Rallycross Rivals Clash At Pembrey

By Paul Evans

The two leading drivers battling for the Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship clashed in the Final of Round 4 at the Welsh Motorsports Centre today, ruining both their Finals – and the grudge match will continue tomorrow (Sunday) when Round 5 also takes place at Pembrey.

The Mitsubishi Mirage RX Supercar of the Penrhiwllan-based Spencer Sport team had dominated the heats, with its driver, five time British Rallycross Champion, Julian Godfrey, winning three out of three races. The performance was made all the more remarkable considering the west Wales team had completely rebuilt the car following its massive accident in the previous round at Croft, where it rolled five times and caught fire.

The early, and somewhat easy, race wins made it favourite to win the Final, but that wasn’t to be – after arch rival Mark Higgins hit the back of the Mirage RX on the opening lap, pushing the car into a spin and puncturing a rear tyre.

The mid-Wales based driver, who has been a stunt driver in the last three James Bond films, didn’t escape unscathed either, as his Albatec Racing Peugeot 208 RX Supercar picked up a front puncture as well. The two fuming rivals limped on, with Godfrey finishing fourth and Higgins last. The race was won by Irishman Ollie O’Donovan, who kept well away from trouble in his Team RX Racing Ford Fiesta Supercar.

Whilst today’s Rallycross action took place on a clockwise loop of the Pembrey circuit, Sunday’s Round 5 will be held on the same track – but run in the opposite anti-clockwise direction. Racing starts from 09.00 and plenty more high-speed argy-bargy is expected!