BTRDA RALLYCROSS Graham beats the gremlins

BTRDA Rallycross: Pembrey

Organiser: BTRDA When: July 2/3 Starters: 58

Tommy Graham continued his domination of the BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship in the second double-header event of the season at Pembrey.

However, the Irishman’s unbeaten run was put in jeopardy on Saturday when the turbo expired on his Zakspeed Ford Escort Mk 2 while leading. He was forced to crawl the car over the line but beat compatriot Patrick Ryan by 0.8s. Pearse Brown finished third, despite pressure throughout from Allan Tapscott.

Graham’s victory on Sunday, his fifth of the season, was more assured, winning the final ahead of Todd Crooks (BMW Mini) by more than three seconds. Lloyd Spendlove (Lotus Exige) was third.

Production championship leader James Orton maintained his grip on the category with a win in round four and third place in round five. On Saturday the Peugeot 106 driver led home Martin Peters and Paul Davis, while Peters claimed victory in round five on Sunday.

John Ward, the 2015 overall BTRDA Rallycross champion, finish second, while Orton rounded out the top three.

In the Standard class, Adam Mills scored a personal best result in the final on Sunday with fourth place. Mark Richardson won the Historic final on Saturday, his Ford Sierra now fitted with two turbochargers.

The flamboyant Vince Bristow finished second in his BMW 318i, less than half a second adrift. Shaun Buckley finished on the podium in his Ford Escort Mk2 on Saturday and went two places better on Sunday to score victory ahead of fellow Mk2 exponent Chris Farrell.

In the combined Clubman Supercar and Production fourwheel-drive division Gary Pusey won on both days. Willie Farrell and Nigel Burke finished second and third in an all-subaru Impreza podium in round four, which was repeated in round five with Pusey being chased home by Liam Manning. Farrell finished third.

Irish Rallycross organisers held a Superfinal on both days, which was twice won by reigning champion Willie Coyne.

1 James Orton (Peugeot 106) 5m11.445s; 2 Martin Peters (Citroen Saxo) +0.313s; 3 Paul Davis (Citroen Saxo); 4 Richard Todd (Peugeot 106); 5 Adam Mills (Peugeot 106); 6 John Ward (Peugeot 106).

1 Mark Richardson (Ford Sierra) 5m16.787s; 2 Vince Bristow (BMW 318i) +0.503s; 3 Shaun Buckley (Ford Escort); 4 Karl Skitt (Vauxhall Calibra); 5 Chris Farrell (Ford Escort); 6 Ryan Stutchbury (Vauxhall Vectra) Clubman Supercar/ Production 4x4 Round 5 (5 laps) Super Modified Round 5 (5 laps) Production Round 5 (5 laps)

CAR

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