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Lydden Hill British Rallycross Championship preview: Pluckley's Nathan Heathcote leads Supercar standings

Nathan Heathcote will start thinking about winning the British Rallycross Championship title if he can score a podium finish at Lydden Hill on Easter Monday.

The Pluckley racer, 20, heads a number of Kent drivers entered for the event, which has attracted about 70 drivers.

Heathcote holds the championship lead after beating European event winner Kevin Procter and Irishman Ollie O’Donovan to the Supercar victory at round one.

Pluckley's Nathan Heathcote in action at Croft. Picture: RallycrossBRX.com
Pluckley's Nathan Heathcote in action at Croft. Picture: RallycrossBRX.com

Heathcote, a Citroen C4 driver, said: “I am going to keep my head down and I have still got a lot to learn - if I get a podium at Lydden, I will start looking at winning the championship.

“There will be more pressure on me now than there was in the first race, but I will approach the event in the same way as I did at Croft.

“I hope I will do well at Lydden.”

Heathcote won the first round at Croft. Picture: RallycrossBRX.com
Heathcote won the first round at Croft. Picture: RallycrossBRX.com

Tristan Ovenden will hope to overcome reliability issues with his new Renault Clio at the second round.

The former motocross rider, 43, was on course for a strong finish at Croft last month before overheating problems struck in the final.

He will now bring his 3.5-litre V6 machine to Lydden, competing against 11 other machines in the SuperNational class.

Tristan Ovenden will drive his new Renault Clio. Picture: Matt Bristow
Tristan Ovenden will drive his new Renault Clio. Picture: Matt Bristow

Canterbury-based Ovenden said: “It was very frustrating as the car performed perfectly at Croft during qualifying but then developed an overheating problem just when we were ready to push for the victory.

"There will be more pressure on me now..." - Nathan Heathcote

“After the finish line it boiled up and pushed all the water out, so it gave us something to look at before Lydden.”

Tristan’s brother, Simon, will also race at Lydden in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship.

Like Tristan, Darren Scott will be hoping for better fortune at his home circuit.

The Sittingbourne racer, 35, bought a new Citroen C2 over the winter to use in the nine-round Super1600 championship.

But his campaign began in disheartening fashion at Croft last month after a snapped driveshaft and accident ruled him out of contention.

Sittingbourne's Darren Scott will be in action. Picture: Matt Bristow
Sittingbourne's Darren Scott will be in action. Picture: Matt Bristow

Scott, a former Suzuki Swift racer, said: “It was such a frustrating day at Croft, but it is a new car to me and we are still learning about it.

“I have to now put round one behind me and chalk it up as a learning curve.

"I plan to push hard every step of the way..." - Darren Scott

“There is still a long way to go in the championship and I plan to push hard every step of the way.

“The car was spot on when it was running as it should do.”

Pirtek Medway-backed Scott will take on Dartford’s Paul Coney at Lydden, as well as fellow Citroen C2 pilots Craig Lomax and Phil Chicken.

In the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship, Rob Maynard wants to score a podium finish at the second round.

The Deal racer, who has competed in the series since 2013, has secured three podiums at the Easter event over the last three years.

Rob Maynard wants silverware. Picture: Matt Bristow
Rob Maynard wants silverware. Picture: Matt Bristow

Maynard, who is sponsored by Practical Car and Van Rental, will compete against nine other 1.6-litre Suzukis at Lydden.

“My dream is to win at Lydden but I will be definitely looking to challenge for silverware,” Maynard said.

“The competition is going to be really tough, but if I get my starts sorted, I have the pace to be in the mix.

Biddenden’s Lee Keeler will make his debut
Biddenden’s Lee Keeler will make his debut

“We are all on a new Yokohama tyre compound in the Swifts so that will throw an unknown into the mix.”

"My dream is to win at Lydden..." - Rob Maynard

Maynard finished fifth overall at the opening round at Croft last month, just 0.2s behind Canterbury’s Simon Ovenden.

The pair will join Deal’s Don Macleod in the one-make class, which is being led by Chris Woollett after round one.

Biddenden’s Lee Keeler will also compete at Lydden, driving Ashford racer Fred Ling’s former Citroen Saxo in the Hot Hatch class.

In the SuperNational category, former Stock Hatch racer Kirk Twyman will drive a Renault Clio.

Action starts at 9am. Tickets cost £20 with children under 13 going free. Visit www.lyddenhill.co.uk for details.

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