‘Mad’ Mark to sit out 2011 season

Rallycross star ‘Mad’ Mark Watson is set to miss the 2011 season after plans to contest the British and French championships fell through due to budget issues.

The former British Rallycross Open champion switched to the MSA British Rallycross Championship last season and finished seventh in the points standings. He had hopes to return this year and was also considering options to compete in France, but has instead opted to strip down his Citroen Xsara to prepare for the 2012 campaign.

“I was very close to racing in France this year,” explained the County Durham-based driver to erc24.com. “That was the plan, and it looked like it was going to happen, but it’s off now and as it’s so late in the day I don’t think I’m going to be able to get anything together to race this year.

"I’ve promoted myself well and achieved so much with four championships in five years. We just recently won an award for best promoted team at the Rallycross Awards, but even with all the promotion and displaying the team at shows and in magazines I still cannot attract enough to put together a budget for the season.

“I’ve promised the car for several shows this year, and as long as I own it, I will do those, but if I can’t get a budget to race at the front, I don’t see the point in racing at all.”

Despite his disappointment, Watson dismissed thoughts of retiring from the sport and is already working on his 2012 plans.

“I have no intention of giving up,” he said. “We are building a new gearbox and suspension for the car and we are confident we’ll be back in the running next year.”

Watch the British, French and European Rallycross Championships on Motors TV in 2011.


Andy Wilkinson

Follow Motors TV on Twitter, Facebook and You Tube