Ashford based rallycross driver Nathan Heathcote headed north to Croft for the season opener of the Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship.

Heathcote’s main aim was to settle into the new Supercar category and gain experience in his maiden year in the top flight of British Rallycross.

The Channel Commercials, WaterDirect, Countrystyle Recycling, FGS Plant and DUO backed driver won his heat in Qualifying 1 which was enough to place him in fifth place overall. In Q2 he went one better and was fourth fastest. He rounded out the qualifying heats with the third fastest time.

For the final Heathcote would line up on the front row of the grid. A good start saw him running tightly behind pole sitter and fellow supercar rookie Warren Scott.

However, the Kent youngster had no intention of staying there and opted to try and outmanoeuvre Scott on the outside of the long first corner a gutsy move which pulled off gaining him clear track to run on. He wouldn’t yield the top spot despite endless pressure firstly from Scott then from British Rallycross stalwart Kevin Proctor. Never the less Heathcote drove a near perfect final and crossed the line to collect his maiden supercar victory on his first outing.

The championship now moves on to the second round and visits Lydden Hill in Kent for the first of two visits in Rallycrosses 50th birthday year. Racing is on the Easter weekend Monday starting at 9:00am.

Speaking after an excellent weekend, Heathcote said: “What a day, I never expected to come out and win my first supercar race and the first of the season! We couldn’t have got off to a better start. I cant wait for round 2 now, hopefully I can keep the momentum going!

“Thanks to all my sponsors The Channel Commercials, WaterDirect, Countrystyle Recycling, FGS Plant and DUO. A special thanks also to the team at LD Motorsport for preparing the car so well for me and to Graham Rodemark from Autopoint”

Images courtesy of Matt Bristow