Thursday 20 October 2016

Ginetta GT4 Supercup's Robertson Ready for Rallycross!

 Fraser Robertson - Ginetta G55 GT4

Joining the Peter Gwynne Motorsport team for the final round of the Swift Rallycross Championships at Croft Circuit this weekend, Fraser Robertson will swap his Ginetta G55 GT4 for a Suzuki Swift Sport to make his rallycross debut at the final round of the British Rallycross Championship.

Having just completed his 2016 season in the Ginetta GT4 Supercup, where he finished fourth overall, ‘The Van Centre’ proprietor from Brompton-On-Swale is keen to explore different motorsport challenges ahead of the 2017 season.

Whilst no stranger to a one-make championship, swapping his 355 bhp 3.7 V6 Ginetta G55 GT4 for the modest 1.6 front wheel drive little pocket rocket and taking to the gravel sections of his local motorsport venue, for the adrenaline-fuelled, quick-fire races, is sure be a different experience for him.

Pop by and wish him good luck and watch for that smile as he returns to the paddock after Q1!

Friday 14 October 2016

Deal Driver Don Macleod set for Swift Rallycross at Croft


Making the long journey north from Deal, Kent, Borderforce officer Don Macleod is set to compete in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship season finale at Croft Circuit, Darlington.  

Wanting to fulfil a dream, the football referee hired a PGM Swift for the second round of the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship when they headed to his local circuit, Lydden Hill during the Easter weekend. 

After a successful debut, the Scotsman was left wanting more and took to the track once again when the swifts returned to 'The Home of Rallycross' in August for Round 6 of the British Rallycross Championship.

Having embraced the spirit and camaraderie of the Swifts, progressing steadily in both heats and the semi finals, with his highlight so far being a third in heat three at Lydden Hill, Don says “Despite being a complete novice, the fellow competitors have accepted me and their knowledge and advise has given me the impetus to push harder and harder in each race I have competed in.”



Now wanting to experience a new circuit, Macleod heads to Yorkshire for the Swift season finale at Croft Circuit with the ambition to continue racing in the Swifts in 2017, work permitting.

Tuesday 4 October 2016

Highlights of Ben Tuck's first experience of Swift Rallycross at Pembrey






Normally used to driving rear wheel drive on a sealed surface, we send Ben Tuck Racing straight out in the Swift Rallycross ultra-competitive Swift Rallycross Championships at Pembrey Circuit in the pouring rain courtesy of the free drive offered by Lumena Lights Ltd!

Impressive performance by the Motor Sports Association (MSA) Academy Student who qualified for the final and finished a very respectable sixth overall in his first ever British Rallycross Championship event.

Watch his highlights here:






Sunday 2 October 2016

Testing Terrain for Trio on Trackrod!


The sun shone as three Swifts swooped into Dalby Forest service park on the first day of October ready to take on the BTRDA Trackrod Rally.



First to take to the stages was British Rallycross Supernational driver Todd Crooks and girlfriend Jordine Wadge making their debut in BTRDA Rally.  Waiting for this day to finally arrive, an anxious Jordine had an even longer wait for her first taste of codriving when reaching stage one there was a thirty minute delay.

There were smiles as the two returned to service after SS3 however, and after a close encounter with a deer that jumped into the stage in front of them in Langdale, the pair realised what a real adventure rallying is.

Finding good pace through SS4 Crooks settled into his stride with the swift until reaching a collection of cars retired on the side of the stage.  Avoiding the cars put him in line with a large deep pot hole which caused damage and explained the parked cars.  Nursing the Swift back into service the crew got to work replacing the severed strut and bent hub just in time for Crooks to continue to SS5, where unfortunately their rally would end when a ball joint let go during a tight chicane.  



Jonathan Hodgson and codriver Gary Baker were next out and due to the delays queuing for stage start, there was concerns of the clutch overheating although they managed to made it though the morning stages until they too found the pothole on SS4 causing them to limp into service with a puncture.  New rubber on, the Yorkshire boys continued incident free to complete their third rally in a row.



Droitwich driver Tom Delaney and codriver Matt Walk were not so lucky.  Having had a steady run though their first stage learning grip levels,  the MSA Student encountered a rock in the middle of the road resulting in a cracked sump which ended play at SS3.

Whilst the Dalby Forest terrain got the better of two of the swifts in this occasion, congratulations to Jonathan and Gary on completing the day.

Well done to Todd and Jordine who worked well together and made a great team.   Hope to see them having more 'quality time' together or rally stages in the future. 

Finally thank you to everyone who came and offered help and support to the new couple on their rally debut and to all the organisers, marshals and everyone who made the event possible. 

The Swifts will be back out in force on Grizdale Stages - 26th November 2016