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Ulsterman
Lawrence Gibson (Banbridge) produced an unbeatable mix of speed and
reliability to win the fourth round of the Kumho Tyres MSA British
Rallycross Championship at Croft today (July 6). Gibson's win with his
MG Metro 6R4 was the first for a driver of a Group B car since June
2003 [when Pat Doran won at Anglesey's Trac Mon], and allowed Gibson to
take a five point lead at the head of the championship with three
events left to run.
In
an event run in mixed weather conditions that made track conditions
difficult, Gibson's path to victory was perfectly measured. With third
fastest time in the first qualifying heat, behind Steve Hill and Ollie
O'Donovan, and second fastest to O'Donovan in the second heat, Gibson
chose to sit out the third heat and preserve his car for the A final.
London-based Irishman and championship leader O'Donovan was fastest
again in the third heat and secured pole position, in front of
Gibson and Tommy Graham (Prosperous) in an all Irish front row of the
grid. Hill (Aylesbury) went out of the event in the second heat with
engine failure in his Mitsubishi Lancer E9. It was Gibson who moved
ahead in the A final, recording a clear win over Graham and David Binks
(Newcastle upon Tyne) while O'Donovan nursed his Peugeot 306 home in a
distant fourth place after a front differential problem left him with
only rear-wheel drive.
The
A final win gave Gibson pole position for the Superfinal, the grid for
the fastest eight cars from the class finals also containing
SuperModified drivers Dave Bellerby (Northallerton) and Michael Boak
(Newcastle upon Tyne) and Stock Hatch runners Phil Chicken (Barnsley)
and Ryan Lawford (Canterbury). Again Gibson proved the class of the
field, mastering the tricky conditions to take a clear victory over
Chris Langley (Hastings) who collected a personal best second place in
his Escort WRC, and Binks who was overjoyed with his podium finish
after his day started with a crash in the first heat. Driveline
problems dropped Graham to last place and O'Donovan was prevented from
starting by the problems that hit his car in the A final.
Result
Superfinal
(5 laps) 1 Lawrence Gibson (MG Metro 6R4) 4m28.398s; 2 Chris Langley
(Ford Escort WRC) 4m41.633; 3 David Binks (Mitsubishi Lancer E7)
4m50.115s; 4 Michael Boak (Audi TT) 4m52.745s; 5 Dave Bellerby (Lotus
Exige) 4m54.186s; 6 Phil Chicken (VW Lupo GTi) 4m54.186s; 7 Ryan
Lawford (Peugeot 205 GTi); 8 Tommy Graham (Ford Escort WRC) 4 laps.
Championship
1 Gibson 101; 2 O'Donovan 96; 3 Steve Hill (Mitsubishi Lancer E9) 78; 4
Dermot Carnegie (Ford Fiesta ST) 77; 5 Tony Lynch (Peugeot 205 GTi) 60;
6 James Bird (Renault ClioSport V6) 59.
A full event report detailing all classes will be posted on RallycrossUK.com later
- This event will be broadcast by Motors TV at 10pm on Friday July 18 and will be repeated several times in following weeks.
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The British Rallycross Drivers Association has organised the British
Rallycross Championship on behalf of the governing body of British
motor sport (the MSA) since 2003.
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The Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship has seven rounds
which will be run over six weekends at venues in England, Wales and
Ireland. Its events are listed on the International calendar and are
open to foreign drivers.
2008 Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship
Sun-Mon Mar 23-24 Lydden
Sat May 3 Pembrey
Sun May 4 Pembrey
Sun Jul 6 Croft
Mon Aug 25 Lydden
Sun Sep 28 Pembrey
Sun Oct 12 Mondello Park (IRL)
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