European Rallycross Superprix Preview

[Simon Harrison]

With the best Rallycross drivers in Europe heading to Croft Circuit for the third running of the European Superprix, the promoters of the event organised a Media and Demonstration Day on Newcastle upon Tyne's quayside today. The TV cameras were there, so those in the North East of England should tune into ITV's local news to see some of the cars in action.

#1 Saturday's action at Croft will see the final round of Rallycross Open Series. The overall title will be won be either Ferryhill's Tony Bell (foreground) or Barnard Castle's 'Mad Mark' Watson (background)
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/quay/quay3.jpg

#2 Most eyes however, will be on the Sweden's Kenneth Hansen who returns to defend the Superprix title he claimed last year.
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/quay/quay1.jpg

#3 Newly crowned British Rallycross Champion Ollie O'Donovan will be racing in one of Per Ekland's Saab 9-3s
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/quay/quay2.jpg

There'll be plenty of local interest taking part as well.

#4 Northallerton's Kevin Proctor will be a threat in his Division 1 Ford Puma
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/quay/quay5.jpg

#5 Dave Bellerby will be making his debut in the Division 1 Supercar category in another of Per Ekland's Saab 9-3s
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/quay/quay7.jpg

#6 Hopefully Dave will master the launch control system on the Saab as it caused him problems today. Here he is studying the onboard systems of the Saab while recieving instructions from Per Ekland himself.
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/quay/quay4.jpg

#7 Finally, Dave Bink's from Newcastle upon Tyne also makes his debut in his new Division 1 Mitsibushi Evo
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/quay/quay8.jpg

All in all, the couple of hours I spent on the quayside today has really whetted my apetite for the weekend's action. It will IMHO be the best event that Croft stages this year, and shouldn't be missed.

#8 I have one picture left, so here's a slightly abstract picture of the power plant that Hansen hopes will take him to victory once again.
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/quay/quay6.jpg

I hope enjoy the pictures. Obviously I, along with quite a few other POTN members, will post pictures from the Superprix itself early next week.

Cheers,

Simon.

[GSH]

Thanks for posting these Simon as i couldn't make it up there today.
I assume all the cars made it out with a full compliment of wheels etc? ;)

Weather's looking good for this one. See you (and others no doubt) on Saturday :)

[Simon Harrison]

Thanks for posting these Simon as i couldn't make it up there today.
I assume all the cars made it out with a full compliment of wheels etc? ;)

Weather's looking good for this one. See you (and others no doubt) on Saturday :)

No problem Geoff.

I think that everyone survived :lol:. I didn't stay for the whole event. My brother was up from London, so we went and saw the cars for an hour or so until the pull of food and beer became too strong ;):lol:.

In reality, you didn't miss that much. The cars were essentially just making straight runs up and down a section of car park. They did have an area set out for donuts etc., but it was so far away from absolutely everyone and everything, that only the marshalls at the end of the track got to see anything. It was nice however being as close to the cars as I've ever been when they launch from a standing start. That was impressive!

Weather does look good for Saturday and Sunday, if a little cold. You will definately see me, and probably quite a few other POTN members there this weekend. Hopefully, I'll get the chance to say 'hello' to as many people as possible, and maybe put a few more faces to names.

Cheers,

Simon.

[John Hudson]

I didn't go to this, I'm without a car a car at the moment and the train to Newcastle seemed like a bit too much bother for a PR event. I'll be there on Sunday though and I'm really looking forward to it.

Just out of interest Simon, were there many spectators? No too many people in those shots.

[Simon Harrison]

Just out of interest Simon, were there many spectators? No too many people in those shots.

About as many as you would expect for an event in the middle of a normal working day. To be fair, there were more people about then the pictures show. I was just doing everything I could not to include them in my shots.

Cheers,

Simon.

[John Hudson]

6 degrees celcius on Sunday morning. Time to get the big coat out!

I froze my t*ts off for the first hour of the last event, for some reason I thought it "looked warm" when I left the house.

[Simon Harrison]

6 degrees celcius on Sunday morning. Time to get the big coat out!


By the time the Croft micro climate chill factor is addeded, it will no doubt feel much, much colder than that :lol:!

Simon.

[KevB]

Nice preview Simon. I work just along the River from Spillers, but could'nt make it a long unfortunetly :D. Hope to make it along to Croft at some point over the weekend, so will probably bump into you and the regulars at some point :D

Kev

[Jakkin]

Nice Simon, I was going to pull a sicky for this haha.

See you all on Sunday, hopefully the sun is not too harsh and low like 2 weeks ago. :)

[Simon Harrison]

Nice Simon, I was going to pull a sicky for this haha.

See you all on Sunday, hopefully the sun is not too harsh and low like 2 weeks ago. :)

Thanks :D.

Well the sun will definately stay low in the sky at this time of year. That said, the forecast looks to be a little cloudier than the other weekend, so that may take some of the harshness you experienced out of the sun.

Cheers,

Simon.