SPORTING SCENE DORANANDHARRISTEAMUPTORUNMINI RALLYCROSSPROGRAMME
Hansen expected to stay on with Peugeot Expansiveplanslaidoutfor2018challenges
LD Motorsports owner Liam Doran and British Rallycross competitor Steve Harris have teamed up to acquire three Mini RX Supercars from JRM Racing and plan to develop the cars for the 2018 season.
Doran was the first driver to use the Wrc-derived Mini in rallycross, winning X Games Munich in the car built and run by Prodrive in 2013. The machines were subsequently bought by JRM Racing, who signed Doran for World RX in 2016.
The parties split mid-year as the team worked through developing a two-litre engine to replace the 1.6-litre unit and experienced a number of issues.
“I know what these cars are capable of. The Mini is my most successful car,” said Doran. “It’s beautiful to drive: look at Hockenheim in 2016 [where he won the semi-final in the World RX event]. There is some unfinished business.”
Concrete plans are yet to be finalised for 2018, but the squad is open to running the Minis in World, European and British Championship events, or could sell or rent them out.
“Liam and I have gone in on this together,” said Harris. “He believes in the cars and I believe in Liam. Whether we sell them, rent them or have a bit of fun in them, I believe they will be incredibly fast.”
LD Motorsports plans to upgrade the Mini, with developments largely centred around the engine.
A close relationship with Julian Godfrey Engineering means the most likely scenario is that JGE’S two-litre custom Evo engine will be used.
“It’s what should have happened when I was driving the car for JRM,” said Doran. “The car was never the issue. The Mini is a great chassis and I’m confident it’s going to turn heads; I’m a big believer that drivability of a car is what makes it fast and consistent.”
The team will continue to run its Citroen DS 3 Supercars and is expanding its Devon facilities. Having spent a year on the sidelines in 2017 due to licence suspension, Doran may also return to the wheel himself for some selected World RX appearances.
“Nothing is for sure yet,” he said. “I would love to get back behind the wheel, but we’re focusing on the team.”