Harrold Returns With Title Hopes

The 2018 season opener will see the Retro Rallycross Championship emerge with an eclectic mix of cars as they begin their campaign at Silverstone this Saturday (17 March).

The Retro Rallycross Championship, designed to celebrate the oldest cars, is gradually becoming the newest sensation with interest shown from a variety of competitors who, are scheduled to compete during the year, or have ongoing projects which will add a greater diversity of machinery for the future.

James Harrold will return with his iconic VW Beetle that was driven by Jenson Button in a special F1 feature and filmed by the BBC. Plagued by reliability issues Harrold, who was one the first drivers to join Retro Rallycross when the series was launched in 2012, failed to appear in 2017. The car, that is steeped in rallycross history, has been in the Harrold family for many decades, and competed successfully in the hands of the late Peter Harrold. Peter’s Brother, Paul Harrold is responsible for the preparation and maintenance of the Beetle and has reportedly been working ‘flat out’ to get the car ready in time for Silverstone and hopes are high for championship title contention.

Two new members will present their cars at round one; Steve Cozens makes the move over to Retro in his fabulous Citroen AX and is a welcome addition to the Retro Rallycross Class whilst Steve Bowie, a newcomer to rallycross, will present his Vauxhall Chevette in the same category, bringing back memories of the likes of Colin Richards, a British and European rallycross regular, who competed in his ultra quick 3-litre version in the 1980’s. 

A welcome addition to the series is also Rally man Steve Harkness who has been planning to join the Super Retro class for quite some time in his Ford Escort. Whilst missing from the grid for this one is the 2017 Champion and John Button Memorial Trophy winner Lance Foster, another driver who has been with Retro Rallycross since 2012. A popular driver who regularly  produces sterling performances and ‘killer action’ finishes in his Green and White sponsored car. Lance will be back in the pack shortly though where fans can expect him to entertain once more. 

“These are exciting times for British rallycross, The last couple years have seen organisers of the MSA British Rallycross Championship take the sport to a new level and the difference can be felt throughout the paddock” said Retro Rallycross founder Shirley Gibson. “The introduction of a new circuit at Silverstone will fill the void that has been lacking in the midlands since the loss of Mallory Park and we are very much looking forward to getting our Championship off the ground and getting used to the new surroundings this coming weekend. We have returning faces and new faces, not all able to get their cars ready in time for this event, but we very much look forward to introducing them to the public as the season progresses, interest in the Retro Championship has never been greater, the fans enjoy turning out to see such iconic cars representing the various era’s. Preserving the sports history is of great importance to me personally”

Entry List, Round 1, Silverstone – Saturday 17th March

Retro Rallycross

Simon Hart Ford Escort
Steve Bowie. Vauxhall Chevette
Steve Cozens. Citroen AX
Ian Biagi. BMC Mini Clubman
Paul Smith. VW Polo
Stewart Bowes. Austin Mini

Super Retro

Kevin Feeney. Ford Escort Mk2
Steven Harkness. Ford Escort 
Ray Morgan. Ford Escort BDA
Gary Dixon. Vauxhall Astra GTE
Paul Easterbrook. Toyota MR2
James Harrold. VW Beetle