British Rallycross 2023

[tbtstt]

I see there has been some 2023 season news from Autosport today, so thought I'd start a new thread for this year.

Steve Harris electric MINI Supercar breaks cover...



...apparently doing the full 5 Nations season (so potentially the first electric Supercar at a 5 Nations and French round?).

Also see Roger Thomas saying he will be doing a full season in 5 Nations and the Irish Championship in 2023.

[Barrie]

Personally I think there should be serious thought on a joint 5 nations , Ireland link up. Six Supercar Fiestas in Ireland now

[tbtstt]

Revised scoring and a team championship for 2023:

5 Nations Rallycross - Teams Championship & New Points Structure for 2023

The revised points doesn't appear to impact the event structure and seems aimed at making the Championship closer, so seems like a good idea.

Not too sure on the team Championship though? Unless there are some teams waiting in the wings (or some drivers going to buddy up to form teams), seems like that is going to be a bit of a one horse race? Hopefully we aren't far from seeing entries confirmed for Lydden, so maybe that will add to the picture.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Not too sure on the team Championship though? Unless there are some teams waiting in the wings (or some drivers going to buddy up to form teams), seems like that is going to be a bit of a one horse race? Hopefully we aren't far from seeing entries confirmed for Lydden, so maybe that will add to the picture.

Agreed, it's an odd one. RX Racing and LD are the only obvious ones I can think of? Is there any benefit to drivers for forming a team? (If two solo drivers decide to run as a 'team' do they gain anything by doing so?).

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Agreed, it's an odd one. RX Racing and LD are the only obvious ones I can think of?

I hadn't really considered LDM as we haven't seen the DS3 in use for a while, but I guess they could potentially wheel the C4 and DS3 out there.

If Murray Motorsport could be convinced to run the 5 Nations Championship then they could put a couple of competitive Fiesta Supercars out there...

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Is there any benefit to drivers for forming a team? (If two solo drivers decide to run as a 'team' do they gain anything by doing so?).

...but, as you have said, not sure there is much to gain. Can't see any specific bonus mentioned in the press release.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

I hadn't really considered LDM as we haven't seen the DS3 in use for a while, but I guess they could potentially wheel the C4 and DS3 out there.

Is the Ovenden DS3 run by LDM? I can't remember whether it was in the LDM awning or not. Not sure how many cars LDM has at the moment - they did have a few at one point.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Is the Ovenden DS3 run by LDM? I can't remember whether it was in the LDM awning or not. Not sure how many cars LDM has at the moment - they did have a few at one point.

I have always struggled determining the exact LDM DS3 numbers. It must be at least three chassis, but it could be more.

I believe Tristan owns and is running the car himself now; his car is the inline DS3 that was previously used by Jake Harris (which I think makes it the first LDM car, as the latter cars were all transverse?).

One of the transverse cars went to Mario Barbosa. There was a conversation online last year that suggested that car might now be in Finland... but I have zero evidence to prove if that is true or internet chat.

I read something from Liam ages ago (think it was a reply to a comment rather than in an article: but don't quote me on that) talking about one of the DS3 having a complete rebuild from the ground up to the point where he considered it a "new" car; my assumption is that is the one and only DS3 that LDM still have now.

[tbtstt]

Forgive the double post, but a pretty significant story this morning...

5 Nations - Thorne Returns To Championship

...Jack Thorne is back (in the ex-Albatec 208). If Thorne can sustain the pace he had last time out in that car throughout the season, then Patrick OD vs. Jack could be very entertaining.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Forgive the double post, but a pretty significant story this morning...

5 Nations - Thorne Returns To Championship

...Jack Thorne is back (in the ex-Albatec 208). If Thorne can sustain the pace he had last time out in that car throughout the season, then Patrick OD vs. Jack could be very entertaining.

Good to see him back again - although it still looks like budget is a problem, that article suggests his sponsor is on board for "the first rounds" so maybe not the full season. Hopefully he does get the budget together as he's clearly a quick driver and the 208 is still a competitive car.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Good to see him back again - although it still looks like budget is a problem, that article suggests his sponsor is on board for "the first rounds" so maybe not the full season. Hopefully he does get the budget together as he's clearly a quick driver and the 208 is still a competitive car.

Yeah, doesn't appear to be a guaranteed season yet, does it? Hopefully good results will bring a commitment for the full Championship.

I see Vitols teasing on social media over the weekend as well. Would be brilliant to see him back in a (hopefully reliable) Supercar. Patrick OD, Thorne and Vitols could make for a very entertaining title scrap.

[BertMk2]

Hopefully Vitols is back, he showed some serious pace, presumably he'd be back in an LDM run car?

Has anyone heard any news about drivers in other classes? It'd be good to get some more supermodified cars out again after a couple of years of very thin entries.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Hopefully Vitols is back, he showed some serious pace, presumably he'd be back in an LDM run car?

The LDM C4 seems the obvious option, doesn't it? Or maybe the RX Racing Focus?

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Has anyone heard any news about drivers in other classes? It'd be good to get some more supermodified cars out again after a couple of years of very thin entries.

Not seen anything confirmed and guess we'll have to wait several more weeks before we see any entry lists. Super National had better numbers at the season finale at Lydden, so I hope those drivers will be back (and competitive) this year.

First round of the BTRDA Championship next weekend. Reasonable numbers in most of the classes, so hopefully that will do well this year.

[tbtstt]

Vitols confirmed for at least a limited campaign in the C4...

5 Nations - Vitols First Duo Racing Driver

... hopefully the results come so he can secure funding for the rest of the season.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Vitols confirmed for at least a limited campaign in the C4...

5 Nations - Vitols First Duo Racing Driver

... hopefully the results come so he can secure funding for the rest of the season.

Good to see him back - also that he's part of 'Team Duo' - so presumbaly there's at least one more driver to annouce as part of that team.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Good to see him back - also that he's part of 'Team Duo' - so presumbaly there's at least one more driver to annouce as part of that team.

Yeah; given there has been a connection between LDM and Steve Harris in the past, is there a possibility the second Team Duo car could be Steve in his electric MINI?

Or someone in the LDM DS3 perhaps? Liam seems to have spent most of the off-season selling his EsCos collection, maybe he is planning a campaign for 2023?