French Final For Fruru

Returning for a second time to join the French Championship, Belgian Driver Kris Fruru made the trip to Circuit de Kerlabo for round 7 of the Championship which attracted an impressive 113 competitors.

Piloting the PGM S1600 Suzuki Swift in the sixteen strong class, it was nothing but an eventful weekend for the lorry driver from Westerlo. 

 Kris Fruru - Circuit de Kerbalo

Developing a throttle sensor fault after first practice, the weekends racing momentarily looked in jeopardy, yet with assistance of French speaking Father Fruru sourcing bolts and an adjustment made to overcome the problem, the heats were raced through day one with no further problems.

Returning to a wet track for day two, whilst many took the practice on slicks, it was not long before the changes started to the regulation wet tyre.  Debating whether the investment should be made to purchase a full set of wets, clarification of the current wet tyre only being legal for the remainder of 2015 due to a future tyre change and only 2 further French rounds being contested by Fruru for the remainder of the season, the decision was made to stick with slicks. 

Being the only competitor not on a wet tyre for heat 3, Fruru kept it on the track and stayed out of trouble to go on and claim fourth in the Semi-Final qualifying for A final promotion.  With undoubtedly some of the best S1600 drivers in Europe contesting this championship, which is what attracted Fruru to the series initially, even lining up in the A final was a major feat for the foreign visitor.   Having experienced the pace of these phenomenal French machines back in 2014, when the Rallycross Challenge Europe visited this venue, it is evident that with the developments to the car through the season, pace has been increased as Fruru claimed eighth and picked up some nice prize money in the process.

It is only two weeks until Fruru takes to the track again, this time in front of his home crowd at Maasmechelen, Belgium for Round 3 of the Rallycross Challenge Europe.

British Rallycross - Round 6 - Pembrey Circuit

PGM Motorsport ran no less than four Suzuki Swifts at the sixth round of the MSA British Rallycross Championship at Pembrey, as Andy Pecover, Adam Weaver and Jeff Hankin raced in the Power Maxed Swift Rallycross Championship and Bradley Durdin claimed victory in the MSA Junior Swift Rallycross Championship.

By chance, the three drivers of PGM Swifts raced head-to-head in the final at Pembrey, Newton driver Hankin eventually coming out on top to claim second position behind winner Alex Spencer. Former Stock Hatch rallycross racer Andy Pecover finished just behind in third having set the fastest lap time of the race, while British Touring Car Championship Power Maxed team boss Adam Weaver again joined the series in a break from his BTCC commitments and pressured Pecover all the way to the finish line in the final, to claim fourth.

Jeff Hankin second in the B Final

 Adam Weaver taking the chance to get behind the wheel during a break from BTCC

 Former Stock Hatch driver Andy Pecover in Action

Former rally driver Robert Pickard was unable to make his debut in the Swift championship on his return to motorsport due to being unwell. PGM Motorsport wish Pickard well and hope to see him out in a Swift soon.

Junior Bradley Durdin heads to victory at Pembrey

In the MSA Junior Swift Rallycross Championship, Bradley Durdin won the final after making a great pass on Sam Jones mid-race. The win moves Durdin to just four points behind championship leader Drew Bellerby, who finished second at Pembrey - she just beat Jones to the line by eight hundredths of a second. Thomas Constantine finished fourth.

Battle for Yapp in BTRDA B Final

Competing for only his second ever time on gravel, piloting the Peter Gwynne Motorsport S1600 Hire Swift, former BTRDA AutoSolo Challenge Champion Jamie Yapp gained pace in every heat of the Round 2 of The BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship held at Pembrey Circuit, Wales. 

 Jamie Yapp takes a win in Heat 3

 

A win in heat 3 secured pole position for the B Final however, the chance of an A final promotion slipped away after losing out at the hotly-contested first corner.  Whilst left at the back of the pack, Yapp managed a finish to complete the days event although was left unable to compete in Round 3 of the double header event.

It is a quick turnaround for the PGM Team as the S1600 Swift makes its first trip across the water this weekend for Belgian Driver Kris Fruru to contest a National event at Eurocircuit, Holland in preparation for the start of the Rallycross Challenge Europe in which he came fifth in 2014.

Junior Durdin Delivers A Win In Wales

The MSA British Rallycross Championship made its first visit of the season to Pembrey, South Wales, where PGM Motorsport ran three cars in the Power Maxed Swift Rallycross Championship and MSA Junior Swift Rallycross Championship.

 Andy Pecover makes debut in Swift Sport Championship

Former Stock Hatch rallycross racer Andy Pecover returned to the sport at Pembrey in a PGM run Swift and impressed with his pace amongst a strong field of experienced Swift racers. With improved lap times each time he went on track, Pecover was sixth fastest in the third qualifying heat and finished third in the B final after a close encounter with Stockton-on-Tees driver, Andrew Hawkes. Jeff Hankin had another strong event in his first season of rallycross, he finished fifth in the B final and climbed to ninth of 17 competitors in the championship standings after the opening three rounds of the season.

Strong performance by Jeff Hankin, gaining confidence every time

Essex racer Bradley Durdin claimed victory in the MSA Junior Swift Rallycross Championship final to close the gap on championship leader Drew Bellerby to just one point. Durdin was fastest in the second qualifying heat and second in heat three to line up on the front row for the final, alongside pole sitter Sam Jones. Durdin made a great start to go on to win the race from newcomer Sam Jones and 2014 junior vice-champion Drew Bellerby.

Brad Durdin heading for victory

Peter Gwynne:  Great driving by Brad today.   He has proved from the start of the season he was going to be a strong contender in the juniors, he was just struggling with his starts a little at Lydden so we had some time in the car and practiced those before Pembrey and he has given a strong drive all day.  Unlucky with a puncture in heat one but delivered a win and fastest time of the day so cant complain at that.  He was clutching his plate with pride!

 

Brad Durdin taking his first British Rallycross win

Brad Durdin:  After pushing so hard all year it was great to finally pick up the win that we've been so close to getting at the past few rounds. We had some ups and downs throughout the day such as the puncture in the first heat but that was outweighed by a strong finish in the Final.

World Rallycross debut for Danny Way and Dave Mirra with JRM Group

 

The JRM Team with US driver legendary skateboarder Danny Way

The FIA World Rallycross Championship Team from the JRM Group running #TeamUSRX drivers, Multiple X Games Gold Medallist, Skateboarding legend Danny Way and equally decorated Star of the BMX world Dave Mirra, can certainly go back from #HockenheimRX with enthusiasim from their first ever #WorldRX outing.

With 2015 being all about development, the all-new team headed out to Germany to get an understanding of Rallycross and see how their new #MINIRX would perform against the likes of Petter Solberg, Timmy Hansen and Liam Doran on the world stage.

With Danny's ride straight out of the factory, his impressive start for his first ever launch raised eyebrows from onlookers, whilst Mirra was greeted with approving smiles a he returned to the paddock having delivered a chequered flag in his heat.

This can only be a very positive start for the team and working with these guys, it is clear to see they are by no means here to make up the numbers. Improving every time out and further development planned, they will certainly be ones to watch for the future

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

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.