New Drivers Show Potential in Rallycross Opening Round

Suzuki Swift preparation experts PGM Motorsport ran four drivers in the Power Maxed Swift Sport and Junior Swift categories at the opening round of the MSA British Rallycross Championship, held at Croft Circuit in Yorkshire.

Adam Weaver in his Power Maxed Branded Swift

In the highly competitive Swift Rallycross Championships, BTCC Power Maxed team owner Adam Weaver had a strong run to get his season underway by qualifying directly for the A final in seventh position. Weaver climbed to an impressive fifth place in the final in his distinctive Swift by the fifth lap of the race and will be knocking on the door of the podium in events to come. 

 Jeff Hankin first time in British Rallycross Event

Fellow PGM driver Jeff Hankin started on pole position in the B final and ran in second place on lap two. Hankin pushed hard to catch leader Nathan Heathcote, but just missed out on promotion to the A final in the first event of the season. He finished third. Scottish driver Ryan McAdam had an exciting day in his Swift, improving his pace every time he got in the car. As he got to grips with the Croft Circuit, he made it into the B final and enjoyed a close race with more experienced Swift racers Alex Spencer and Dave Ellis, proving his potential for coming events.

Ryan McAdam in his Rallycross debut

In the Junior Swift category, Bradley Durdin shone on his debut. The rallycross newcomer found his feet around the Croft rallycross track in the opening heats, and by heat three was right on the pace, beating championship favourite Drew Bellerby. In the final, Durdin pushed Bellerby hard and led on lap two, before being re-passed by Bellerby. The fight continued until the end, Durdin finishing in second place, less than a second behind Bellerby.

 Impressive first appearance by Bradley Durdin in Junior Rallycross

“It’s been a cracking first round for our drivers.  Jeff was consistent all day and narrowly missed out on the A final.    Young Ryan, with his first time out on gravel improved every heat and showed real potential and Adam was right in the mix and had some really good battles for position out there.

Brad too put in a really impressive performance, first time out in the juniors.  This is Drew’s home track and she and Charlie (2014 MSA Junior Champion – Charlie Bean) were battling all season and we know she is quick, so for Brad to come and win a heat here shows he has good pace.  He was unlucky in the final having taken the lead, a common mistake in running wide on the hairpin here just cost him, otherwise it would have been a win first time out.  He and Drew drove a great race, it was close all the way, think these two are going to provide some great racing if this is anything to go by.” said Peter Gwynne

Another highlight to the weekend was PGM Rallycross Challenge Europe driver Kris Fruru made the trip across from Belgium to be on hand to assist the new drivers on the day.  Great to see him catching up with Rob Maynard and the others he did battle with back in 2013 when he came 3^rd in the Swift championship himself.

The team only have to wait 3 weeks until the next rallycross outing for Round 2 of the British Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill Race Circuit, Kent.

PGM 'Power Maxed' Team Swifts out in British Rallycross

The Peter Gwynne Motorsport Hire Swifts were fully 'Power Maxed' up and out in force for the penultimate round of the Swift Rallycross Championship at Croft Circuit, Yorkshire. 

 Harry Vaulkhard

Former World Touring Car Championship driver Harry Vaulkhard made his rallycross debut at the event and set seventh fastest time in his first heat in this ultra-competitive class. Vaulkhard was again seventh in heat three to line up on pole position for the B final. After a closely contested race, Vaulkhard finished third, just missing out on a promotion to the A final, which was won by new 2014 Swift Rallycross Champion Tristan Ovenden.

 

Adam Weaver

In a second PGM Motorsport run Swift Sport, Vaulkhard’s Touring Car colleague and BTCC Power Maxed Racing Team Boss, Adam Weaver, also experienced Rallycross for the first time.  Gaining confidence throughout the day, Weaver clearly enjoyed the challenging and slippery conditions of Croft Circuit.

PGM Junior Swift driver Jake Taylor had a challenging day with an incident in heat two saw Taylor's return to the paddock assisted by a tow truck.  With the crew standing by, the front corner was soon rebuilt ready for a comeback in heat three where a finish was critical to record a second time and secure a place in the final. 

Jake Taylor

Taylor chased Charlie Bean hard in the opening laps of the Junior final, pressuring Bean into a mistake on the last lap. While Bean went sideways onto the loose section, Taylor could do nothing to avoid contact. Drew Bellerby snuck through to take the win.  As Taylor got his Swift moving again to make it to the line to claim second and gaining more vital points to keep his championship title chase alive.

Junior Bellerby then progressed to a PGM Motorsport senior Swift for the MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix on Sunday and proved she has the talent to run with the adult racers in the future. She chased multiple British Rallycross Champion Pat Doran in the third heat who was also driving a Swift. Ovenden was again top Swift running in the amalgamated field, and only just missed out on a place in the A final by one position

FORMER BTCC DRIVER VAULKHARD MAKES SWIFT RALLYCROSS DEBUT.

Former British Touring Car Championship driver Harry Vaulkhard joins the Peter Gwynne Motorsport Team for his Rallycross debut in the British Rallycross Championship, Round Six at Croft Circuit this Saturday.

 

During his BTCC career, Vaulkhard proved he was not out there to make up the numbers, qualifying P2 in his Chevrolet Lacetti alongside another Rallycross favourite Andrew Jordan.  Taking on the top works drivers and whilst narrowly denied a podium at Donington, Vaulkhard was the talk of the post-race round up from Steve Rider and Tim Harvey with his impressive performance.

The Newcastle Hotshot moved to The World Touring Car Championship where he claimed a victory at Monza in the Independents Trophy.

Harry Vaulkard:  “I’m really looking forward to my first foray into rallycross.  It’s a totally new discipline for me from touring car and saloon racing and I’m under no illusions as to how tough it will be, but I raced Schoolboy Motocross for a lot of years at a high level so I’m not afraid of 'getting my hands dirty' as it were. I’ve watched Rally X loads in the past at Croft and have a few friends in the paddock too so I’m looking forward to a great fun weekend of racing” 

“I’m proud to be carrying the Power Maxed logos on my car this weekend too. It will be good to race doorhandle to doorhandle with Adam Weaver too”  

Power Maxed Racing Boss Adam Weaver also joins Vaulkhard to make up the Power Maxed, Peter Gwynne Motorsport Team for the weekend.

Peter Gwynne:  It’s great to have Harry joining us at Croft.  From watching footage of his performance in the BTCC, he is certainly comfortable with sliding a car, I am sure it won’t be long before we will be seeing that swift sideways.  Harry and Adam are both out there for the first time for a bit of fun, so looking forward to seeing how they enjoy their first taste of Rallycross.

Check out Harry in action in the BTCC