CARTER MAKES RALLYCROSS RETURN IN PGM SUZUKI SWIFT AT CROFT

 

Former BTRDA SuperModified 1600cc Rallycross Champion, Larry Carter, returns to action this weekend at his local Croft Circuit for the final round of the Autosport International BTRDA Rallycross Championship which takes place on Sunday 6^th November.

However, the motorsport broadcaster and journalist from Northallerton, North Yorkshire will not be using his trusty Peugeot 206 rally car in which he took the title in his debut season in the sport back in 2014, instead he’ll once again be at the wheel of a British Championship-specification Peter Gwynne Motorsport Suzuki Swift Sport.

Due to business commitments, Carter hasn’t been able to contest the BTRDA Championship for the past couple of seasons and hasn’t raced in Rallycross since the corresponding meeting last year when, in another PGM-backed Suzuki Swift, he battled to second place in the SuperModified ‘C’ Final before a bruising encounter in the ‘B’ Final saw him placed ninth in the 1600cc car against much more powerful opposition.

This time it will be an even taller order as a capacity entry has been received for the Darlington & District Motor Club-organised event which will see a total of 84 cars in action, including 26 in the SuperModified class.

The Suzuki Swift Sport is the car used recently by Ginetta GT4 racer Fraser Robertson at the final round of the British Rallycross Championship by Odyssey Battery and the MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix by Procter’s Coaches last month and will see Carter enjoy backing from sponsors Yorkshire Van Lease, Fuchs Titan Race, Design Bi-folds, Swift Signs, RWS Bodyworks, Peter Gwynne Motorsport and 7/10 Oils as well as www.cartersport.com.

Carter said: “Watching everyone else having fun whilst I did the commentary at the Croft British Rallycross Grand Prix made me even more determined to race at the final round of the BTRDA series! Thanks to Peter Gwynne Motorsport, I’ve been offered the chance to race a competitive Suzuki Swift once again and following last year’s experience, hopefully we can have a good, clean run and improve on our results from 2015.”

Practice starts at 9am with the first of three sets of heats getting underway from around 10.15am. Adult admission is just £10 on the gate with accompanied children aged 15 and under admitted free. There is free parking and free paddock access also. Croft Circuit is located on the A167 just five miles south of Darlington and for further information, please visit www.croftcircuit.co.uk

Image courtesy of Tony Todd 

Ginetta GT4 Supercup's Robertson Ready for Rallycross!

 Fraser Robertson - Ginetta G55 GT4

Joining the Peter Gwynne Motorsport team for the final round of the Swift Rallycross Championships at Croft Circuit this weekend, Fraser Robertson will swap his Ginetta G55 GT4 for a Suzuki Swift Sport to make his rallycross debut at the final round of the British Rallycross Championship.

Having just completed his 2016 season in the Ginetta GT4 Supercup, where he finished fourth overall, ‘The Van Centre’ proprietor from Brompton-On-Swale is keen to explore different motorsport challenges ahead of the 2017 season.

Whilst no stranger to a one-make championship, swapping his 355 bhp 3.7 V6 Ginetta G55 GT4 for the modest 1.6 front wheel drive little pocket rocket and taking to the gravel sections of his local motorsport venue, for the adrenaline-fuelled, quick-fire races, is sure be a different experience for him.

Pop by and wish him good luck and watch for that smile as he returns to the paddock after Q1!

Deal Driver Don Macleod set for Swift Rallycross at Croft

Making the long journey north from Deal, Kent, Borderforce officer Don Macleod is set to compete in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship season finale at Croft Circuit, Darlington.  

Wanting to fulfil a dream, the football referee hired a PGM Swift for the second round of the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship when they headed to his local circuit, Lydden Hill during the Easter weekend. 

After a successful debut, the Scotsman was left wanting more and took to the track once again when the swifts returned to 'The Home of Rallycross' in August for Round 6 of the British Rallycross Championship.

Having embraced the spirit and camaraderie of the Swifts, progressing steadily in both heats and the semi finals, with his highlight so far being a third in heat three at Lydden Hill, Don says “Despite being a complete novice, the fellow competitors have accepted me and their knowledge and advise has given me the impetus to push harder and harder in each race I have competed in.”

Now wanting to experience a new circuit, Macleod heads to Yorkshire for the Swift season finale at Croft Circuit with the ambition to continue racing in the Swifts in 2017, work permitting.

Highlights of Ben Tuck's first experience of Swift Rallycross at Pembrey

Normally used to driving rear wheel drive on a sealed surface, we send Ben Tuck Racing straight out in the Swift Rallycross ultra-competitive Swift Rallycross Championships at Pembrey Circuit in the pouring rain courtesy of the free drive offered by Lumena Lights Ltd!

Impressive performance by the Motor Sports Association (MSA) Academy Student who qualified for the final and finished a very respectable sixth overall in his first ever British Rallycross Championship event.

Watch his highlights here:

Testing Terrain for Trio on Trackrod!

The sun shone as three Swifts swooped into Dalby Forest service park on the first day of October ready to take on the BTRDA Trackrod Rally.

First to take to the stages was British Rallycross Supernational driver Todd Crooks and girlfriend Jordine Wadge making their debut in BTRDA Rally.  Waiting for this day to finally arrive, an anxious Jordine had an even longer wait for her first taste of codriving when reaching stage one there was a thirty minute delay.

There were smiles as the two returned to service after SS3 however, and after a close encounter with a deer that jumped into the stage in front of them in Langdale, the pair realised what a real adventure rallying is.

Finding good pace through SS4 Crooks settled into his stride with the swift until reaching a collection of cars retired on the side of the stage.  Avoiding the cars put him in line with a large deep pot hole which caused damage and explained the parked cars.  Nursing the Swift back into service the crew got to work replacing the severed strut and bent hub just in time for Crooks to continue to SS5, where unfortunately their rally would end when a ball joint let go during a tight chicane.  

Jonathan Hodgson and codriver Gary Baker were next out and due to the delays queuing for stage start, there was concerns of the clutch overheating although they managed to made it though the morning stages until they too found the pothole on SS4 causing them to limp into service with a puncture.  New rubber on, the Yorkshire boys continued incident free to complete their third rally in a row.

Droitwich driver Tom Delaney and codriver Matt Walk were not so lucky.  Having had a steady run though their first stage learning grip levels,  the MSA Student encountered a rock in the middle of the road resulting in a cracked sump which ended play at SS3.

Whilst the Dalby Forest terrain got the better of two of the swifts in this occasion, congratulations to Jonathan and Gary on completing the day.

Well done to Todd and Jordine who worked well together and made a great team.   Hope to see them having more 'quality time' together or rally stages in the future. 

Finally thank you to everyone who came and offered help and support to the new couple on their rally debut and to all the organisers, marshals and everyone who made the event possible. 

The Swifts will be back out in force on Grizdale Stages - 26th November 2016

Crooks set for BTRDA Rally Debut

For Todd Crooks Motorsport is his passion!  Competing in both the British Rallycross Championship and also the BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship series, this year Crooks  is keen to sample different forms of motorsport enthused  by the @BTRDA All Rounders championship.

Whilst a regular in the Rallycross paddock, Crooks tried his hand at Sprinting, supporting the MDA when they visited Blyton Race Circuit earlier in the year where he won his class. 

Also conscious of his other passion in life,  girlfriend of six years Jordine Wadge, who herself has grown up in the rallycross paddock attending her first event at only three days old, Crooks suggested a weekend away in Yorkshire....Rallying! 

What better way of spending some quality time together than heading off into the Dalby forest strapped in a rally car together? 

The couple will make their rally debut in a PGM Swift competing in the popular BTRDA Trackrod Rally Yorkshire car #125 this Saturday (1st October).  

If visiting the service park pop by and wish them luck. 

Peter Gwynne:  Having done a coaching day with Todd at the Sweet Lamb Complex, sat beside him, he was smooth and progressed well with good speed.   He certainly has the ability to do well but it will be interesting to see how he gets on this weekend.  It is a a totally different discipline for him and also with it being Jordine's first time on the notes, either way I think it will be a real adventure for them both. 

Todd Crooks:  After winning the BTRDA Super modified Championship last year I was keen to stretch my legs and try something new. The BTRDA all rounders Championship seemed the perfect way to do this, so we could continue with the Rallycross and do a bit of something else as well. With competing in two Championships our weekends are quite busy, so finding something to fit was the first priority.  When I noticed that the Trackrod was on a free weekend I was immediately drawn to it, and this was only enhanced after the practice with Peter at Sweet Lamb. I'm really looking forward to this weekend and seeing  whether Rallying is the thing for us!

Jordine Wadge:   Motorsport has always played quite a big role in my life, right from three days old. Mum and Dad were keen on their Rallycross, but we spent many a weekend at different forms of circuit racing too. 20 years on and Motorsport is still at the top of my hobbies. Not only did Todd and I meet at Rallycross some 6 years ago, but it also plays a part in my part time job too as a first aider. When I was given the opportunity last year to compete in my first Rallycross in memory of my mum it's fair to say I caught the bug.  I've done a sprint this year too, and with the Rally I'll have tried 3 different sports in less than 365 days. I'm really locking forward to seeing how Todd and I get on as a team, and whether I can keep up in the notes! Big thanks to Peter and Sarah for the opportunity, and Richard too for the training!

Sunshine and Supercars!

Sunshine and Supercars here at Silverstone circuit today.