Croft to host British Rallycross Grand Prix

[ebby]

The country's biggest Rallycross meeting for many years takes place later this year whereby Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire has been chosen to host the prestigious British Rallycross Grand Prix on Sunday 6th November.

The event will mark a return of the popular and exciting sport to the region after a two year absence and the event will feature some of the very best drivers from Europe taking on their British and Irish counterparts around the fast and spectacular half gravel, half tarmac Croft track, which has undergone extensive work since it was last used.

In addition to the Grand Prix on the Sunday, Saturday will see the final round of the Quaife MSA British Rallycross Championship which will see all the titles decided and with a very strong local contingent in with a shout, expect the partisan crowd to be vocal in their support as a taster for the following day's action.

The mouth-watering prospect of Supercars capable of producing in excess of 500bhp and accelerating quicker than a Formula One car means expectations are high for the event which is expected to attract a number of European Championship competitors. But any foreign invaders need to look at the strong home challenge, not least the local aces who have enjoyed lots of success around Croft in recent years. Kevin Procter from nearby Leeming Bar is a former Superprix winner and will be one of the favourites in his Ford Focus, as will Newcastle driver David Binks (Ford Fiesta) who will be hoping he can wrap up the British Championship at Croft.

Leading lights in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship are Northallerton aces Dave Bellerby and Jonny Bean who will be in action and as well as the British Rallycross Championship Supercar and SuperNational categories, all the BRC support classes including Swift Sport Juniors, Hot Hatch, BMW Mini's and RX150's will see a packed support programme meaning there promises to be fireworks of a different nature that weekend!

Adult ticket prices are £8 on the Saturday and £15 on the Sunday or £18 for a weekend ticket.

[AndyS]

Great news! I was worried this event might be going the same way as Mallory. The release suggests that the track has been put in order, which was the main concern. It'll be interesting to see if it can capture the same level of foriegn interest that the Superprix did. As far as I am aware no replacement ferry service has come into being between Newcastle and Scandinavia, so sadly we are unlikely to see a large contingent of Scandinavian Super Nationals. Hopefully, they'll be some strong interest for Supercar. I wonder if Mr Gronholm may make an appearance as Bink's team mate, I can dream I suppose!

[leonidas]

Are they going to be running a National B event too? I know the BTRDA has finished for this year but there may not be many cars if its just limited to the BRC regulars.

[tbtstt]

Great news! Sadly I won't be able to make it up there (I was hoping to), but still brilliant its back.

I wonder if it will be recorded for TV at all?

[AndyS]

I suppose a lot will depend on the level of entry. National B event sounds a good idea, but I suppose it will depend on whether there is enough time in the schedule to fit it in. Croft only seems to run in the afternoon on a Sunday's now and bearing in mind the time of year (fading light) they may be a bit pushed to squeeze it in. As with when the Superprix ran, I wish it was possible to bring it 2 or 3 weeks earlier (no fading light and it would just be that bit warmer!).

[sihorton]

Anyone know when the entry forms for the GP are live as they aren't on the rallycrossuk website yet.

Si

[Mad Mark Watson]

Originally Posted by sihorton

Anyone know when the entry forms for the GP are live as they aren't on the rallycrossuk website yet.

Si

Been to a meeting re promoting the GP other night entry forms not out yet but will be soon fees set etc so you will hear hope you are making trip up north

Andy we will fit it all in as racing most of sunday starting with main BRC finals then GP its NAtional A event with the cream of british drivers there and a healthy Super Car entry

I have posters if anyone would like to put one up somewhere we need to attract lots of people to keep rallycross safe at croft and in the north and for the good of our sport to see we are getting stronger as a sport and deserve to be taken seriously !!

I can post posters to you !

As for gate £18 for 2 days to get in and kids under 15 free which in the current economic climate is good i think

[AndyS]

Pleased it's an all day event, I've been to a few Sunday's at Croft in the last couple of years (including BTCC) which have only run pm. I assumed it was some sort of restriction, but I suppose rallycross doesn't use as much of the track and therefore not as noisey.

We might as well start to spectulate as to who's entering as it's only 6 weeks away! In supercar obviously Mad Mark will be there along with the usual 8 or so BRC regulars. What about any others? Colin Anson and Andy Grant seem to have gone missing the last couple of rounds. Bardy and Bellerby to hire cars possible? Tracey to venture over from Ireland.

Super National I'm sure will have the usual 10 or so. It'd be great to see some of the Irish drivers come over but the start of their season may kill any chance of that. Love to see some of those Volvo's back as well.

[Mad Mark Watson]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Pleased it's an all day event, I've been to a few Sunday's at Croft in the last couple of years (including BTCC) which have only run pm. I assumed it was some sort of restriction, but I suppose rallycross doesn't use as much of the track and therefore not as noisey.

We might as well start to spectulate as to who's entering as it's only 6 weeks away! In supercar obviously Mad Mark will be there along with the usual 8 or so BRC regulars. What about any others? Colin Anson and Andy Grant seem to have gone missing the last couple of rounds. Bardy and Bellerby to hire cars possible? Tracey to venture over from Ireland.

Super National I'm sure will have the usual 10 or so. It'd be great to see some of the Irish drivers come over but the start of their season may kill any chance of that. Love to see some of those Volvo's back as well.

Your right with your guesses we expect well in excess of 16 super cars !!!
so keep guessing!

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Mad Mark Watson

Your right with your guesses we expect well in excess of 16 super cars !!!
so keep guessing!

1) Mad Mark
2) Steve Hill
3) Pat Doran
4) Liam Doran
5) Julian Godfrey
6) Simon Horton
7) David Binks
8) Andy Scott
9) Kevin Procter
10) Steve Mundy
11) George Tracey
12) George Tracey Jnr
13) Tony Bardy
14) Jos Jansen
15) Chris Evans
16) Derek Jobb
17) Kevin McCann
18) Marcus Gronholm
19) Dave Bellerby

Evans and Bardy is a long shot - that assumes that Tony would be driving one of George Traceys cars (how many has he still got?). Jos Jansen has done a couple of British rounds so he may turn up. There's a spare Fiesta now that Binks has got the Mk7 so someone else could use the Mk6. Gronholm is a possibility again too if Best Buy are up for it. I assume that group B cars aren't eligible?

[USRallycross]

Hate to burst the bubble but Marcus Gronholm won't be entering.

We didn't budget the Grand Prix for David and are obviously now going to the Czech Republic but am sure he will want to compete!

There is certainly the Mk6 if anyone wants to hire - Ollie perhaps? - if not I may be forced to enter.

We obviously need more international entries to make it really a GP and am sure Pat is busy working on this when he is over at the ERC events. I wonder if Eklund may bring Heikkenen and maybe rent another car, OMSE has a couple of cars for hire, Tommy Graham and perhaps some of the Dutch and Belgian drivers.

We shall see.....

Mark

[tbtstt]

Fingers crossed for a solid entry for this, be great if some international names make the journey over.

Just had a reply from the RX GP Facebook group saying that the GP will be recorded and televised on Motors TV. Great news!

[AndyS]

There's quite a few cars out there that may available to hire, just in the UK and Ireland. All three Tracey cars (if he's still got them all and isn't using them himself), Evans Astra, Scott 306, Proctor Puma and the Binks Fiesta. Should help anyone fancying a go.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Scott 306,

I'd forgotten about that one - looks to be plenty of options for Tony Bardy to drive

[AndyS]

If you want to go further there's Mike Manning's Puma and Tony Bell's Corolla both gathering dust. Do they still even have them? Not sure how competitive either would be as well. Also whats happened to Mike Turpin and the VX220, that looked to be getting quite quick but then disapeared.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by AndyS

If you want to go further there's Mike Manning's Puma and Tony Bell's Corolla both gathering dust. Do they still even have them? Not sure how competitive either would be as well. Also whats happened to Mike Turpin and the VX220, that looked to be getting quite quick but then disapeared.

I'll see those and raise you Bob Goodings Focus

(and Escort if you want!)

[USRallycross]

I saw a picture of Manning in a Hillclimb in Motorsport News recently so doubt he is an option.

What about Kevin McCann? And did Gooding ever finish the Focus?

Mark

[redtop raiders]

manning and turpin both doing hillclimbs ive heard , manning might be making a comeback next year apparantley

[AndyS]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

I'll see those and raise you Bob Goodings Focus

(and Escort if you want!)

How about the new cars coming from Chris Langley and Gary Pussey.

[stuart107]

Originally Posted by AndyS

How about the new cars coming from Chris Langley and Gary Pussey.

Gary's definitely won't be ready for Croft.

[stuart107]

We will have a two car super national team at Croft. Me in the 206 and Russell Etherington in my 306 (which is up for sale and eligible for the MSA champs next year)

Russ's comeback after a few years out. Also his first time in a FWD car before he returns next year

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by USRallycross

What about Kevin McCann?

I believe he's still work in progress: hopefully he'll be on here presently to give us more detail.

Sorry to duplicate a question (I see Bert has already asked), but Group B cars are ineligible for the Super Prix, right?...

[The Eye]

Originally Posted by USRallycross

We didn't budget the Grand Prix for David and are obviously now going to the Czech Republic but am sure he will want to compete!

There is certainly the Mk6 if anyone wants to hire - Ollie perhaps? - if not I may be forced to enter.

We shall see.....

Mark

Does this mean that David has bought one of the OMSE's Mk7 Fiesta's?</SPAN>

[redtop raiders]

just seen on an e-mail i have had that no camping is allowed at croft, think this is gonna cause a bit chaos seeing as most people sleep in there tow vehicles, so gonna be a bit of a nightmare evrybody trying to get in and out the circuit not too mention the added cost to drivers finding alternative camping or hotels

[craig hope]

Originally Posted by redtop raiders

just seen on an e-mail i have had that no camping is allowed at croft, think this is gonna cause a bit chaos seeing as most people sleep in there tow vehicles, so gonna be a bit of a nightmare evrybody trying to get in and out the circuit not too mention the added cost to drivers finding alternative camping or hotels

Think you will find the camping is for spectators as this is part of crofts licence that only people taking part in an event can camp there...