Sporting Scene
Briton to return to the top level
British driver Oliver Bennett has signed up to the World Rallycross Championship as a permanent entry for 2019.
Bennett graduated to World RX events last season after only a year in the discipline, racing a freshly-built Mini Cooper Supercar. The former motocross rider competed in all but three of the World RX rounds last term, using the campaign as a development year for both the car and driver, while also competing in the Americas Rallycross series and selected British RX events with a Ford Fiesta.
“It’s nice to be in a position where we can commit to the full series and now points at every round will really count,” said Bennett. “It’s nice to move up another step this season from our trial last year. This year is looking great too, especially as a private team with a levelling of competition. The battle between the privateer teams should be intense. I’m really excited.”
Bennett’s Xite Racing team is set to begin pre-season testing on Friday this week.
He said: “This is the main test with our major improvements and then we will evaluate and make the changes that we need to make towards the end of February. After that our engines are shipped off to France for a refresh ready to head to Abu Dhabi for the first round in April.”
Bennett finished 15th overall three times in World RX last year driving the older Mini, and set the pace in the British RX finale at Silverstone in November. To date only one British driver has finished on the podium in World RX. BTCC title winner Andrew Jordan was third in the British round of the series at Lydden Hill in 2014.