Scotsman Samples Swift Rallycross!

Look out! Look out!  There's a Scotsman about!!  

Don Macleod joins us this weekend at Lydden Hill Race Circuit for his first taste of the Swift Rallycross Championships for Round 2 of The British Rallycross Championship.

Bradley Durdin ready for MSA Junior Rallycross at Lydden Hill

Chatting with junior driver Bradley Durdin after his debut in the MSA Junior Swift Rallycross...

Bradley taking the win in the third heat

"As a kid I've always looked at the British rallycross championship and though just how cool it must be to race in one of the various different classes. I never thought I'd actually be at the party. Only just a few weeks ago I found myself sitting on the grid at croft behind some of the biggest names in rallycross such as the likes of Pat Doran and Julian Godfrey as I waited for my race to go out.

Having never been to a Rallycross event I really didn't know what quite to expect. How I ended up in a rallycross car I will never know. I was apart of the junior swift category which doesn't have the most cars on the grid but for sure produced some of the best races of the day. As they say, it only take for 2 cars to have a motor race. I'd never sat in the car before but quickly got up to speed to go and give Drew Bellerby a run for her money in the final. It's great to be able to race hard and fair between us for the win in the final.

A close 2nd at Croft

The British Rallycross Championship heads to its spiritual home of Lydden Hill for round 2 which happens to be the home race for me.  I'll be hoping to win this for the team and gain some more valuable championship points.

To ensure I give myself the best chances for Lydden I've been getting in as much seat time in anything I can. I'm looking foward to Lydden and can't wait for some more close racing."

 Close racing with Drew Bellerby

On track action starts at 9 am at Lydden Hill on  Monday 6th April 2015. 

www.swiftrallycross.com

www.britishrallycross.com

www.lyddenhill.co.uk

Jordan Returns to Rallycross with Olsbergs MSE Team

As Motorsport Fans make the journey to Lydden Hill, Kent this weekend for the World Rallycross Championship Round Two, we return with fond memories back from 2006 when we made our first visit to this southern circuit to support Andrew Jordan making his British Rallycross Supercar Debut.

It was 2004 when father Mike Jordan arrived with a shy young son in tow to see ‘what the boy had.’  It was not long before Peter Gwynne raised an eyebrow and gave a knowing nod to Mike that the boy had potential.

Coaching him through his Junior Rallycross years  Jordan soon  started to get grab the attention of onlookers taking the BTRDA Junior Rallycross Champion title in 2004 and then in the following year being crowned British Junior Rallycross Champion, BTRDA Junior Rallycross Champion, Super Series Rallycross Champion and also Ginetta Winter Series Champion.

In winter of 2005 after much deliberating, all involved thought Jordan Junior had the talent, focus and determination to take the step up from a Clubman Mini to a Ford Focus WRC Supercar built by none other than legendary Will Gollop.

Being the youngest driver ever to take on British Rallycross Supercars and piloting the G-Tech Ford Focus all eyes would be on Jordan. Through the winter months Andrew came for coaching whenever possible to master the techniques of 4 wheel drive to prepare for his Supercar debut as well as assisting with Rally schools to gain confidence dealing with the public and interacting with people to overcome any shyness.

Like any of Jordan’s previous performances, he was not there to make the numbers up as his performance showed.  Throughout  the season Jordan’s progression proved he was destined for a promising future in Motorsport taking the Supercar title in 2007 and after all he has gone on to achieve currently holding the British Touring Car Championship Title, he now returns to Lydden Hill for the FIA World Rallycross Championship behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta Supercar for Olsbergs MSE team.

Peter Gwynne ‘ Watching how this young, shy lad has developed into one of the most successful and most popular drivers in the world has been fantastic.  I don’t need to say how talented he is, we can all see that!   The whole Jordan family have supported Andrew throughout his career and in careful decision making on a limited budget they have seen him excel in his sport.  The way he has conducted himself both on and off track has been a real credit to Mike and Judith and the whole family were a pleasure to be associated with. 

One of the highlights has to be when he returned to the paddock to be crowned British Touring Car Champion 2013 and seeing them all there to share in his victory.

I’m really looking forward to seeing Andrew out there once again, I remember the love he had for sliding a car and making that gravel fly, it is safe to say he will be loving every minute of it.  He was a real favourite within British Rallycross so to see him back out there again is a welcome sight for all.’   

JAMIE YAPP RALLYCROSS DEBUT IN SWIFT SPORT

Jamie Yapp , the  past double BTRDA AutoSolo Challenge Champion and twice BTRDA Allrounders runner up, is to make his Rallycross debut in a  Peter Gwynne Motorsport Swift Sport on Sunday 9th March at Blyton.  He continues the family tradition as his father Richard drove in the BTRDA  Autocross Final in the 1978.

Jamie usually completes in Sprints, Hillclimbs, Autotest and AutoSolos in his beloved Nova SR which has Aldon modified engine and car preparation by Roger Holder’s Cranmore Garage. He holds three Sprint class records in the Nova  and  was inspired to have a go at Rallycross after watching family friend and multiple champion Dermot Carnegie at Lydden  Hill before he retired.