Julian Godfrey Dominates at Pembrey Circuit

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Super Car Podium, Vitols, Godfrey and O’Donovan, Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 30/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

Pembrey Circuit (The home of Welsh Motorsport) played host at the weekend to The Motorsport UK, British Rallycross Championship, 5 Nations Trophy as Presented by Cooper Tires. The bank holiday weekend would see rounds 3 and 4 played out, in what was glorious weather. This was also the first event of the 2021 championship to be held away from Lydden Hill.

#20 Julian Godfrey Ford Fiesta Supercar Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 30/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

Supercar

Heat one on Sunday saw the #2 car of Ollie O’Donovan in his Ford Fiesta storm to what was an impressive first place in what has to be one of the dustiest tracks ever. The visibility at times appeared to be next to zero and looked extremely hazardous. Six-time champion Julian Godfrey in his Ford Fiesta also had a great heat and managed to finish second with the #126 car of Roberts Vitols in the Citroen C4 taking the third spot.

1          #2 Ollie O’DONOVAN Ford Fiesta

2          #20 Julian GODFREY Ford Fiesta

3          #126 Roberts VITOLS Citroen C4

4          #72 Tristan OVENDEN Citroen DS3

5          #1 Mark DONNELLY Citroen DS3

6          #111 Derek TOHILL Ford Fiesta MK.7

7          #4 Steve HILL Mitsubishi Evo 10

8          #95 Roger THOMAS Ford Fiesta WRX

 

#111 Derek Tohill Ford Fiesta MK.7 Supercar Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 29/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

Heat two on Sunday saw Julian Godfrey take the win and the second place went the way of the #4 car of Steve Hill in his Mitsubishi Evo. The impressive young gun that is Vitols took another third spot finish, in what was another outstanding drive.

1              #20 Julian GODFREY Ford Fiesta

2              #4 Steve HILL Mitsubishi Evo 10

3              #126 Roberts VITOLS Citroen C4

4              #111 Derek TOHILL Ford Fiesta MK.7

5              # 2 Ollie O’DONOVAN Ford Fiesta

6              #72 Tristan OVENDEN Citroen DS3

7              #1 Mark DONNELLY Citroen DS3

8              #95 Roger THOMAS Ford Fiesta WRX

 

#20 Julian Godfrey Ford Fiesta Supercar Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 30/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

Heat three would see an almost identical outcome to heat two with Julian taking the top spot again. Derek Tohill in his Ford Fiesta MK.7 took fifth place whilst this time around Ollie O’Donovan took fourth Place.

1              20 Julian GODFREY Ford Fiesta

2              4 Steve HILL Mitsubishi Evo 10

3              126 Roberts VITOLS Citroen C4

4              2 Ollie O’DONOVAN Ford Fiesta

5              111 Derek TOHILL Ford Fiesta MK.7

6              72 Tristan OVENDEN Citroen DS3

7              1 Mark DONNELLY Citroen DS3

8              95 Roger THOMAS Ford Fiesta WRX

 

#126 Roberts Vitols Citroen C4 Supercar Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 30/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

The standings at the end of day one would see, what was a dominating Julian Godfrey hold the top spot with 145 points and a 16-point lead over second-placed Ollie O’Donovan. The #95 car of Roger Thomas placed last in what was, so far, a very disappointing day’s racing for him at his home event.

1              #20 Julian Godfrey Ford Fiesta                         145

2              #2 Ollie O’Donovan Ford Fiesta                        129

3              #4 Steve Hill Mitsubishi Evo 10                         127

4              #126 Roberts Vitols Citroen C4                         126

5              #111 Derek Tohill Ford Fiesta MK.7                 117

6              #72 Tristan Ovenden Citroen DS3                    116

7              #1 Mark Donnelly Citroen DS3                          113

8              #95 Roger Thomas Ford Fiesta WRX               108

 

#111 Derek Tohill Ford Fiesta MK.7 Supercar Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 30/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

Bank holiday Monday started as Sunday had finished with action from the off, as the supercars took to the track for heat 4 and what has to be one of the drives of the weekend by Roberts Vitols, to thus placing him first in the heat. The second spot went to Julian Godfrey with Ollie O’Donovan taking the third spot. Tristan Ovenden was DNF.

1              #126 Roberts VITOLS Citroen C4

2              #20 Julian GODFREY Ford Fiesta

3              #2 Ollie O’DONOVAN Ford Fiesta

4              #111 Derek TOHILL Ford Fiesta MK.7

5              #4 Steve HILL Mitsubishi Evo 10

6              #1 Mark DONNELLY Citroen DS3

7              #95 Roger THOMAS Ford Fiesta WRX

 

NOT CLASSIFIED

DNF         72 Tristan OVENDEN Citroen DS3

 

#GB1 Mark Donnelly Citroen DS3 Supercar Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 30/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

 

Semi-Final One saw Julian Godfrey continuing to still dominate the field at Pembrey with a first-place finish. Second, went to Derek Tohill in what was a closely fought second place to Julian. Ollie placed third and current champion Mark Donnelly placed fourth.

 

1              #20 Julian GODFREY Ford Fiesta

2              #111 Derek TOHILL Ford Fiesta MK.7

3              #2 Ollie O’DONOVAN Ford Fiesta

4              #1 Mark DONNELLY Citroen DS3

 

#4 Steve Hill Mitsubishi Evo10 Supercar Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 29/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

 

Semi-Final Two went the way of the Latvian sensation Vitols with an impressive second place going the way of Steve Hill in the Evo 10. Tristan placed third and Roger Thomas, who has failed to find his form all weekend took the last place.

1              #126 Roberts VITOLS Citroen C4

2              #4 Steve HILL Mitsubishi Evo 10

3              #72 Tristan OVENDEN Citroen DS3

4              #95 Roger THOMAS Ford Fiesta WRX

 

#2 Ollie O’Donovan Ford Fiesta Supercar Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 29/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

 

The Final (Round 3) would see Julian Godfrey in pole position with Vitols and Hill joining him on the front row. On the second row was Derek Tohill and Ollie O’Donovan, with the third row comprising Mark Donnelly, Tristan Ovenden and Roger Thomas. As the lights went green it was action from the start with Godfrey just getting the better of Hill. Hill didn’t give up and gave Godfrey a little nudge into the first bend. There was contact also at the back of the field as Donnelly and Ovenden had a coming too. O’Donovan had a good start and managed to get ahead of Vitols into the first set of bends. O’Donovan tries now to get ahead of Hill down the Speedway Straight and into Brooklands Hairpin as they exit into the Toyos bends, Vitols takes advantage of the now out of place O’Donovan and passes him to move up behind Hill. As they approach Ollie’s bend, Hill goes wide and Vitols manages to make the pass down the inside of Hill and into the loose part of the circuit. As they all exit the loose section Hill makes a mistake which sees him drop to second from last. Hill takes the joker on the third lap which now puts him in the last place. As Ollie exits the joker on the fourth lap, he makes slight contact with Ovenden and a car that has already suffered major damage to the front bodywork is now subjected to even more dents as Ollie gets the better of him. Donnelly also takes the joker on the fourth lap. Tohill now tries to undertake Ovenden and makes slight contact through Hansens and into Carters Hairpin. Tohill tries again to undertake Ovenden at Brooklands Hairpin but to no avail. Thomas manages to now capitalise on Tohill’s mistake and overtakes him on the run-up to Senna’s bend as does Donnelly. The fifth lap now, and Vitols takes the joker and still hfolds second place to what seems an uncatchable Godfrey. Ovenden also takes the joker on the fifth lap. No change into the last lap now as Godfrey takes the joker on the final lap and sails to a comfortable victory at Pembrey with Vitols close behind in second and O’Donovan in third. In fourth place was Thomas and considering the weekend he had, he was more than happy with the final result and fourth place.

 

Final result

1              #20 Julian GODFREY Ford Fiesta

2              #126 Roberts VITOLS Citroen C4

3              #2 Ollie O’DONOVAN Ford Fiesta

4              #95 Roger THOMAS Ford Fiesta WRX

5              #72 Tristan OVENDEN Citroen DS3

6              #1 Mark DONNELLY Citroen DS3

7              #4 Steve HILL Mitsubishi Evo 10

8              #111 Derek TOHILL Ford Fiesta MK.7

#95 Roger Thomas Ford Fiesta WRX Supercar Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 29/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

Supernational
Jason Bleasdale (Vauxhall VX220) didn’t have it all his own way in Sunday’s Supernational Final despite winning all three qualifying races. Reigning champion Paige Bellerby (Lotus Exige) left the rest behind from the start to take the win. Bleasdale claimed second with Slawomir Woloch (BMW M3) third. Monday’s round four provided a second dominant victory for Bellerby, ahead of series newcomer Bleasdale, with Woloch’s long-wheelbase motor not suiting the track as much as its more agile rivals. Lee Keeler struggled with no power steering for much of the weekend, but his improved lap times shows the progress he is making with his new-build Vauxhall Astra.

#33 Paige Bellerby Lotus Exige Supernational Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 29/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

Junior
Max Langmaid dominated Junior Rallycross with a trio of qualifying wins and victory in both rounds across the weekend. Owen Robbins twice finished second with Caitlin May joining the duo on the podium on Sunday. In Monday’s round four Will Ovenden capitalised on May’s spin in a race that provided non-stop action by the 14–17-year-olds across the six laps.

Swift Sport
Luke Constantine made it a double celebration with victory in both Suzuki Swift Rallycross rounds this weekend. On Sunday he led home Max Weatherley and his cousin James Constantine. On Monday he repeated the feat after winning all three qualifiers, with James finishing second in every race he started. Weatherley was the closest challenger to the duo, crossing the line just 0.5 seconds behind to complete the podium.

#6 Luke Constantine Suzuki Swift Sport Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 29/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

Super Retro
Barry Stewart and his Porsche 911 dominated the qualifying races with Allan Tapscott second on the grid for the Final. Tapscott (Ford Escort) made a great move on Stewart but couldn’t quite make it stick, losing out to Vince Bristow (BMW E36 328) for second. Ray Morgan made up for his Q3 tussle with Stewart in round four that pushed him down the order to dominate the final and take the win ahead of Tapscott. Stewart was looking strong but lost drive out of the hairpin and dropped to third while Bristow bogged down from his front row start following his Q3 win and couldn’t recover to make the podium.

Retro
Steve Cozens (Citroen AX) and Tony Lynch (Toyota MR2) were first and second in all three qualifying races. In the final, on a newly watered circuit, Lynch spun leaving Cozens’ lead unchallenged. Terry Moore (Austin Mini) was quick to take advantage of Lynch’s misfortune to claim second. The Toyota driver gave his MR2 its first outright victory on Monday, making a lightening start ahead of Cozens and Paul Smith. Cozens’ dominant straight-line speed was not quite enough to catch the flying Lynch, crossing the line just 0.4 seconds adrift with Smith third.

#14 Tony Lynch Toyota Mk1 MR2 Retro Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 29/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

BMW Mini RX
The BMW Minis produced more dramatic racing with Stephen Brown and Tom Constantine taking the qualifying race wins on Sunday. Bradley Turner took a great semi-final one victory, while the second proved a decisive one for Constantine – a re-run following Drew Bellerby’s roll while leading. In the final, Brown and Constantine battled for the lead before a spin for Constantine gave Brown breathing space to cross the line first ahead of Darren Bleasdale and Ben Sayer. Monday’s round four saw a repeat performance from Brown ahead of Turner with Sayer racking up his second podium of the weekend. Abbie McGuinness just missed converting her front row start to third despite an early joker.

All4 Minis
The development class of 4 wheel-drive Minis had another strong battle over the two rounds, with current BMW Mini Champion David Bell coming out on top on both days ahead of Martin Hawkes and Adrian Turner.

#93 David Bell BMW COUNTRYMAN ALL4 cooper S
Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 29/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

Super 1600
Darren Scott (Citroen C2) had a strong day in Super 1600 and claimed the final ahead of Phil Chicken (Citroen C2) and Craig Lomax (Citroen C1) despite a spin at the start. Their efforts came to nothing, however, as the race was later declared void when all three were penalised for non-compliance with camera regulations. On Monday the spoils were shared by Chicken winning the day’s opening qualifier and with Q2 and Q3 taken by Scott. After an overtake on round three winner Scott, Lomax went on to win the final. Scott challenged Lomax for the lead but had to settle for second ahead of Chicken.

#24 Craig Lomax Citroen C1 Super 1600 Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 30/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

RX150 Championship
Stephen Jones and Tommi Caldwell won the qualifying races on Sunday, but it was Patrick O’Donovan who overcame technical issues to take his third straight win of the season. Caldwell pushed hard and crossed the line just 0.2 seconds behind with Jones finishing third. In round four Caldwell took the lead from O’Donovan who tried but failed to make the undercut work on his joker lap. A spin from O’Donovan resulted in him losing second to Jones with Caldwell going on to take the round four win.

Caldwell RX150 Motorsport UK 5 Nations British Rallycross
Rounds 3 and 4, Pembrey Race Circuit, Wales 29/08/2021 (Images by and Copyright Matt Hancock), Images shot for Racerviews

 

The next round of the 5 Nations British rallycross will be at Knockhill on the 25th and 26th September 2021

https://www.rallycrossbrx.com

 

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