Podium for Alexander on Dukeries Development Drive

Congratulations to PGM instructor Paul Alexander and Co-driver Tom Woodburn on their 1st in class and 3rd overall today in the Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally​ at Donington Park today.

 With tweaks to the car throughout the day in preparation for taking to the Irish lanes in their next outing in Killarney, the pair held a top three position for the majority of the day. 

As the light began to fade, Alexander just wanted to retain his second place behind the storming Proton of David Tinn however, a sudden retirement by Tinn meant the title was there for the taking.  Flicking the lamps on and heading into the darkness it was apparent the speedy couple were struggling with visibility from their spot lights.  Choosing to air on the side of caution on this test outing, Alexander eased off the gas and crossed the flying finish after a clean but somewhat frustrating run.

 Initially aiming for a top ten finish, Alexander was pleased with third overall and more importantly how the 2 litre Mk II Escort performed in this hotly contested event.  Whilst a suspension upgrade will have to stay on the wish list for 2015, an upgrade to the lighting system is planned before heading out to tackle the technical ‘Gortnagane’ night stage on the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Stages Rally – 5th December.

Car	Cls	Crew	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Penalty	Total	Cls Pos	O/A Pos
2	4	Ashley Field/ Ryan Vickers	7:32	6:28	7:55	7:39	6:51	6:43	6:17	6:18		55:43	1	1
20	3	Martin Hodgson/ Tony Jones	6:56	6:27	7:51	7:45	7:01	6:56	6:22	6:34		55:52	1	2
19	3	Paul Alexander/ Tom Woodburn	6:59	6:27	7:53	7:44	7:00	6:51	6:19	6:43		55:56	2	3
8	4	Paul Diamond/ Stephen Cox	7:08	6:32	8:05	8:00	7:05	6:59	6:27	6:40		56:56	2	4
6	4	Graeme Bell/ Russ Radford	7:03	6:36	8:07	7:54	7:15	7:07	6:28	6:40		57:10	3	5
87	5	John Yates / Rhys Yates	7:10	6:35	8:04	8:30	7:11	6:59	6:31	6:36		57:36	1	6
5	3	Julian Jones/ Mikey Herritts	7:13	6:41	8:06	7:56	7:17	7:04	6:34	6:46		57:37	3	7
32	4	Matt Downer/ Marc Gaunt	7:16	6:37	8:10	7:57	7:11	7:05	6:37	6:54		57:47	4	8
9	5	Oliver Hopkins/ Ashley Trimble	7:06	6:43	8:09	8:00	7:19	7:10	6:39	6:51		57:57	2	9
17	4	Andrew Bayliss/ Chris Sharpe-Simkiss	7:17	6:44	8:03	8:03	7:07	7:37	6:30	6:49		58:10	5	10

Durdin Cinches Title at Croft Circuit

We are properly proud of our 'little' junior star Bradley Durdin. With a close run battle all year through in the British Rallycross Championship Swift Juniors with Drew Bellerby, Bradley took the win in the final at Croft Circuit yesterday and all subject to post season scrutiny checks, Bradley takes the title MSA British Rallycross Junior Champion.

Well done Bradley!

Junior Coaching Sessions

It's all about the youngsters this weekend! Junior coaching sessions.

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.