Dodsworth's Racing Debut at Cadwell Park

For Mark Dodsworth 2014 is all about gaining Motorsport experience and having sampled the British Rallycross Championship contesting Lydden Hill, Knockhill and Pembrey, Dodsworth next aim was to try circuit racing.

 Joining the BRSCC Eurosaloons at Cadwell Park the teenager from Portsmouth certainly had his work cut out on this challenging circuit.  With torrential rain through most of the day, Dodsworth managed to make it through the day whilst a number of drivers packed up and went home.

Whilst not the ideal situation for a first experience at circuit racing Dodsworth gained great experience in driving in wet conditions.

Fifth for Fruru in Rallycross Challenge Europe

After claiming 3rd in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship in 2013 in a PGM Hire Swift, Belgian driver Kris Fruru discussed his dream to go to European events stepping up to S1600.

Working a plan together to turn the dream into a reality the Left Hand Drive Swift began development to turn S1600 starting with being wide tracked.   The focus for the year was to be able to take on the Rallycross Challenge Europe and compete in as many rounds as possible within an affordable budget.

Adventuring across Europe visiting countries including Lithuania, Hungary and Czech Republic  Fruru completed every round of the championship and they were the only team to compete an finish every round.

Initially aiming for a Top 10 finish in the first year, working with Peter Gwynne, Fruru soon smashed that target achieving 5th overall in the Championship.

Taylor Takes Third at Pembrey

For Peter Gwynne Motorsport Junior Driver Jake Taylor, the trip to Pembrey Circuit for Round 4 of the British Rallycross Championship was filled with excited anticipation having made his Rallycross debut here back in 2013.

With the Junior Swifts opening the event, in search of the fastest line through the freshly graded gravel section, clipping a tyre stack sent the Retford Racer into a spin. Hot on his heels fellow competitor Charlie Bean entered Taylor’s tornado of dust only to meet in the middle resulting in heavy front end damage to both cars.

Somewhat deflated with his return to paddock being assisted by a recovery vehicle and a Marshall speculating it may be the end of his days racing Taylor relayed the incident to the team and they set about the rebuild.

Taylor patiently observed the team at work as fellow competitors and crews from the Swift Camp came to check the welfare of him and the car.  The severity of the damage came to light making Taylor’s hopes to return to track fade as the first heat was missed. Changing from his overalls, the sixteen year old resided to the fact he would be a spectator for the rest of the day. 

The crew conscious a non-point scoring round would hamper his title chase battled on to get the car straight and prior to heat 2 all four wheels were on providing the chance to get back out and score some vital points.

Overalls back on and a smile restored, Taylor realised the game had now changed.  With two heats remaining and the awareness of the Swift having taken a severe shunt, completing the last two heats were paramount to be eligible to contest the final.

Showing a mature attitude Taylor lined up on the grid with the clear objective of completing the remaining heats rather than chasing the win to make the final which is where it would all count.  Further issues that arose due to the earlier impact were overcome and his place in the final was secured.

Keeping a level head Taylor kept it smooth in the final to bring home a comfortable third place and silverware not thought possible several hours earlier.

Jake Taylor:  Pembrey was eventful to say the least, full of ups and downs.  Thought it was early retirement when I collided with some tyres.  The mechanics did an excellent job bringing it back to life, which was truly staggering, although without my racing head on I had to trickle the damaged swift back home and I still landed a podium 3rd place finish.  I am definitely going to be checking the level of grip out there next time before I go for it!  Pembrey will be a day to remember!

Sarah Watson, Peter Gwynne Motorsport:  Jake is just so keen. Although this is only his fourth rallycross event, with the great increase on pace he showed at Knockhill and having driven the track before, he was anxious to get out there and get a result.  It was such a shame the gravel just caught him out at the start of the day.   For a young driver, Jake’s level of maturity impressed us all today, reflecting on what happened and learning from it.  His feedback to the mechanics on how the car handled when returning to the paddock meant they were able to diagnose further issues and overcome them to ensure the car finished the day, getting him valuable points to keep him in the running for the championship. 

A great job by all the team, and a big thanks to all the other Swift drivers and crews that came to offer help get Jake back out there.

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.’   

From SEAT to SWIFT for XLR Motorsport's Guy Pettit

Kent-based circuit racer Guy Pettit makes his debut appearance on the British Rallycross scene this weekend in a Peter Gwynne Motorsport prepared Suzuki Swift at Lydden Hill.

The 29-year-old from Chatham is swapping his XLR Motorsport SEAT Leon touring car for the mighty Suzuki Swift Rallycross machine. It will be his first competitive taste of what he calls the 'rough stuff' and the first rounds of the 2014 MSA British Rallycross Championship.

"It was a bit of a last minute decision for me to enter this weekend. After some recent testing with Pete and the team at Lydden Hill, I was raring to get my teeth into competing and just had to find the budget. Pete, Sarah and the whole team have extensive experience in motor racing, not just Rallycross, and they have made me feel very welcome and comfortable. They also make it affordable for drivers like me to go racing. I am just excited to line up on the grid for the first time."

Guy will be racing the number 63 Suzuki Swift, a number he has carried with him since his karting days and one he considers a personal and somewhat integral part of his racing.

"I am under no illusions of how competitive the Swift Rallycross Championship is. It is a far cry from the endurance racing I will also be doing this season and with any luck, this will allow me to get my year off to a flying start. With the short heats and the mixture of gravel and tarmac, Rallycross is a very unique challenge. It teaches certain degrees of car control that other motor racing disciplines simply cannot."

This weekend's opening round of the championship will be a challenge that Guy is keen to embrace.

"If I enjoy racing the car just half as much as I enjoyed testing it, I know I will have a great weekend and I hope this could be the start of a long and successful partnership with Peter Gwynne Motorsport."

Peter Gwynne commented "It is great to have Guy join our team at Lydden.  He has shown an interest in the Swifts for some time and after a recent test, although originally looking at doing the August event he has managed to pull things together to make it out for the opening round.  During his time out on track he got to grips with the mixed surface circuit well so we look forward to seeing him out there in the mix with the rest of the field now.  It is exciting times in British Rallycross, we have five new drivers joining us in hire cars for this round coming from rallying, autograss and even skateboarding!"

Guy will be lined up on the grid with the likes of reigning Champion Graham Rodemark and runner up Tristan Ovenden who are returning for their fourth season in the swifts, along with also new to the sport Skateboarding Legend, X Games Gold Medalist Danny Way.

X Games Gold Medalist Danny Way Swaps Skateboard for Swift!

X Games Gold Medalist for both Big Air and MegaRail and2008 Subaru Athlete of the Games2008 Subaru Athlete of the Games 2008 Subaru Athlete of the Games Multiple World Record Holder, legendary Skateboarder Danny Way tries a different style of 4 wheel action this weekend as he swaps his skateboard for a Suzuki Swift Sport in the British Rallycross Championship this weekend at Lydden Hill.
 

Danny Way and Peter Gwynne

Extreme athlete Way, who is renowned for pushing boundaries in his sport having performed feats such as jumping the Great Wall of China on a skateboard and dropping out of a helicopter onto a skateboard is now looking to challenge himself further in the direction of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

 The DC Shoes Co-founder has been working with International Driver Coach Peter Gwynne making the transition into Rallycross.   Gwynne commented: “Having sat with many drivers of all abilities through the years, it is apparent why Danny is so recognised as an ‘athlete’ rather than just a skateboarder.  It is both his physical and mental attitude that sets him apart from many, wanting to understand all the elements involved in making the car perform, rather than just getting in the car and wanting to drive quick.  As a result, his progress has been impressive.’
 

 

 

Having worked through front, rear and four wheel drive training to understand how to adapt different driving styles for each back in 2013, Way returns to the UK to now experience his first taste of on track action, in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship.

Way says “People that know me, know I have a lifelong passion for motorsport.  With the help of Peter Gwynne I have been sharpening my Rallycross skills and look forward to racing in the Swifts. I am as serious about Rallycross as I am about anything else I do and look forward to building great partnerships and delivering strong results in the seasons to come. “
  

Fellow X Games Gold Medalist Liam Doran who will be contesting the new World Rallycross Championship said ‘ It’s great to hear Danny is coming to Lydden Hill to sample the Swifts, it is the ‘Home of Rallycross’ what better place to start!  The Swifts is an awesome championship, I have competed in it myself a few times and even won at Knockhill!  With it being one make, you have to be on it every second and thinking that one step ahead, it is not like you can just play with the power to get away.  The racing does not get much closer than in the swifts so it will certainly give him an good idea of what rallycross is all about.’

The Swift Sport Rallycross Championship has proved popular with both beginners through to world class drivers, seeing rallycross stars such as Timmy Hansen and Pat Doran visit their Series in hire cars provided by Peter Gwynne Motorsport Ltd as well as Drifting star Steve ‘Baggsy’ Biagioni, Stunt Man extraordinaire Terry Grant, World Superbike Rider Leon Haslem, British and Scottish Rally Champion David Bogie.

Way is currently in talks with several teams regarding a potential appearance in the World Rallycross Championship later in the year.

 
For more information contact:
Sarah Watson - 07778 865 354
info@petergwynne.com 

Useful links:
Danny Way - http://dannyway.com/
Peter Gwynne Motorsport Ltd - http://www.petergwynne.com/
FIA World Rallycross Championship - http://www.rallycrossrx.com/
British Rallycross Championship - http://www.britishrallycross.co.uk/

 

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.