Doran champion after Pembrey perfection
Pat Doran won the Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship with a perfect run through rounds six and seven of the championship at Pembrey last weekend (September 19 & 20).
Winning both events in South Wales, Doran (Winkleigh) added 60 points to his championship total and put the title beyond the reach of closest rival Steve Hill (Aylesbury) who had a miserable weekend with technical problems twice striking down his Mitsubishi Lancer and bringing an end to his championship aspirations. With one round of the eight-event series left to run, Doran has 190 points while Hill can achieve an end of year total of only 178 even if he wins the final round at Mallory Park on October 18.
Doran won round six after starting his Ford Fiesta ST ERC from pole in the Superfinal. In Sunday’s seventh round of the championship, Doran was beaten to pole by current champion Lawrence Gibson, but made the better start and led into the first corner, after which he eased away to take a clear win.
While Hill struggled, Pembrey provided the best results of the year for David Binks (Newcastle) who chased Doran home on Saturday to attain a personal best second place in his Mitsubishi Lancer. Continuing his good form into Sunday, Binks finished fourth and left Wales having climbed from seven to fifth in the championship.
Andy Scott (Dumfries) drove in Sunday event only, the newcomer to the Supercar class delivering a fine performance in only his second start and placing third. Also enjoying good results in the Pembrey event were leading SuperModified racers James Bird (Midhurst) and Julian Godfrey (Heathfield). Bird was third on Saturday while Godfrey took fifth on Sunday, in each case being the highest placed two-wheel drive car in the event.
Results
Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship, round six, Pembrey, September 19
Superfinal (five laps): 1 Pat Doran (Ford Fiesta ST ERC) 4m.51.110; 2 David Binks (Mitsubishi Lancer E9) +2.1s; 3 James Bird (Renault ClioSport V6); 4 Dave Curran (Renault ClioSport V6); 5 Liam Doran (Ford Fiesta ST ERC); 6 Brian Jukes (Audi TT); 7 Julian Godfrey (Ford Fiesta ST S1600); 8 Steve Hill (Mitsubishi Lancer E9)
Round seven, Pembrey, September 20
Superfinal (five laps):1 Doran 4m.42.890s; 2 Lawrence Gibson (MG Metro 6R4) +1.79s; 3 Andy Scott (Peugeot 306 4×4 Turbo); 4 Binks; 5 Godfrey; 6 Bird; 7 Hill; 8 Michael Coyne (Vauxhall Nova).
Championship after 7 of 8 rounds: 1 Doran 190; 2 Hill 166; 3 Bird 142; 4 Gibson 132; 5 Binks 124; 6 Godfrey 124.
Next event: Mallory Park, October 18