Cozens, Barrett and Doran take Retro RX spoils at Lydden Hill

The 2020 Retro Rallycross Championship finally got underway at the traditional August Bank Holiday Lydden Hill event (August 30 – 31), the circuit where the sport was created in 1967, joining the opening round of the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy, and it was Pat Doran, Paul Barrett and Steve Cozens who claimed victory in the three Retro RX classes.

AUGUST 31 – Motorsport UK 2020 British Rallycross Championship – 5 Nations Trophy. Round 1 Lydden Hill, Kent. (All photos by Matt Bristow/mattbristow.net)

Experienced rallycross driver Terry Moore came close to causing an upset in the Retro Rallycross Championship final for under 1600cc cars. He twice set fastest time in Q1 and Q2, and even a non-score in Q3 couldn’t stop him taking pole position for the final. He led on lap one in his Austin Mini, as Steve Cozens, driving his Citroen AX, chased and then overtook Tony Lynch’s Toyota MR2 on the opening stages.

Devon driver Cozens pushed hard in pursuit of Moore and on the third lap, made a move for the lead at Devils Elbow. Moore fought back, but by the end of the race Cozens had extended his advantage. Moore finished second and Lynch completed the podium.

Ian Biagi made a welcome return to Retro RX with his Mini Clubman and came home fourth, ahead of Mark Finch, who was racing a Ford Fiesta built into a new bodyshell following a huge accident at Lydden Hill late last year. Robert Buckmaster made his Retro RX debut in a Ford Fiesta and was sixth, holding onto the place after a strong challenge from Simon Hart in his familiar John Taylor-replica Ford Escort MKI.

Retro newcomer Paul Barrett claimed victory in the Super Retro division in his Ford Escort G3, carrying a Martin Schanche tribute livery, after storming into the lead on the opening lap of the final. The fastest times in qualifying had been shared by John Cross in his Lancia Stratos, Vincent Bristow in his BMW 328 and Barratt, and it was Cross who started on pole position for the all-important final. However, problems for Cross from the start left a battle for the lead between Barratt and multiple John Button Memorial Trophy winner, Ray Morgan, also racing a Ford Escort, his machine fitted with a BDA engine.

At the start of the second lap, Morgan slowed on the entry to Chessons Drift, as Bristow tried a move around the outside, and reigning champion Gary Simpson, his BMW E30 now sporting a new engine, transmission and Bengt Ekstrom replica livery, tried to find a way through on the inside.

Morgan remained ahead however and held on to finish second, as Simpson came out on top of a battle to the line for third with Bristow. David Ewin finished fifth in his Ford Fiesta and Cross was sixth. Phil Collard unfortunately retired from the race in his Renault 5.

There was drama in the Group B and 4WD category final. Racing his Citroen Xsara, familiar to British rallycross fans, Mad Mark overcame turbo problems in the earlier qualifying races to line up on the second row of the grid, and made a brilliant launch towards the lead heading to the first corner if the final, but unfortunate contact with Steve Harris in his Ford RS200 sent the Xsara spinning into barriers. Both cars retired and the race was red flagged. At the re-start, Audi Quattro driver Dave Halford initially took the lead, chased by Ian Flitney’s Subaru Impreza, but, after a slow start Pat Doran, racing the Ford RS200 that carried him to second overall in the 1992 European Rallycross Championship, quickly caught and overtook both Flitney and Halford to storm to a home win, putting on a brilliant show for the bank holiday crowds.

“Despite not being able to be at Lydden myself to see the championship contenders finally get the opportunity to start their 2020 campaign, I kept in touch with Retro staff throughout the weekend, who assured me everyone was in great spirits,” said Retro RX promotor Shirley Gibson. “The entry list contained some of our newcomers who provided yet more fabulous cars to join our regulars on track. As always the Retro drivers entertained the loyal rallycross spectators who have eagerly waited for the sport’s return. I was devastated at the amount of damage to Mad Mark’s car, I have wanted to have him in Retro Rallycross for a long time and the new rules in the 4WD category allowed for that to happen. Such damage is thankfully a rarity in our Championship and we will pull out whatever stops needed to get him back out again. I congratulate all of our winners and look forward to seeing them all at Knockhill in September.”

The next round of Retro Rallycross takes place at Knockhill, Scotland on September 26-27.

Find full results and championship standings via the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship website here.