Doran clinches Irish win

Reigning champion Pat Doran became the third different winner from as many rounds as the MSA British Rallycross Championship visited Mondello Park in Ireland for the first time in two years at the weekend.

Andy Scott (Peugeot 306) looked set to be a favourite for the A Final having set the FTD in the drying third qualifying heat, but slid off on the first lap handing Doran a lead that he would never surrender.

Julian Godfrey (Ford Fiesta VI) ran second at the start of the race, but slid wide towards the end of the first lap, ceding position to George Tracey (Citroen Xsara) and David Binks (Ford Fiesta VI).

While Tracey closed on Doran, he was unable to get within striking distance of the Ford man and ultimately settled for second place having fended off Godfrey, who had re-passed Binks for third, in the closing stages of the five-lap race.

Fourth for Binks keeps him in championship contention while Steve Hill (Mitsubishi Lancer E10) completed the top five. Local driver David Dempsey (Mitsubishi E5) took a fine sixth place ahead of Ulsterman Derrick Jobb (Ford Escort), who completed the A Final finishers.

Ash Simpson (Lotus Exige) bounced back from a disappointing result in the previous round at Blyton last month to win the Supernational class in an A-Final that was restarted following an incident between James McVicker (Renault Clio) and Pearse Browne (BMW).

Simpson got away well at the second time of asking and led from lights-to-flag to take the win ahead of Kieran Curran (Opel Corsa) and Michael Boak (Audi TT TDi).

The RX150 championship attracted its biggest grid of the year and saw Leo Forster win an entertaining A Final ahead of Ollie O’Donovan and Marc Scott, while Suzuki Swift class honours went to Dave Bellerby. Tony Lynch and Jonny Bean completed the podium.

Victories in the Junior and Hot Hatch categories went to Aidan Hills and Derek Tohill (Peugeot 106), respectively.

MSA British Rallycross Championship results: Round 3, Mondello Park

A Finals (all 5 laps)

MSA British Rallycross Championship, Supercar

1 Pat Doran (Ford Focus) 3m07.149s;
2 George Tracey (Citroën Xsara) +2.359;
3 Julian Godfrey (Ford Fiesta VI) +0.001s;
4 David Binks (Ford Fiesta VI) +0.671s;
5 Steve Hill (Mitsubishi Lancer E10) +6.459;
6 David Dempsey (Mitsubishi E5) +7.921s;
7 Derrick Jobb (Ford Escort) +0.462s;
8 Andy Scott (Peugeot 306) 0 laps.

Championship Standings (after 3 rounds)

1 Pat Doran, 80pts
2 Julian Godfrey, 77
3 David Binks, 75
4 Steve Hill, 60
5 Andy Scott, 56
6 Steve Mundy, 41

Supernational

1 Ash Simpson (Lotus Exige) 3m20.680s;
2 Kieran Curran (Opel Corsa) +1.551s;
3 Michael Boak (Audi TT TDi) +3.621s;
4 Ian O’Connell (Lotus Exige) +1.529s;
5 John Dowling (Vauxhall Nova) +4.092s;
6 James McVicker (Renault Clio) +3.574s.

RX150

1 Leo Forster 3m24.863s;
2 Ollie O’Donovan +2.530s;
3 Marc Scott +0.337s;
4 Joe Shrimpton +1.185s;
5 Steve Harris +4.935s;
6 Geoffrey Dolan +2.712s.

Suzuki Swift

1 Dave Bellerby 3m36/610s;
2 Tony Lynch +3.700s;
3 Jonny Bean +1.927s;
4 Adam Clark +0.669s;
5 Chris Mullen +0.330s;
6 Darren Scott +3.338s.

Junior (all 1.3 Suzuki Swift)

1 Aidan Hills 3m53.541s;
2 Ryan Weston +5.354s;
3 Paige Bellerby +0.519s;
4 Oli Mellors 3 laps.

Hot Hatch

1 Derek Tohill (Peugeot 106 GTi) 3m34.013s;
2 Eddie Peterson (Peugeot 106 GTi) +0.757s;
3 Michael Duke (Peugeot 106 GTi) +1.273s;
4 Russell Simpson (Citroën C2 VTS) +3.722s;
5 Sean Smith (Peugeot 106 GTi) +0.449s;
6 Philip Lawless (Peugeot 206) +10.609s.

Next round: 10 July, Maasmechelen, Belgium

Watch British Rallycross highlights from Mondello Park on Wednesday 22 June at 9pm (BST) on Motors TV.


Andy Wilkinson

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