Kent based rallycross driver Nathan Heathcote travelled west to Ireland’s Mondello Park Circuit to contest in rounds 4 and 5 of the Toyo Tires British Rallycross championship.
Heathcote was looking to put a run of tough rounds behind him and solidify his championship standings and hopefully regain the form that saw him win the season opener at Croft back in March of this year.
The Channel Commercials, WaterDirect, Countrystyle Recycling, FGS Plant and DUO backed driver went into the Irish double header in 6th place in the championship. On the first day the Irish Rallycross track was run in reverse direction and Heathcote got straight down to business and finished in second place in qualifying 1, he backed this up with a forth and a third in Q2 and Q3.
He lined up for semi- final 2 in pole position and looking to carry the speed he had been showing all day further and after a faultless start was ahead of the competition and pulling away getting faster and faster with every lap of the 6 lap semi-final. Unfortunately for the Kent driver the mechanical gremlins returned when the car developed a leak and started an engine bay fire forcing Heathcote to retire on the fourth lap and ending his chances of a podium.
After overnight rain and a chance in the direction of racing round 5 got underway under grey skies that threatened rain.
Due to the damage sustained to his car the day before Heathcote started the Sunday in Warren Scott’s DS3 as he had withdrawn from the double header due to an injury sustained in the previous round. Heathcote found the new car difficult to adapt to and found himself in tenth place at the intermediate classification stage. He started from the second row in Semi-final 2.
He managed to drive home in third place recording the fastest lap time for both semi-finals in the process. He was rewarded 5th spot on the grid for the final just behind the pole sitter. After a frantic race and a great save on the fourth lap Heathcote crossed the line in fourth place. Scoring valuable championship points and moving up in the championship standings by a place to fifth overall.
The championship now moves back to Heathcote’s home circuit of Lydden Hill for round 6 which will be held on August Bank Holiday Monday. Racing will get underway at 09:00 where he hopes to once again secure a podium place in front of his home crowd.
Speaking after the weekend, Heathcote said: “Everything was going so perfectly on Saturday. The car felt great and we were setting the pace in the semi-final until a small leak from the engine caused a fire and ended my semi-final! I was absolutely gutted”
“Sunday I started off in Warren (Scotts) car I got straight back on the pace but made a small mistake in the final which cost me a podium finish! All in all, there was a lot I took away from Ireland
Thanks to all my sponsors The Channel Commercials, WaterDirect, Countrystyle Recycling, FGS Plant, Greenshields JCB and DUO.”
Images courtesy of Matt Bristow