BLEASDALE REMAINS IMPREGNABLE IN THE BTRDA RALLYCROSS CHASE
Vauxhall VX220 driver Darren Bleasdale maintained an unbeaten run in his maiden BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship Super Modified category campaign with a double victory in the second and third rounds at Pembrey.
A week after netting a pair of podiums in the British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy Supernational division at Lydden Hill and following victory in the opening round of the BTRDA series at Blyton Park, Bleasdale was the class of the field at Pembrey to further extend his points lead.
In both rounds in South Wales, Bleasdale was accompanied on the Super Modified podium by Super1600 Citroen C2 racers Darren Scott and Phil Chicken, the trio in fact the only drivers to finish the final on Sunday.
Dale Ford stopped a lap from home with his Vauxhall Corsa but was classified fourth, while Stanley Bovil made it to half distance with his Ford Escort and was counted as fifth. BMW Mini campaigner Todd Crooks and Porsche Boxster racer Michelle Swallow came together, putting both out.
Super Modified event winner Michael Boak gave the debut to his Skoda Fabia Supercar in the Clubman 4x4 category and overcame technical issues during qualifying on the opening day to claim victory. He befell problems again early on day two, as did local Subaru Impreza driver Nigel Burke. With BMW Mini Countryman driver Martin Hawkes having already retired on day one, fellow four-wheeldrive Mini racer David Bell was the last man standing.
In the single-make BMW
Mini division, Andrew Hawkes netted another win on the opening day but it was Nick Abbott who claimed a maiden rallycross victory in the class on Sunday in round three. He came out on top of a closefought affair in the final.
Corey Padgett, son of Super Modified racer Phil Chicken, was another to claim a maiden win, his in the Junior category aboard his Suzuki Swift. Owen Robbins secured victory in round three, pulling out a big margin from pole position.
Hot Rod racer Lee Wood dominated the Classic category with his Ford Escort and went unbeaten through the weekend to net two wins, while victories in the Production class were shared between Charlie Titcombe (Citroen Saxo) and Andrew Smith (Renault Clio), Titcombe flanking Smith throughout Sunday’s final.
Tomas Ramanauskas twice claimed the Production 4x4 spoils with his Mitsubishi Lancer, while James Aviston drove his Ford Focus to a pair of wins in the Modified class.
Results
BTRDA Rallycross Series
Organiser: BTRDA/BARC When: April 23-24 Where: Pembrey, South Wales Starters: 48.
Round 2: Super Modified: 1 Darren Bleasdale (Vauxhall VX220) 4m09.964s; 2 Darren Scott (Citroen C2) +12.029s; 3 Phil Chicken (Citroen C2); 4 Stanley Bovill (Ford Escort); 5 Michelle Swallow (Porsche Boxster); 6 Todd Crooks (BMW Mini). Production: Charlie Titcombe (Citroen Saxo); Junior: Corey Padgett (Suzuki Swift); Production 4x4: Tomas Ramanauskas (Mitsubishi Lancer); Clubman 4x4: Michael Boak (Skoda Fabia); Modified: James Aviston (Ford Focus); BMW Mini: Andrew Hawkes;
Classic: Lee Wood (Ford Escort)
Round 3: Super Modified: 1 Bleasdale 4m37.618s; 2 Scott +4.653s; 3 Chicken; 4 Dale Ford (Vauxhall Corsa); 5 Bovill; 6 Swallow;
Production: Andrew Smith (Renault Clio);
Junior: Owen Robbins (Suzuki Swift); Production 4x4: Ramanauskas; Clubman 4x4: David Bell (BMW Mini); Modified: Aviston; BMW Mini: Nick Abbott; Classic: Wood.