PROCTER AND GODFREY PREVAIL

British Rallycross Championship: Pembrey

Organiser: BARC/ LHMC When: May 1/2 Starters: 78

Kevin Procter and Julian Godfrey took a win a piece at the doubleheader British Rallycross Championship event at Pembrey, but it was Dan Rooke who left the Welsh circuit with the series lead.

In wet conditions, Godfrey qualified on pole position for the Supercar final on Sunday and ran side-by-side with Rooke on the first lap. The latter then ran wide on the loose section, allowing second row starter Procter into second, which became first when Godfrey too made a mistake. Procter controlled his own pace at the front, while Dave Bellerby, who had started on the outside of the front row, climbed to second and pressured Procter mid-race, until dropping back behind Rooke on lap three. Godfrey dropped to the back of the pack but fought back to fourth.

Procter’s win promoted him to the head of the championship table, two points ahead of Rooke, but the Ford Fiesta driver retired from the first qualifying race of round four the next day, which put him out of the event.

Godfrey again qualified on pole on day two, with the circuit being run in the more traditional direction, but it was Ollie O’donovan who made the best launch into the first corner and led on lap one, under significant pressure from Godfrey behind.

O’donovan – who had retired in practice on day one with a blown engine – made a mistake on lap two and conceded the lead to Godfrey. The five-time British champion then pulled out a substantial lead.

Rooke had been fastest in the first qualifying race of the day and led his semi-final, but dropped to fourth with a holed exhaust manifold. He started the final but pulled off.

Guy Corner and Paige Bellerby each won a final in Supernational, while Nathan Heathcote and Simon Ovenden took a win each in the Swift Sport finals. Former British Rally champion David Llewellin finished third in the RX150 final in round three, but his son, Ben, finished ahead of him in second. Both were behind series leader Chrissy Palmer, who won again on Monday.

It was Llewellin’s youngest son Tom who starred. The rallycross rookie impressed by winning the Junior final in both events.