HOPE-DAVIESPREVAILS

Citroenmanheadsthepackinmulti-classchallenge.by Halridge

Since the BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship was resurrected for 2014, the overall Gold Star crown has been claimed by drivers from the Emerald Isle.

In that first year back, Kieran Curran won the title aboard his Supermodified Vauxhall Corsa, before John Ward secured back-to-back titles with his Production category Peugeot 106.

The overall crown is won by the highest points scorer across the whole series, excluding four-wheeldrive and Junior classes. That means that come the end of each campaign, drivers are often competing against rivals that they never meet on track.

In 2014, it was Welshman Jeff HopeDavies’ first year in the sport and he challenged for overhaul honours, eventually finishing second. Taking a maximum score in the final round wasn’t enough to stop Curran taking the title after he had matched HopeDavies’ points score in the finale.

Entering the last round of the 2017 season at Croft, Hope-davies was one of several drivers with a mathematical opportunity to lift the crown. However, having led the points for much of the campaign, Historic racer Brian Hardman held the strongest hand.

The Ford Escort driver had been the class of the Historic field for much of 2017. Hardman had scored four wins from the seven rounds, but a startline incident in the qualifying stages at Croft did significant damage to his Escort. Despite impressive repair work being undertaken to keep him in the event, he finished down the order and second place in the Production final was enough for Hope-davies, who had also suffered a substantial shunt earlier in the year, to take top honours.

“I’m absolutely over the moon to have won the championship. It’s been a lifelong passion for me to win a big championship and all the hard work has paid off,” said Hope-davies. “After my crash at Pembrey I didn’t think this would be possible. It’s been a very challenging year but we’ve been constantly developing the car and it was great to make a comeback in the final round to win the championship. We’re a small team and it’s been a massive team effort to do this.”

Hardman had to make do with second overall, but secured the Historic category title as consolation. Mike Grant, son of long-time Supercar racer Andy Grant, had an impressive first rallycross campaign aboard his autocross Ford Fiesta and finished third overall.

Maximum scores at both Blyton rounds meant Phil Chicken was in overall title contention ahead of the finale and he ultimately secured the Supermodified crown. Chicken had battled hard with Vauxhall Corsa racer Allan Tapscott in the penultimate round at Blyton. Devonian Tapscott missed out on class honours by two points after being spun while leading the last final of the year.

With Hope-davies winning overall, Graham Rumsey was elevated to champion in the Production class. Another Welshman, Roger Thomas, made his Supercar debut in 2017 and won the Clubman 4x4 series from Mark Watson, as Paul Davis secured the Production crown.

As one of several drivers competing in both the MSA Junior Championship and the Clubmans Junior Championship, Tom Constantine piloted his Suzuki Swift to success, Blyton being the only circuit at which he didn’t cross the line first. ■