Lynch secures Supernational Championship podium despite difficult finale

Wigan racer Tony Lynch achieved his aim of a top three finish in the Supernational Class standings despite a tough Toyo Tires British Rallycross Championship finale at Croft.

Tony went into the weekend with an outside chance of defending his title but was aware he would need luck on his side to overcome the drivers ahead.

Maintaining third was therefore the main target for the Lucas Oil Team Geriatric driver, and the weekend started well with victory in the opening qualifying heat.

Heats two and three would prove to be more troublesome however, with contact in heat two and then driveshaft failure in heat three preventing Tony from repeating his earlier success.

A top four finish in his semi-final ensured that Tony sneaked onto the back row for the all important final.

His hopes of ending the year on a high would unfortunately end when he was forced into a tyre stack mid-way through the race, although he would manage to pick up seventh place in his battered Ford KA.

The points scored ensured Tony ends the season in third place in the Supernational standings; a remarkable result after engine issues in the opening rounds of the year left him playing catch-up with his rivals.

“Croft wasn’t the way we wanted the season to finish, but we managed to take third in the points which was our ultimate aim,” he said. “It has been a difficult season and the final round pretty much summed it up.

“The first heat showed that we have a quick package but from there, things didn’t go our way. Having made it to the final, the aim was take it steady and get the points we needed so it was frustrating that we came away with damage to the car that wasn’t needed.

“Overall, I feel we can be proud as a team of the way we have battled back from our problems earlier in the year to finish third in the standings. If someone had told me we’d do that after round two, I wouldn’t have believed them and it’s a mark of how hard the team has worked that we’ve fought back in the way we have.

“As ever, I have to thank my team for their efforts and also the sponsors who have stuck by us during some difficult spells. To have maintained our record of picking up some championship silverware in every season we have raced – bar one – is a record we can be very proud of and it is thanks to everyone involved that we have managed it.

“Now we will evaluate our options for next year in terms of car and championship before deciding which way to go, but we are determined to come back stronger in 2018 and fight for silverware.”