THE opening round of this year’s Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship got underway at Silverstone, with a number of the region’s drivers recording mixed results, writes Larry Carter.

Local hopes in the Supercar class were high after Scruton’s Kevin Procter qualified his Procter’s Luxury Coaches Ford Fiesta in the semi-finals just behind multiple World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb, but he went out with mechanical problems in the final.

Barnard Castle driver ‘Mad’ Mark Watson endured a number of problems in his Mend-a-Hose Citroen Xsara, which curtailed his day after the heats.

There was to be no silverware heading north from the MSA Supernational class, although Northallerton driver Paige Bellerby did finish fourth in the final in her Fuchs-sponsored Vauxhall VX200. Barnard Castle driver Brian Jukes (Audi TT) and East Harlsey’s Guy Corner (MP Groundworks Peugeot 206) finished sixth and ninth respectively after problems in their semi-finals.

However, there was plenty of success in the support classes despite none of the locals managing a win. In the competitive BMW Mini class, Stockton driver Martin Hawkes finished second, with former champion David Bell from Ferryhill in fourth. Northallerton teenager Drew Bellerby ended up in eighth.

Darlington ace Rob Shield took his Suzuki Swift to runner-up spot in the Suzuki Swift Sport final after winning two heats, while Stokesley’s Stewart Bowes finished second in the Retro class in his Austin Mini.

The battle of the day came in the junior class, where five out of the seven competitors were based in North Yorkshire. The Richmond-based Constantine family emerged with bragging rights when Luke claimed second place in the final with elder brother Tom in fourth. Between the two brothers was cousin James in third.

Behind them came two teenagers making their debut in the junior series, with Northallerton’s Ben Sayer finishing an impressive fifth in his Sayers Road Tankers-backed car. Matilda Procter gave a good account of herself when she followed up a couple of sixth places in her heats with a seventh in the final.

Elsewhere, on his first outing with Team Pyro, Scorton’s Max Coates set the pace in the 2018 Renault UK Clio Cup’s official test day at a wet Silverstone.

Coates produced a late burst of speed to top the time sheets just a few minutes before the end of the day's third and final session in which every driver set their fastest lap time. “The car is absolutely brand new, and this is a great way to start life with Pyro,” said Coates.

Meanwhile, some legends of British motorcycle racing will be visiting Northallerton on Tuesday with the latest in a series of chat shows organised by North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club.

British Superbike riders Taylor and Tarran Mackenzie will be visiting the Golden Lion Hotel along with their dad, ex-GP rider and triple BSB champion Niall Mackenzie. Also taking part will be ex-World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson, who now is part of the MotoGP commentary team for BT Sport.

Tarran and Taylor are both bringing along autographed crash helmets from earlier in their careers to be auctioned, with the money going towards helping fund the NYRRSC's sponsored riders, along with the entry fee and raffle.

The venue is The Golden Lion Hotel, Northallerton. (DL7 8PP) and entry costs £12 (£7 for members) with doors opening at 7.30pm.