Simpson to the max in a Hill start to season (From York Press)

Simpson to the max in a Hill start to season

10:51am Friday 13th April 2012 in Motorsport By Stuart Martel, Sports editor

YORK racer Gary Simpson started the 2012 British Trials and Rally Drivers’ Association Rallycross Championship season with a maximum high.

Slingsby-born Simpson, who is now based in Clifton, finished second in the opening race of the series at Lydden Hill, but received maximum championship points as the winner was not registered for the overall prize.

Racing under the Yorkshire Terriers team banner in tandem with Huntington’s John Clayton, Simpson said: “We managed to qualify on pole postition for the ‘A’ final, but after a tardy start we were fifth into the first corner.

“After four hectic laps, I managed to fight my way back up to second as we passed the chequered flag.”

Simpson, 46, races a 1989 BMW E30 in the championship, having won the Clubmans Rallycross title last year.

Round two will be a night race at Knockhill on Saturday, May 12.

Meanwhile, the Yorkshire Terriers’ car featured on the BBC’s Top Gear programme during a feature on rallycross at the Lydden Hill circuit.

More information about Simpson’s racing team is available by visiting the www.theyorkshireterriers.co.uk website.