Pembrey Set For Another Bruising British Rallycross Encounter

By Paul Evans

The Penrhiwllan-based Spencer Sport squad head into Sunday’s penultimate round the Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship at the Welsh Motorsports Centre at Pembrey with its driver, Julian Godfrey, in a close four-way fight for the title.

Driving the west Wales team’s Mitsubishi Mirage RX Supercar, Godfrey led the series until he was involved in a massive accident at Croft, which saw the car roll several times at high speed. The car was rebuilt in time for the following round, but the points lost hurt the most. Still very much in contention for the title, Godfrey is just eight points off the leader, with 30 points available for a win at Pembrey.

“We’re treating Pembrey as a must-win event for us,” said Spencer Sport team manager Charlie Jukes. “To be sure of winning the title, we must win at our home track on Sunday and also win the final round at Silverstone. We have shown that our Mitsubishi Mirage RX Supercar is the car to beat this season, so winning both the final race meetings is very much achievable.”

The British Rallycross Championship is currently being led by Powys-based Manxman Mark Higgins in his Albatec Racing Peugeot 208 Supercar. He is just three points ahead of Irishman Ollie O’Donovan (Ford Focus RX Supercar), with Godfrey third and Steve Hill (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo RX Supercar) fourth, just 21 points adrift of first place.

This is the second time that the British Rallycross Championship has raced at Pembrey’s new tract layout this year. In a double-header meeting back in the summer, O’Donovan won a bruising encounter, which saw both Higgins and Godfrey get hit and drop down the order with damage.

This Sunday’s race meeting is likely to be just as bruising, with the result sure to play a significant role in the outcome of the title.

There is plenty of Welsh interest on the driver entry list. Carmarthen’s Mike Manning will debut his new Ford Fiesta RX Supercar, while Liam Manning brings his Tenby Road Filling Station-backed Subaru Impreza. Nigel Burke, also from Carmarthen, drives his Impreza, while Llandysul’s Roger Thomas hasn’t stated what car he’ll drive.

Haverfordwest teenager Tom Llewellin will be aiming for a good haul of points on race day in his Peter Gwynne Motorsport-run Swift Sport Championship car.

A packed race programme features a raft of other support championships, including the MSA Junior Rallycross Championship, MSA Supernational Championship, BMW Mini Championship, Retro Rallycross and RX 150.

Gates open at 07.30 on Sunday morning, with track action scheduled to begin at 09.30.