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.

Motorcycle Racer Ryan McAdam joins Peter Gwynne Motorsport Team

After a successful first test, Scottish Motorcycle racer Ryan McAdam makes the switch from 2 to 4 wheels this season, racing in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship with Peter Gwynne Motorsport Ltd.

As a complete novice in motorsport, the youngster from Aberdeen started racing motorcycles in 2011 at the age of 16.  In his first season, he managed a top ten race finish in the British Superteen Challenge which, the following year he improved upon making it into the top five with the highlight of taking 3rd overall at Rockingham.  McAdam then moved up to the Aprilia RRV450 after signing with JDF Racing, to double head an attack on the Bridgestone Supertwin Championship and the Aprilia RRV450 Challenge. 

At the age of 20, Ryan was invited by John Surtees (Formula 1 & MotoGP World Champion) to race in his charity event mixing racing drivers with celebrities in a team endurance race. His team '2n4 Racing' finished 10th out of 35 teams, racing wheel to wheel with established names in motorsport! After the race, there was a champagne reception, in which he discussed with John Surtees the opportunity to switch to 4 wheels, as he had done in his career.  “I was very lucky to be invited to race in the Henry Surtees Challenge. It is a solo race event with the best young drivers in Europe racing for amazing prizes. By the end of the day, I had made the decision that I wanted to race cars and focused on making that happen for this season.” enthused McAdam.

He continued, “I tested the Swift Rallycross car last month, and was immediately very impressed with the car. It was an interesting start to the day, with snow appearing before the first session, at a very cold airfield in Shropshire! The Suzuki was fantastic all day, and I finished every session with a big smile on my face! It was great to have so much confidence in the car from the first day, and I'm very excited to see what will happen this season!”

Peter Gwynne:  "We are really pleased to have Ryan joining us for the Swift Rallycross Championships. He showed a good level of car control when he came for a test recently, but with him only looking at the championship a week before entries closed, I am really impressed at the focus he has shown in approaching sponsors and finding the budget to make it happen. 

The Swifts are an extremely competitive class within the British Rallycross Championship and being a one make series, one small error can cost vital seconds you cannot find back.  If Ryan shows half as much focus and determination out there on track as he has in getting this far, he will certainly be one to watch for the future."

Ryan will make is debut at Croft Circuit this Sunday (15th March).