at a participant and 'in-person' spectating level) than in F1.

Maybe it is the case that money talks, or in this case, shouts? I'm pleased to say that rallycross is getting a hgher profile again having been in the doldrums for some years, so maybe the added interest (and money via headline sponsors) is having a positive effect, at the detriment of rallying?

Of course, there's the elephant in the room that is the biggest source of sponsorship money, being TV. Where there's TV, there's money!

Cheers, Steve