RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLDRallycross RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLDWORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS#98 APRIL WORLD 2012 RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSCLUBMANS WORLD RALLYCROSS RALLYCROSS GETS TOP GEAR WORLD THUMBS RALLYCROSS UP WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLDDORAN RALLYCROSS AND TIMERZYANOV REVEAL WORLD DS3s FOR BATTLE RALLYCROSS OF EUROPE WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLDRALLYCROSS RALLYCROSSWORLD. WORLDCOM RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS Rallycross Briefing #98 APRIL 2012 Top Gear hits Rallycross WORLD in golf or racing challenge
Rallycross was on TV in March. Nothing new there, except quite apparent in the size of the crowd. Top Gear repeats often, that this time it was on Top Gear, and it featured because the so the benefit should last for some time yet. trio of presenters took part in a British club event using low cost cars in the effort to prove that you could go racing for less RallycrossWorld.com How to get Rallycross World money than it costs to play golf. RallycrossWorld.com provides news from all major Rallycross Rallycross World is produced monthly and distributed as a pdf document The power of Top Gear is immense. It’s regularly among the events as well as rounding up National championships. Click You can subscribe directly or receive it as a subscription benefit at RallycrossWorld.com most watched programmes in the UK and the edition with the here to go to RallycrossWorld.com We also now offer a method for you to buy a printed copy or iPad version via MagCloud Rallycross feature had 5.13 million viewers. That’s priceless publicity for Rallycross, stuff that money cannot buy. The World wide print service and iPad magazine fact that this coverage was directed at the bottom end of the The MagCloud print-on-demand service now delivers sport, the entry point classes, and that it made its point so very anywhere in the world. You can order a printed magazine to be well, should be seen as probably the most important public delivered to your door simply by clicking the link on the left or Get it free! Printed magazine iPad exposure the sport has had in years. from the back page. MagCloud also makes Rallycross World RallycrossWorld. MagCloud is a print You can download It may take a little while for the interest generated by the available for iPad. Just look for the free MagCloud app in the com is the essential on demand service Rallycross World to programme to translate into new competitors, but at the first iPad App Store and then select Rallycross World from the Rallycross news that means you can your iPad through the round of the British championship the ‘Top Gear-effect’ was MagCloud magazine store. website. As well order a printed copy free MagCloud app. as enjoying all the of the magazine that This gives you the feature of the site will be delivered Mag Cloud magazine you can download anywhere in the store, from where your own copy of the world. you can search for magazine for free Rallycross World within the app.
RallycrossWorld.com MagCloud.com App store Contents 5 Top Story Copyright 7 Diary Gallery Click it! Rallycross World is published monthly by Myriorama 12 Diary December March Advertisements in the pdf Ltd. This publication may not be redistributed, copied or version of Rallycross reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the written 16 Diran springs DS3 surprise World are interactive – click consent of the copyright holder. on them to be taken to the Unless otherwise stated, all text and photographs are © copyright 18 Striong start for Britain advertiser’s website. Tim Whittington 2012. Check the whole advert as [email protected] 20 Top Gear does rallycross some have multiple links – and you wouldn’t want to miss Contributors: 24 Hansen expands anything, would you? Eddi Laumanns, Hal Ridge, Henk de Winter, Andy Bedford, There are also links from Laura Boak, Sarah Byrne 25 US Championship rebirth some editorial items and we will This issue published : April 2 26 Shoestring stories always try to offer a live link Next issue published: May 1 wherever we quote a website www.myriorama.com address in editorial. [email protected] myriorama 2 | #98 – April 2012 ©RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #98 – April 2012 | 3 Top story Dodge Darts in Pastrana gets GRC ride
Easter weekend at Lydden is the big event of the year, this year it gets live television broadcasts too.
SVERRE ISACHSEN Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 920Nm torque European Rallycross Champion 2009 European Rallycross Champion 2010 European Rallycross Champion 2011 JULIAN GODFREY Duratec 1.6 – 225bhp, 181Nm torque Winner, 2011 Super1600 ERC Belgium Perhaps the least well kept secret of the year, although some The Rallycross car has been rolled out under the SRT (Street +44 (0)1435 865999 of the details were under wraps until announced, Dodge and Racing Technology) brand of Dodge parent Chrysler. confirmed on March 26 that it will run a car in the Global Unlike other entrants to the GRC, Dodge can be expected to Rallycross Championship for Travis Pastrana. be on the pace from the start, the Dart has been built by OMSE RACETUNERS.COM At least since the turn of the year, we had expected Dodge which is also responsible for the Ford-backed Fiestas. to announce that it would run a version of the new Dart in the Pastrana has said that the Rallycross drive and its link GRC. Pastrana, easily the biggest of the star names to be drawn to X Games has helped him gain backers for his NASCAR to the GRC, has also been consistently linked to a Dodge entry programme. “If you don’t have the product to win, it’s not into Rallycross and never actually denied that he’d be racing in worth going racing … Everything I’ve done in my entire life has Rallycross in 2012. been about aggression, going for broke, taking chances. Dodge The Fiat-owned American manufacturer presented Pastrana Dart allows me to get back to my roots,” he said. in a webcast from the Hard Rock Cafe in Detroit, but stopped SRT Motorsports President/CEO Ralph Gilles said having a short of showing the car which was said to be ‘in transit’. car in the GRC will help the company connect with the 16-34
JULIAN GODFREY JOS KUYPERS KOEN PAUWELS Pastrana was scheduled to start testing the Dart the day after age group, “an audience we really haven’t connected with in Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 810Nm torque Cosworth YB – 543bhp, 920Nm torque Duratec 2.0 – 304.7bhp, 256.8Nm torque the announcement, but no images or detailed information of our motor sports.” British Rallycross Champion 2011 Dutch Rallycross Champion 2011 Belgian Rallycross Champion, TouringCar 2011 the car was expected to be released until the end of the first A second car has been spoken about but no driver for it has week in April. yet been announced. RallycrossWorld.COM #98 – April 2012 | 5 Diary gallery Surprise! Liam Dirabn kept his ERC plans under wraps until just a couple of weeks before the season was due to start. the Englishman will drive a new Mtechnologies Citroën DS3 and has put together a strong team as he bids to win the European crown and run a parallel programme of events in America. Steve White RallycrossWorld.COM #98 – April 2012 | 7 Diary gallery British Supernational superstars How good is this? The Supernational class of the British championship produced some brilliant racing in the season opener – and looks like continuing to do so all year. Eclectic, diverse, varied. Call it what you will, Supernational has a great mix of cars and a fine bunch of drivers, more like this please lads.
RallycrossWorld.COM #98 – April 2012 | 9 Diary gallery Because we can Time for a gratuitous Group B shot. This time British racer Mark Flaherty and Norwegian Terje Schie at Brands Hatch in 1988. Schie was running early season events to learn his ex-Niittymäki Peugeot and Metro 6R4 driver Flaherty appears pretty keen to show him how it should be done.
RallycrossWorld.COM #98 – April 2012 | 11 Diary March Diary March 1 March 4 Transmission systems manufacturer MaKTraK becomes Ian O’Connell wins the last associate sponsor of the MSA British Rallycross Championship round of the Irish Rallycross which announced Monster Energy as it’s new title sponsor in Championship in his Supernational February (RW97). Additionally spark plug specialist NGK has Lotus Exige. The young racer had put its name to the BRC’s newly introduced Super1600 class, been the leading challenger to the sponsorship coming in the innovate form of free entries for champion-elect George Tracey drivers taking part in the class. throughout the winter and completed the season with a brace Super1600: 1.6L @ 240 bhp TouringCar: 2.0L @ 296 bhp March 2 of wins. In the final round, he is Duratec HE Mats Lysen says he is €40,000 short on chased home by former champion the budget he needs to take part in the Michael Coyne who, in his first European Rallycross Championship and start of the series, has a great run that he is considering a career in the police. in Vauxhall Nova. Noel O’Brien is “It’s something I’ve always thought would be the other outstanding driver in the interesting and if I cannot find the money championship having won the 8v to race, this may be the right time for me to Stock Hatch class with his Peugeot www.zomermotorsport.com change direction and do that,” he said. 205 in all six events. [email protected] tel. 0031 (0)548 - 361385 a potential winner, from start to podium » The Belgian Rallycross Championship has a troubled start when a collision between Patrick Van Mechelen and Jos Kuypers leads to a protest. Kuypers won the event on the road and survived the protest as the event winner with Van Mechelen second from Jos Jansen. Ronny Scheveneels Torque went out of the event with steering damage on his Scirocco Supercar. Russian Vadim Makarov won the Super1600 class and Koen Pauwels was best of the TouringCar field. March 6 Steve Harris takes delivery of a KHM Citroën C4 Supercar that he will use in the British Rallycross Championship. Harris has raced in the BRC’s RX150 class for the last couple of years but previously rallied Group B cars in the 1980s and early 1990s when he drove an MG Metro 6R4. Harris plans a full British championship and may use the car in some ERC events too.
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RallycrossWorld.COM #98 – April 2012 | 13
AAOC Rallycross ad 10.indd 1 9/3/10 13:58:09 Diary March
March 7 Supercar. Pusey had been set to build a Peugeot for the class, Former European champion Ludvig Hunsbedt confirms that but changed plans and will now run the ex-Gareth Wood car. Nomaco has taken the decision to close its in-house racing team and sell the Volvo C30 Supercar that he raced last year March 11 and had expected to race in the 2012 ERC. “We had problems Top Gear features Rallycross in the final episode of the current with money last year and I have had to pay some of the bills series. The trio of presenters set out to discover if you can take from my own pocket. I’m not interested in paying to drive this part in motor sport for less money that it costs to play golf and year so I will definitely not race. I might go and watch some choose Clubmans Rallycross as the avenue in which to test the of the events and if I get the feeling that I want to race again theory. then perhaps I’ll look for a car to rent or if there is a chance with another team, but that’s for the future. Right now I am not March 13 racing,” said Hunsbedt. Liam Doran drops a bomb into the ERC by announcing that he will contest the European championship alongside his Global Rallycross season. The Briton had announced a programme of American events, adding Pikes Peak and short-course off-road truck racing to Rallycross, in January, at which time nothing was said about European events. Keeping things quiet, Doran has put together a European campaign with a new Citroën DS3 built by Mtechnologies. March 15 Swedish racer Eric Färén (formerly Larsson) confirms that he will take part in a full season in the S1600 class of the European Rallycross Championship. The 22-year-old takes over the Citroën C2 previously used by older brother Johan getting the Clio ready for the European championship opener in July. Alongside James Harrold’s Beetle turbo and Barry Larsson and will drive the RL Sport-owned car under the wing at Easter. Stewart’s Porsche 911, now boasting a twin-turbo engine, of Kenneth Hansen Motorsport. A former kart racer, Färén has Mark Thomas shows his newly built Ford Anglia 105E. raced in the Swedish Junior Touring Car Championship and is March 24 March 9 a part of the SBF’s Junior Elite talent scheme. Supercar returnee Ollie O’Donovan wins the opening round March 26 Global Rallycross and Speedway Motorsports confirm their of the British Rallycross Championship at Lydden. Driving Dodge Motorsports hosts a press launch at which it confirms agreement for the US-based Rallycross series to run at SMI the ex-Doran Focus, O’Donovan leads from the start, making that Travis Pastrana will drive a Dodge Dart in the Global venues. With the confirmation comes a change in dates, Las the most of problems that befall rivals to take a clear victory. Rallycross Championship. The new car has been built by Vegas moving from April to September with the September Pat Doran, driving George Tracey’s Citroën Xsara as his new OMSE and Pastrana begins testing after the launch. A second event at Atlanta now flagged as TBA. DS3 is not ready, makes his up to third with Steve Mundy car is in the plan, but no driver details are given. May 26 Charlotte Motor Speedway an outstanding third in his home-brewed Focus. Irishman June 9 Texas Motor Speedway Ian O’Connell takes his first BRC victory, leading home Ash March 27 June 30-July 1 X Games Los Angeles Simpson and James Bird. Scott-Eklund Racing completes a test of both its Saab 93s July 14 New Hampshire Motor Speedway (above) at Dreux in France. Andy Scott completes 50 trouble- Sept 1 TBA » The new Rallycross Retro class displays three cars in the free laps in the cars which are due to be shipped to the team’s Sept 29 Las Vegas Motor Speedway paddock of the opening BRC event, while Roy Edwards new base in Florida where they will test again before the GRC completes demo laps in his Ford Escort Mk1. The new category starts in May. March 10 will run at four BRC events in 2012, starting at Mallory Park Supernational racer Gary Pusey makes says he will contest March 18 March 30 the British Rallycross Championship with a Subaru Impreza Engineer and racer Michael Boak sets out for the 2012 British Hansen Motorsport (the Swedish team has dropped the Rallycross Championship with an improved turbo-diesel ‘Kenneth’ from its name over the winter) sets out the stall engine in his his Audi TT. “In 2011 we were developing the for its busiest ever year. Running up to seven drivers in the diesel engine as we went. We have made some improvements European Rallycross Championship, the team will be led by over the winter and we have now got more power at our Russian Timur Timerzyanov who drives a new Citroën DS3 disposal” said Boak. Alongside his own racing, Boak will run with Norwegian Alexander Hvaal alongside for the season cars for Brian Jukes, Phil Chicken and other customers. in a C4. Super1600 graduate Johan Larsson will drive ‘a few races’ in Supercar with another C4 while his brother Eric Faren March 21 steps into the C2 vacated by this move. Kevin Hansen, Magda After a series of delays and problems hit both the build of Andersson and Ada Marie Hvaal will join the team in the new his new Renault Twingo and plans to rebuild his Clio, British Junior Rallycross category and Timmy Hansen continues his Super1600 pioneer Hal Ridge says he will have to miss the first circuit racing exploits in Formula Renault 2.0, but now under round of the British Rallycross Championship and focus on the Hansen Motorsport banner. 14 | #98 – April 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #98 – April 2012 | 15 Doran drops Euro bombshell New DS3 and ERC season for British star Liam Doran adds Euro campaign to American season
In mid-March, Liam Doran made the surprise announcement Europe]. The European championship is still the best,” said for me is in the engine, I’m using Julian Godfrey and he’s has clear targets for the year. “I want to win the European that he will compete in the European Rallycross Championship Doran, “I’m able to get the budget to do both championships developing the engine around the kind of performance that I championship and X Games. There are some date clashes with a brand new Citroën DS3 Supercar. and I can see the value in each one, but anyone who thinks want for my driving style, it’s the first Citroën engine that he’s now and doing X Games mean I will miss the Swedish ERC, In January the 24-year-old Englishman, a Monster Energy Europe is going to be easy just because a couple of guys done but he’s really happy with the way things are going and because of that I will miss the GRC opener at Charlotte to be athlete, launched a programme of events centred on America have gone to race in America is dreaming. Even if (triple says it’s the best engine he’s ever worked with,” said Doran who in Austria for the ERC. The last rounds clash as well, but I can where he will race a Citroën C4 in the Global Rallycross champion) Sverre Isachsen is not there this year it doesn’t has also enlisted leading British engineer Graham Rodemark’s make that decision later in the year, I’ve car for each series Championship as well as taking on Pikes Peak Hillclimb in an matter because the competition is going to be very tough. I Autopoint team oversee and coordinate the programmes on [he will drive an Mtechnologies Citroën C4 in America] RS200 and racing off-road pickup trucks. Under cover of that don’t care if Isachsen goes to America, he’s chasing a dream both sides of the Atlantic. so that’s easy for me. It’s going to be good to race so much schedule he has also commissioned the new car, unveiled at but I’m racing to be best and he’s going to have to race me The new DS3, and the 2011 C4, are both transverse- because time in the car is valuable and I’m going to be on the the Goodwood Festival of Speed press preview on March 14 wherever he goes.” engined cars and by being among the early adopters of the boil all year.” for the European championship. Since the end of last season when he decided to leave new breed, Doran hopes to steal a march on some rivals. Doran’s unexpected participation in the ERC is a “Some of the drivers who are going to America are being Swedish team KHM with which he raced for two years, Doran “You could see the potential in the transverse cars last year, vote of confidence for the series which has been a little quite negative about the European championship but I don’t has built a top class team around himself and his expanding now the gearboxes tare strong enough to handle the power overshadowed by recent news that David Binks and Finn agree with them, it’s still massively important to race here activities. “I’ve looked for the best people and services. The it’s definitely the way forward. We’ve got some testing Toomas Heikkinen have chosen to race in America (although and will be very competitive. Look at the ones who are racing cars are being built in France by Mtechnologies, they do the planned before the European championship starts at Easter the latter will do some European events) and by champion in America; they are not the ones who have been winning [in KHM cars too so we’re no different there. The biggest change so I think we’re in good shape for the year,” said Doran who Isachsen’s difficulty to secure a budget to race this year. 16 | #98 – April 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #98 – April 2012 | 17 British championship Less is more Great start for revised and shortened British championship
With a dozen Supercars on the entry list, ten actually making it to the grid, and a total entry of 100, 81 of those in the BRC classes, the revamped MSA British Rallycross Championship got off to a flying start at Lydden Hill on March 24. The core of the championship is six events, reduced from the eight that have featured in recent years. Labouring under the not very snappy title of the Monster Energy MSA British Rallycross Championship in association with MaKTraK, this is actually several championships under one umbrella. The BRC itself is open only to Supercars and is accompanied by MSA titles for the Supernational and Junior categories. Alongside this, the one-make Swift Sport, RX150 and BMW Mini formulae appear, together with Hot Hatch and the newly introduced Super1600 class that has backing from NGK. The Clubmans Rallycross Championship also appears on the BRC bill at most events and Retro Rallycross will join the package in July, Mallory Park the first of four scheduled appearances this year. There is little point in emphasising the British championship’s strength by pointing out how relatively weak other national series are; the British has had its period of decline and these things appear to be cyclical, dependent on so many factors that they are, to a very great extent, beyond the control of the promoter. As its stands, however, only the French championship, that paragon of national series, looks to have the numbers and quality to rival the British championship in 2012. The RX150 ‘off-road’ buggies, were not universally popular when introduced to the BRC and even now the class has its detractors in the paddock. This is the fourth year that RX150 has been a part of the BRC and already it has produced introduced two drivers who have gone on to race Supercars and another on the verge of a move to Supernational. It has not drawn drivers out of any other class and, almost without fail, delivers good racing. A more recent addition to the programme at BRC events is the Swift Sport Championship which, after two years, delivers entries of 15-20 cars and has spawned the MSA Junior Rallycross Championship for a lower-spec 1300cc version of the 1.6-litre adult car. We’ve yet to see drivers move on to other classes, but Paige Bellerby’s shining graduation from Junior to adult racer at Lydden illustrates both the competitive level of the Junior series and its relevance as a training ground: the 16-year-old was able to race confidently and competently alongside more experienced drivers. Looking from the outside in there are things about a BRC event that confuse and frustrate the spectator: compatible classes could be merged to give races with full grids and better action, better for the drivers as well as those watching. And, there are probably too many classes in the whole package these days. But these are small issues, at least relatively small in comparison to issues that have been overcome in recent years. The early signs are that the shortened calendar in combination with additional Clubmans events that offers those able or willing to race more often, the chance to do so, has been well received by competitors. The aim is that the changes will encourage racers to take part in all championship events, so the proof will not be clear until the end of the year. 18 | #98 – April 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #98 – April 2012 | 19 Top Gear does rallycross “Absoluteley brilliant fun” Hal Ridge was at Lydden to see Top Gear fall in love with Rallycross
When I first heard that the Top Gear were going to do a feature On a cold February Friday at Lydden Hill, the team that run against others they proved that even in their basically standard think it really does show how good Rallycross is. on Rallycross I thought ‘Oh, so one of them will get a passenger the Clubmans Championship staged a Rallycross event for cars they were able to mix with more able machines. Whilst The day was a long one for those who attended, as every ride in a Supercar, perhaps drive one, which will make less than the BBC Television cameras to film, and for the presenters to standing on the bank at Lydden watching events unfold, people single thing that happened was filmed, with many takes for five minutes of coverage, and probably not make a Rallycross race in. Clubmans drivers were invited to come along and pit were commenting on how surprising it was that they were each, including the drivers briefing, and scrutineering. The car look any different to a rally car.’ themselves against the Top Gear presenters, with the hope of going well. I beg to differ, anybody that spends as much time final cut for the programme shown last month was about 20 In the event, my initial thought could not have been more fame and glory. in cars as them must learn even a modicum of car control, and minutes. However, this is 20 minutes from an entire day of incorrect. The Top Gear researchers were looking for a cheap I know we all like to think of Rallycross as a big concern, but the three of them took to Rallycross straight away. filming from at least ten cameras. It just goes to show what is motor sport for the three famous presenters to race in – and when you think of the wider picture, even within motor sport, Any concerns about them having a dim view on the sport involved in making such a feature for a massive show like Top prove that you don’t need to be a millionaire to spend your it is actually tiny, and the opportunity to feature on a prime were very quickly dismissed. After coming in from the first Gear. Interestingly, aside from the introduction to the feature, weekends on a race track. The formula they chose for this was time BBC programme is not to be missed, especially one as practice sessions, the beaming hosts of the show literally nothing was scripted. Top Gear are commonly slated for using Clubmans Rallycross, and the idea behind it was to prove that popular as Top Gear. couldn’t wait to have another go, and they proceeded to spend scripted lines, but in their entire days worth of filming, they it is possible to go motor racing cheaper than you can play golf. The three Top Gear cars were to be a BMW 3 Series for the day telling all the doting onlookers that they thought did not use a script once. The three presenters appear to be Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May were Clarkson, a Toyota MR2 for May and a Citroën Saxo for Rallycross was amazing. I think they would all do it again given genuinely good friends, and their constant banter is filmed at all to contest an event in cars that had cost less than £2000 to Hammond. I felt the choice of cars was good, and gave a good the opportunity. It’s at this point you have to remember again all times. Since the cameras are rolling all the time, I assume build. My next thought at this stage was that the trio, who are idea as to the wide variety of options there are when looking what context this is in. These are three people who spend by the law of averages that if you film them larking about for a well known for mocking anything and everything they come for something to race in the Clubmans championships. their lives driving exotic cars and doing incredible car related day, the editors will be able to find at least a few good lines and across, would tear Rallycross apart, and spend a day doing The day started with a few practice laps in Suzuki Swifts for challenges where money is no object, and here they were in remarks to put into the final edit.
their best to destroy each other’s cars. Again, I was wrong. the presenters, although once in their own cars and racing a couple of standard-ish cars having the time of their lives. I The event format worked very well, with all cars ending up Boak, Bedford/ClubmansRallycross.co.uk photos: Laura Ridge, Andy Hal 20 | #98 – April 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #98 – April 2012 | 21 Top Gear does rallycross
When Top Gear went to Lydden and did rallycross, there was the usual banter and fun – but the trio of presenters genuinely enjoyed the experience, Clarkson claiming it was “One of the best days of my life” while Hammond urged everyone to “get a racing licence, get some cheap wheels and get out there and do it.” in an A, B and C final, based on two heat results. May and filming is based on luck. coordinator Andy Bedford has been inundated with enquiries. sport. You never know, somebody who watched Top Gear Clarkson were in the C, which Clarkson won, and it was then However, the main important thing for Rallycross, aside “I cant believe the interest we have had since the show, and it’s may build a Clubmans Rallycross car based on what they saw Hammond and Clarkson in the B final, where the pair met for from the fact that we got to see some of our mates on Top still on going,” he said. “The BTRDA website traffic has gone and progress though the ranks to race against the best in the a thrilling battle for second place that lasted a couple of laps. Gear, was that it had a good effect on the public who knew ballistic, and its still above average. We almost have one car world. Before you know it they could be racing against Marcus To anybody sitting at home viewing the event it may well have nothing of the sport previously. The RallycrossUK.com website already built on the back of the programme being shown, and Grönholm. Our sport is so wide and varied it’s incredible, we looked like it was staged so they would end up racing each had an unprecedented number of hits in the week after there are more on the way, it’s fantastic.” just need more opportunities like Top Gear to show people other, but it really did just happen like that. I wonder if all their the show was aired. Equally, BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross So for that reason alone it was more than beneficial for the what we’ve got! 22 | #98 – April 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #98 – April 2012 | 23 The best gets bigger US Rallycross Championship launched
Timur Timerzyanov will lead Hansen Motorsport’s rapdily growing team with his new More in America Citroën DS3 (below). Rally America back in action at New Jersey
The Rally America organisation will run a US Rallycross with other dates and venues to be announced. Championship this year, the first event to take place on May 19. The events are set to be run on the established format, Rally America was responsible for introducing Rallycross including a Joker Lap, and with two classes; two-wheel drive to the States, running four events at New Jersey Motorsports and four-wheel drive. The track is said to contain 70% asphalt Park in the autumn of 2010. The 2011 season turned out to and 30% loose surfaces. the provide a full day of entertainment be a tough one for the rally championship organiser which for fans at the event, Rally America will also run 250 and 450cc had been rebranded RallyCar and was due to run a national Supermoto races on the programme of events. championship alongside the Global rallycross events. This plan At this stage it does not look as though Rally America has crumbled and, with new owners, the company reverted to its set out to challenge the GRC, so if it is successful in creating a Rally America name and spent the year focused on its core national championship that can offer a way into the sport for business of the US Rally Championship. new competitors or those drawn out of other disciplines, and Now, however, it is ready to have reintroduce Rallycross to turn an honest profit in doing so, its presence in the American its portfolio and has slated ‘at least’ four events at New Jersey, market should be good news all round.
New Jersey Motorsports Park hosted the first Rallycross events in America. Now it’s set to form the basis of a new US championship. Hansen expands Up to seven cars for Swedish superteam
With plans to run up to seven cars in rounds of this year’s Norwegian Alexander Hvaal. With Super1600 form, Hvaal European Rallycross Championship, Hansen Motorsport can moved into Supercar last year and was quick, but appeared to add ‘biggest’ to the term ‘best’ that often precedes mention of lack direction and technical assistance. While there is a lot to its name. learn, his progress will be interesting. Hvaal will drive a C4 and As the Swedish team develops and grows, the forename Hansen Motorsport will run a second of the older cars at some of founder and for many years its only driver, Kenneth has events this year for Johan Larsson who makes the step up from been dropped from its title. Clearly the most successful team Super1600. operating in Rallycross, and the operation that has set the The team will maintain an interest in Super1600, however, agenda when it comes to the traditional driver-owned outfit as Larsson’s younger brother Eric Faren, has taken over the transforming into a commercial operation to run customers, Citroën C2 that is owned by RL Sport but which will run from Hansen Motorsport is set for its busiest year ever. the Hansen stable. The driving strength of the team is led by Timur Timeryanov, Further expansion will come in the second half of the year the 25-year-old Russian having joined last year for his when Hansen Motorsport will be among the first teams into the first Supercar season. With one event win and third in the Junior Rallycross Cup, the new series having its first event at the championship to his credit in 2011, Timerzyanov is back for a Norwegian ERC round in June. With three drivers already on its tilt at the title aboard the team’s Citroën DS3. Having run two books; Kevin Hansen, Magda Andersson and Ada Marie Hvaal, potential event winners from under the same roof last year, Hansen Motorsport is clearly aiming to strengthen its reputation and dealt with the problems that brings, Hansen should have as a team that introduces and develops young talent to the sport an easier time of things in 2012 as Timerzyanov is paired with in which it has become the best. Lars Gange/Subaru.com/rally 24 | #98 – April 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #98 – April 2012 | 25 Shoestring stories – the life of a low budget racer in the European championship Clio rides again Round the clock effort as Ridge resurrects old Renault
So here we are again, the week before the hours into the car on his own to make start of another European Championship sure we could get to the rollers and season. When I last wrote here I was still ultimately, we hope, to Lydden. awaiting the return of crucial parts for So as I write this the car is currently the rebuild of the Clio, in order to race at being mapped, I can hear it hitting the the first round of the British Rallycross rev limiter as I am trying to make up lost Championship. Unfortunately, until last time on the laptop. It would help if I had week I was still waiting. Needless to say had more than five hours sleep in the I missed the first round of the British last two days, and it’s amazing how many championship. We eventually got the emails accumulate when you haven’t gearbox back at the start of last week, been online for even a short period. and the engine last Friday. The engine I should at this point reiterate that this has been delayed as a result of parts isn’t a sob story, I am not looking for any being late, and the knock-on effect of sympathy from anybody, it’s just the way other parts being wrong but not knowing it is and the situation we put ourselves that until the first ones had arrived. The in to go racing. As ever, all the tiredness big hold up was the camshafts, which and heartache will be over and forgotten were over a month late in arriving from the moment we hit the start line of the Belgium. When the engine was then first event, which fingers crossed will be getting put together, Frankie Boak, who this weekend if all goes to plan. builds my engine, found that in order to The Twingo has also made progress use the new oil pump set-up we had been over the last few weeks. The rear hoping to use, we needed to change the suspension is all ready to bolt on, sprocket on the crankshaft, a new one apart from the dampers which I am then took another few days and those still waiting for a response on from days all add up. The other issue is that the supplier. The front suspension is when things need doing in a rush they designed for most part, but yet to be also need paying for in a rush, which fabricated, and the front subframe has makes things harder still, I don’t have had the jig fully made, it’s just a case of large amounts of cash to pay out at any making the subframe itself. one time. A friend from Sweden supplied The bodywork is making good me some shims for the cylinder head in a progress too, and hopefully once Easter rush, which was very good of him. weekend is out of the way significant With all the parts back by last Friday, progress can be made on it again. There there was a week to go before ERC will be detailed photographs of the build round one. However, unfortunately on this page next month, there just hasn’t between Friday and Monday last been the time to get any sorted over the weekend I have had to attend two last few days. weddings and a funeral, a grasp on As ever there are loads of people to reality that gets in the way of this thank for their help over the last few ridiculous hobbie/way of life that is weeks, and I have just tried to write a list motorsport. The first photograph on but its not an Oscar speech so I will just this page is as the engine bay of the say thank you to everybody, you all know Hal Ridge and his band of merry men have Clio was on Saturday morning, and the who you are and how grateful I am! worked hard to get the Clio ready to race again. second is of the car on the rolling road Hopefully today will go well, and A week before the event the engine bay was bare at Jabbasport three days later. Due to we then have three days to finish off (far left), with four days to go the car was on the my other commitments, a lot of the a mountain of jobs before Lydden ... I rolling road (left). work has been done to the car by my didn’t fancy relaxing anyway! mechanic Dave, who has put many halridge.com 30 | #98 – April 2012 RallycrossWorld.COM RallycrossWorld.COM #98 – April 2012 | 31 - WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLDWebsite RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSJ WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSSMagazine WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLDJ RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLYCROSSYearbook WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS- WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLDJ RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD- RALLYCROSSWORLD.COM WORLDRallycross RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLY CROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD RALLYCROSS WORLD