The Motorsport UK British Cross Country Championship title battle will be decided next weekend at Walters Arena and with the possibility of scoring 172 points in a double-header event there are several crews in with a shout of the win.
Richard Watson currently heads the championship table on 270 points with Phill Bayliss just one point behind, both drivers scoring well throughout the season. With dropped scores coming into play, the drivers in third to sixth place, who’ve each won a round this season but have also had rounds where they have not scored, are also in a position to take the title if they get good results at Walters.
PAR Home Racing’s Paul Rowlands is in third place with 249 points. Rowlands had a great first half of the season with two second places and a win at round three, but his Can-Am Maverick ended round four in a ditch. A double win at Walters would see Rowlands crowned champion regardless of the results of everyone else.
Aston Cox did not contest round four, the Yorkshire Hill Rally, but a win at round two in Ceri and second in round three has helped him to 236 points and, like Paul Rowlands, a double win at Walters would mean certain championship victory.
Round one winner Jason Rowlands battled back from a disappointing round three retirement at Penybont to finish third at the Yorkshire Hill Rally to keep his title hopes alive. He’s currently fifth with 233 points.
Richard Kershaw’s BXCC season got off to a bad start with retirement at the opening round but he’s scored points in every round since, including winning the Yorkshire Hill Rally, to lie in sixth in 211 points and still in with a shout of adding to his multiple British championships.
In the Trophy championship Ben Cundy has already sealed the title with three maximum scores. Jesus Henriquez Navarro is in second place with Steve Hill in third.
Non-championship “weekender” entries for Walters include Chloe Bayliss, daughter of Phill, who will be doing her first BXCC event with grandad Chris navigating. Martin James will bring his Lofthouse Freelander out having raced at Ceri earlier this year.
Round 5 will start at 11am on Saturday with action taking place all day. Sunday’s round 6 will start at 9am with prizegiving expected around 4pm.
The BXCC is supported by Par Homes, Voxcloud, Roodsafe, Roadflash, Gregg Motorsport, Fairview Farm Machinery, Fairview Farm Log Cabin and Holiday Accommodation, Aspire Park and Leisure Homes, Johnnie Drysdale, Whitecliff 4×4, Dynatech, NickyGrist.com, Whitchurch MOT Centre, Staffordshire Signs, PD Extinguishers and OR Tyres.
For more information on the BXCC please visit crosscountryuk.org.
