Lynch to make circuit racing debut at Donington Park

Multiple rallycross champion Tony Lynch is to make his circuit debut this weekend after agreeing a deal to compete in the opening rounds of the new MINI Challenge season.

Wigan racer Tony joins the grid having enjoyed a solid start to his assault on the Super National Class of the MSA British Rallycross Championship in Association with Odyssey Battery, where he currently sits second in the early season standings.

Tony’s switch to circuit racing comes as a result of the relationship developed in recent years with MINI specialists Mintech Spares, who supported his rallycross programme with a MINI Cooper S from 2013 through to 2015.

The deal will see Tony competing in the Cooper class in the opening triple-header of the MINI Challenge season, with the Westhoughton-based driver keen to see what he can do in a different racing environment.

“Ever since I started racing, it’s always been on loose surfaces, either in rallying or in rallycross where I’ve enjoyed much of my success,” he said. “I’ve always wondered how I would do in circuit racing, so it’s great to have the opportunity to join the MINI Challenge grid at Donington Park and give it a go.

“Whilst it’s just a bit of fun for me as a one-off, I want to do a good job for the guys at Mintech Spares and hopefully I can bring home some good results. I’ll just have to remember not to take my usual racing lines as going sideways might look spectacular, but it won’t be the quickest way to approach the weekend!”

Mintech Spares director Andy Howarth added that the team was keen to see if Tony could translate his success in rallycross through to circuit racing.

“We were looking to get someone in our car for the opening rounds of the year and Tony had shown an interest in the past, so it made sense to see if he was available,” he said. “Circuit racing is something that will be a bit different to what he is used to, but we’re hoping he can bring in the aggression he has shown in establishing himself as a championship winning rallycross driver and translate it into results in our car.

“While there is no pressure in terms of a championship or anything like that with the drive being a one-off, we’re hoping that Tony can push for top ten finishes from the weekend and we’re excited to see how does when the action kicks off.”