Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Ovenden stays in control
MOTORSPORT
Canterbury-based Tristan Ovenden still leads the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship after just missing out on an event win last weekend.
The Suzuki Swift racer crossed the Channel to compete in round two, at Valkenswaard in Holland, and showed well in the heats before coming home a close second in the final.
Racing six other identical 1.6litre Swifts, the former Motocross rider impressed in the first heat, coming home second in the times behind his Sittingbournebased rival Darren Scott.
He repeated that performance in heat two before the final heat blotted his copybook – Ovenden forgot to take his joker lap and incurred a 30-second penalty, dropping him to last in the times.
Starting the final from the middle row, he opted to take his joker early on and then chase the leaders for the rest of the race.
He did so, and displayed good pace to come home as runner-up behind Chris Mullen, just two seconds back.
“It was a good day,” Ovenden said post-race. “The track is tricky, though, and is difficult to overtake on. It is different to what I am used to and is very slippy.
“The final went well and I’m pleased with second.”
After winning the opening round at Lydden Hill nearly three weeks ago, Ovenden leads the championship by six points.
“Now I need to keep going, to keep getting good scores,” he added.
“Lydden is the one you want to get and I’m pleased to get second in Holland.”
Ovenden will return to action at Knockhill in Scotland on Sunday, May 11.