British Cross Country Championship preview

After a successful 2010 the Britpart MSA British Cross Country Championship returns in April with the opening round of the 2011 season being held at Myherin forest in Wales.

The venue is new to the championship and a dramatic hilly course utilising several tracks that have not been used competitively for several years is promised. From the start the stage climbs up to 1800ft before falling to 800ft and then back up to 1800ft prior to dropping down to the finish – crews planning on walking the course are advised to start a keep fit campaign!

Several of the 2010 championship crews have already confirmed their intention to compete this season. Bamber Bridge’s Dan Lofthouse is hoping to have finally completed his new Freelander in time for round one, with his usual Proto LD4 having being sold.

"We’re currently in the final build stage," said Lofthouse. "Things are going to plan, it’s a completely new car with a new development engine so it should be an exciting year."

Mike "Bumpy" Moran will return in his AT 4x4 Indy Challenger, a car he debuted last year. The car is presently undergoing some suspension changes which will give more travel. Bumpy enjoyed a good BCCC season in 2010 and claimed a top ten finish before rounding his season off with third overall on the Borders Hill Rally.

"It was a good finish to last year, the car has good capabilities as shown by the Borders result," commented Bumpy. "We have been joking with the young fast lads they should fit some extra mirrors as this year the old guy running the diesel-engined car is going to be catching them up!"

Before starting their BCCC seasons Bumpy and Lofthouse will team up to contest the Tuareg Rally in Morocco, an eight-day event at the end of March.

Karl Gudgeon has been busy with car modifications over the winter and he is hoping to build on his fourth overall on the Borders last year in his GSR Evo X. New diffs and a new floor are among the modifications made.

Whitworth’s Phil Ibbotson will contest his fifth year of BCCC in his crowd-pleasing Metro 6R4 Evo and fellow 6R4 driver Ivan Dudley is also returning to the championship with the aim being a more reliable season than he experienced last year.

To prepare for BCCC events in sunny Wales Greg Macleod has been out to Dubai practising in the desert. He’ll be in his Maxtraction Milner again this year as well as competing on some events abroad in his Bowler Nemesis.

At the time of writing Dean "R2" Sutcliffe was hinting at the purchase of a new car to replace the Bowler he used last year. A cagey Sutcliffe would say nothing more than "it is diesel powered" so we will have to wait to round one to see what he turns up with!”

Watch the British Cross Country Championship in Special Stage on Motors TV.


Gary Simpson

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