Tristan Ovenden was left frustrated by his home round of the Super 1600s as part of the British Rallycross Championship.
Ovenden headed into Lydden Hill over the Easter Weekend looking to build on his round one performance. He was relishing the challenge of racing against some of Europe’s top Super 1600 drivers in the Peter Gwynne Motorsport prepared and run Suzuki Swift S1600.
The weather forecast was the big pre event talking point as storm Katie was due to sweep across the Kent circuit over the two-day event.
This didn’t deter the Goody Demolition and Promac Solutions backed driver as he lined up for the first qualifying round with a second row grid place. Ovenden recorded the second fastest British time in an extremely high quality Super 1600 field. This gave him a ninth overall placing.
Qualifying two saw him draw pole position and a good start saw him with the front of the pack into Chessons and finish in a consistent ninth place overall. Building his confidence and speed with the car. However, during heat three Ovenden broke the drive shaft on lap 3. He had done enough to make the semi-finals starting from the back of the grid.
After a fantastic effort by the Peter Gwynne Motorsport team the drive shaft and the gearbox were replaced and Ovenden could start the Semi Final from the back of the grid. After making a good start and picking up places to gain fourth place, enough to make the final, the drive shaft problem returned and ended his hopes again on the third lap.
Despite of the mechanical gremlins he secured valuable points and maintained his third spot in the championship, keeping him still very much in contention the title race.
Speaking after the weekend, Tristan said: “A promising weekend, but not the result we after at the end of the day. A huge thanks to the team for doing their best to keep us in the race.”
The championship now heads to Pembrey Circuit in Wales for a double header over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend Sunday 1st and Monday 2nd May.
Images courtesy of Rubber Duck Does RallyX Photography