Posted: April 23, 2010 10:17 AM - 6705 Hits
Final Rounds - 2009/10 Northern Ireland Rallycross Open Winter
Rounds 1 & 2 - British Rallycross Open Championship
Posted: April 23, 2010 10:17 AM
Martin Peters from Ingleby Barwick (Stockton On Tees) will begin his Procar 1600 Rallycross Open Championship title defence in just over a week’s time at the wheel of his Citroen Saxo VTR. The team has been busy putting the finishing touches to the car ahead of the opening two rounds of the British Eurosport televised Fuchs Lubricants Rallycross Open Championship at Nutts Corner (County Antrim) in Northern Ireland on April 24th & 25th.
Martin Peters commented
"I am looking forward to Nutts Corner next weekend, especially with the high quality entry that the event has attracted in the Procar 1600 category. With more than two full grids of Procar 1600 cars it is going to be impossible to pick a winner and my aim is to be consistent throughout the heats to give us the best opportunity of victory in the final on both days."
After finishing second in the Championship in 2008, it was a dramatic end to the 2009 Fuchs Lubricants Rallycross Open Championship, which saw Martin Peters take a hat trick of wins in the final events - enough to clinch his first Procar 1600 title.
"You will not find a more competitive Championship than the Procar 1600 category in the Rallycross Open Championship. Steve Heppenstall is going to be very quick around Nutts Corner but with the Irish drivers also in the mix in addition to a couple of familiar faces returning to Rallycross, anyone can win." added Martin Peters.
The on track action starts at 9.30am on each day and further information on the event can be obtained at the official Championship website
Posted: April 21, 2010 11:28 AM
PSM Motorsport have announced that International Motorcycling star Jeremy McWilliams and Cool FM Radio Presenter Paul Kennedy will race a Procar 2000 specification Renault Megane in the opening two rounds of the British Eurosport televised 2010 Fuchs Lubricants Rallycross Open Championship at Nutts Corner on April 24th & 25th.
McWilliams and Kennedy will share one of the teams cars over the two days alongside lead driver Craig Brown. McWilliams has shown in the past at Nutts Corner that he is able to adapt extremely quickly to other forms of motorsport although with Rallycross being an exhilarating mix of tarmac and loose undulating surface racing then this will be a challenge that everyone will want to see.
Craig Brown from Grendon in Northants will be taking part in his first event with the Renault Megane in the Fuchs Lubricants backed car at Nutts Corner after stepping up from the Procar 1600 category.
Craig Brown commented:
"I am really looking forward to the start of the championship at Nutts Corner. It's been a long winter and I can't wait to get out in the Fuchs/PSM Motorsport Megane in the Procar 2000 class. There are a few new cars in the class and with some old adversaries that have also moved up from the Procar 1600 class which will all make for an interesting event and overall championship. With the second Megane being driven by local celebrities on both days, British Eurosport providing TV coverage and in car cameras there will be plenty of action on track and on TV."
The double header event also includes the final two rounds of the 2009/10 Northern Ireland Rallycross Open Championship. Racing will get underway at 9.30am on both days. Round 1 of the Championship will take place on the Saturday, with round two on the Sunday. The Ulster Rallycross Masters will be the showdown event on the Sunday for the fastest 8 competitors.
Posted: April 15, 2010 1:09 PM
The exhilarating motorsport of Rallycross and the British Eurosport Televised 2010 Fuchs Lubricants Rallycross Open Championship returns to the province of Northern Ireland when the fastest drivers from the UK and Ireland visit Nutts Corner Circuit on April 24th & 25th.
Local competitors will also be out in force as the double header event includes the final round of the 2009/10 Fuchs Lubricants Northern Ireland Rallycross Open Championship. After a very successful debut last April, this year’s Open championship event is even more special as it will be the opener to the 2010 championship. Entries are already rolling in and if last year’s race was anything to go by, then spectators are in for a big treat such is the interest in the series which travels throughout the UK.
Big named stars such as 2007 & 2008 Champion ‘Mad Mark’ (Citroen Xsara), 2009 Super National Champion Jamie Lea (Toyota MR2), 2009 Procar 1600 Champion Martin Peters (Citroen Saxo VTR) and 2009 Revivals Champion & RxOC driver of the year Lance Foster (Rover Mini) are already throwing their support behind the meeting. But it won’t be all about the visitors as the Northern Ireland drivers have been getting in good practice for the event in the series of winter races at the circuit. Judging by last year’s results, some locals are sure to carve big waves in what most consider is the premier Championship. The finale to the Northern Ireland championship will really add to the spectacle.
Driver Quotes:
Mad Mark – Division 1 - Citroen Xsara
"With the final two rounds of the Northern Ireland Championship, the opening two rounds Rallycross Open Championship and the Ulster Masters title up for grabs it is going to be a competitive weekend of Rallycross action. We look forward to getting back to winning ways as I want my third Open Championship title this year”.
Jamie Lea – Super National – Toyota MR2
“I am looking forward to returning to defend our 2009 title. Hopefully we can we pick up where we left off last year but we will have plenty of opposition in Nutts Corner with anyone of 12 cars being able to win in the Super National category.”
Martin Peters – Procar 1600 – Citroen Saxo
"I am looking forward to starting my Championship defence against a strong list of competitors. Anyone of eight drivers could potentially win the Championship and I look forward to renewing my rivalry with Steve Heppenstall throughout the year."
Not only is Nutts Corner circuit hosting rounds one and two of the series but also the final two rounds of the Northern Ireland Rallycross Open Championship. Virtually all the categories are still wide open in this championship and pretty much anyone can still win as the best 3 out of 4 points scoring rounds count. The points position really is that tight.
One of the big spectacles of the two days of racing will be the Ulster Rallycross Masters races. This will be the final event of the meeting on Sunday 25th and will feature the top eight fastest competitors from the senior Rallycross category A finals.
The on track action starts at 9.30am on each day and further information on the event can be obtained at the official Championship website
Posted: April 1, 2010 1:25 PM
Not only is Nutts Corner circuit hosting rounds one and two of the series but also the final two rounds of the Northern Ireland Rallycross Open Championship. Virtually all the categories are still wide open in this championship and pretty much anyone can still win as the best 3 out of 4 points scoring rounds count. The points position really is that tight.
Mad Mark Watson will be keen to score maximum points in both Championships, having already secured a flag to flag victory in the opening round of the Northern Ireland Open series back in October. However, Declan Kelly was second then behind the Citroen Xsara, has since taken the win in round two with his Escort and has his sights firmly set on making the championship his. Don Shannon’s familiar Volvo S40 currently heads the Super National category but the points situation is very tight behind the Ballymoney driver, with Stanley Bovill (Astra), Sam Bovill (Corsa), James Murphy (Escort), Barry McCardle (Renault 5) and Ian Byrne (Toyota MR2) all in with a shout.
Mark Francis has been the dominant force in the Junior category, as has Jackie Harris in Procar 1600, but we all know anything can yet happen as there is always plenty of fierce competition in these classes. Nutts Corner also gives us a chance to see the two and four wheel driver rally cars in action, both very well supported classes. Also throw in all of the drivers aiming to make a good start in the Fuchs Lubricants Rallycross Open Championship and you can be assured that drivers will be going flat out for top honours.
After a Rallycross starved start to 2010, the Nutts Corner weekend is expecting a very strong entry list, making it the perfect way to end one championship and kick start another.
P&O Ferries are supporting the Open championship and offering discounted ferry travel for those making the journey across the Irish Sea.
Posted: March 29, 2010 9:07 PM
The following classes will run at the event for rally cars:
4wd rally cars (anti-lag systems will have to be turned off as per Nutts Corner Circuit regulations)
2wd rear wheel drive rally cars
2wd front wheel drive rally cars over 1600cc and upto 1600cc
- Cars run at eight second intervals with 5 cars on stage at one time (No damage)
- Four laps per stage (loose and tarmac)
- 4 stages with best 3 stage times to count on each day
- £100 entry fee for one day or £195 entry fee for two days
More Details
Posted: March 29, 2010 9:06 PM
The opening two rounds of the 2010 Fuchs Lubricants Rallycross Open Championship including the final two rounds of the Fuchs Lubricants Northern Ireland Rallycross Open Championship takes place at Nutts Corner on April 24th & 25th and will be televised by British Eurosport. Drivers are recommended to enter early to avoid disappointment due to the large entry.